August 28th!

 We finally have a release date for the complete cast recording of the 2025 London revival of Evita. It's going to be released digitally, and on vinyl, but there's still a question as to whether a CD version is in the mix. Certainly hope so. Love having physical media, just in case anything ever happens and it's no longer available. I'm also wondering if the audience is going to be included on the album, as it says it was recorded live. Don't think I would care for that too much, though I'm sure to enjoy it either way. August 28th cannot come fast enough.

53!

That's right, another one. Finally found someone nice enough to share their copy of the Regent Park production of Evita from 2019. Performances and vocals are good, but staging and direction is atrocious. Constantly trying to reinvent the wheel is beyond unnecessary. Cannot believe that this is the production that is going to be used for the upcoming Broadway revival. So disappointing. Anyway, the whole point of this post was to say that I now have 53 Evita recordings. Collection continues to grow! Love it!

Amazing!

 

Photo Credit: Jill Rock

 Eric got me a present while on vacation in Vermont. Isn't it incredible?! Did some research, and it's from the first national tour. What a treasure!

52!

 Finally found a bootleg audio of the 2023 ART cast that I saw with Mrs. Cabral. Have been searching for years. So thrilled. My total Evita recordings is now 52! So crazy. So awesome. There are still a few that I would like to get my hands on, but I've put out feelers, and just have to be patient. Not my strong suit. Just realized something as I'm writing this. I will have 53 in August, as the official 2025 London revival cast is getting released. So cool. Love collecting things that mean a lot to me.

August!

According to several reliable sources, the complete cast recording of the 2025 London revival of Evita is set for an August release. While there is no specific date announced, the 28th seems to be bouncing around the Internet. Couple things I'm not exactly thrilled with, though one is likely to change before release. From everything I've seen, and what's being officially reported, the album was recorded live. Don't know how to feel about this. Will audience be included. Kind of hope they are edited out. Don't know why. Just preference. Secondly, as of this writing, it looks like the only physical release will be on vinyl. I'm all about records, but will genuinely be sad and appointed if a CD release doesn't happen. Also, and $100, the vinyl seems rather exuberantly priced.

Ending with focus on the positive, a complete recording is getting released, I will be able to add it to my collection, and the performances and vocals are supposedly phenomenal. Can't wait!

 

Don't Cry For Me!

I still can't believe I'm writing these words, but I got a pair of tickets for Eric and I to see the Broadway revival of Evita on June 29, 2027! Doesn't seem real. Got an email on May 29th with a presale code, called, and had tickets in last than 5 minutes. To say that I feel blessed and grateful is the understatement of the year. The New York trip for my birthday next year is probably going to end up being one of the defining times of my life. So overwhelmed right now, but in the best way possible.

The Truth Is…

 The Broadway revival is officially happening! Absolutely cannot believe it. Know I'm a little late with the news, but it's taken a little while to wrap my head around everything. Never thought I'd be lucky enough to see a revival At all, let alone two. It's surreal. No major news yet, but the production is rumored to be eyeing the Winter Garden, and will open in the spring of next year. Rachel Zegler will be reprising her Oliver award winning role. More casting announcements expected soon. Signed up to be notified the moment tickets go on sale, and have everything crossed that I get a pair for me and Eric. What an incredible dream birthday that would be. We shall see…

What Could Have Been…

 Don't know how someone found this, but just listened to Michelle Pfeiffer's Evita screen test. She sang I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You, and Buenos Aires. While there are times when the power vocal that the songs demand isn't there, I was genuinely impressed with her voice. Would love to have seen her tackle Eva. No doubt her acting chops are superior to Madonna's, and I would have enjoyed the movie much more than I did.

2026

 As is obvious by my last Evita post, I wasn't to happy that a highlights album is being released in December, because I had heard that the entire score with the new cast was recorded. Turns out, I was right. A complete recording of the 2025 London Revival cast will be released sometime in 2026. Such fantastic news, as I've heard a bootleg, and it is phenomenal. Cannot wait. Am going to preorder ASAP.

Iconic!

Photo Credit: Andrew Lloyd Webber

WTF?!

Track listing has been released for the upcoming recording of the 2025 London revival cast of Evita. Honestly, I don't even know what to say about this. Someone, somewhere has to be playing some sort of joke. Not only is the recording incomplete, but it doesn't even include Eva's Final Broadcast or Lament! How is this real?! The show is her life story from beginning to end! Who the hell made the brilliant decision to not even include her death?! This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Not only are we getting screwed out of the complete recording that was promised, but this sad selection of tracks is ridiculous. I'm completely dumbfounded and disgusted.

Tracklisting:

1. Oh What A Circus
2. Buenos Aires
3. I’d be Surprisingly Good for You
4. Another Suitcase in Another Hall
5. A New Argentina
6. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
7. High Flying Adored
8. Rainbow High
9. And The Money Kept Rollin in (and out)
10. You Must Love Me

Don't Know What To Think…

 Okay, so, for everyone who doesn't know, there has been a hugely successful revival of Evita in London this summer. As a matter of fact, it just closed. For weeks On end, there have been teases of a complete cast recording, from multiple sources. Andrew Lloyd Webber all but confirmed this in a relatively recent interview. Well, I was doing some sleuthing the other day, and came upon some aggravating news. Apparently, we are not getting a full recording after all. For some ridiculously stupid reason, only a highlights recording is being released. Why? It just doesn't make sense. If this production was truly as ground and record-breaking as is being reported, why not fully capitalize on the success? I know I'm just kind of ranting, but it's incredibly frustrating. We've waited all these years for a major revival, and its only getting memorialized with 10 tracks? So dumb. Anyway, that's how I feel.

I Agree!

Mixed Bag…

 

I saw a new production of Evita last weekend in Boston, and thought I would share my opinions.

First, positive. Voices of the leads were spectacular, and handled the demanding score with ease. Secondly, for the most part, costumes were beautiful, if a little too plain. The set was sparse but works, with one glaring exception, which we will get to shortly.

Headscratchers/negatives. The staging of Don't Cry For Me, Argentina. Instead of delivering this iconic, calculated speech from the balcony of the Casa Rosada to a frenzied crowd below, Eva stands alone on stage on what look to be bleachers, pacing back and forth. This creative decision saps all power, and leaves the audience wondering what all the hype and anticipation of the moment was for. Especially given that mere moments later, the devoted reappear in time to hear Eva deliver her second speech. Makes absolutely no sense.

I was going to rant about the horrible staging of Lament, but don't know where I should begin. Simple is better with the staging of this final number, but, apparently, someone didn't get the memo. There is so much activity in the final moments that the audience is unable to fully experience the gravity of the moment. Trust the material. More isn't always more.

On the whole, this revival is worthy, if somewhat confused. Glad I saw it. Piece of advice, if anyone cares. If this revival is headed to Broadway, as is rumored, fix the mistakes highlighted above, and it will be can't miss.

5!

 

Going to see Evita for the 5th time on May 28th in Boston with Mrs. Cabral. So excited! It's been 23 years since we saw it together, so this is long overdue. From what I've read and heard, this new production is completely reimagined, and includes new elements such as a second, younger Eva in the beginning of the show, to further illustrate the age discrepancy with her much older male companions. Should be very interesting. Would love it if You Must Love Me is absent. I hate this song, and its placement in the stage versions. Either way, I'm sure it is going to be spectacular, and can't wait.

REVIVAL?!

According to legendary director Hal Prince, there's an Evita revival in the works.

"There's a revival of Evita in the works exactly as originally produced and directed. Larry Fuller is on board choreographing, and Tim O’Brien and Tazeena Firth’s scenery and costumes are being replicated—identically. Dan Kutner, who has been in my office for over a decade and is a director in his own right, is preparing it for an opening in Johannesburg in October 2017."

"I am determined to persuade Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian, its producer, to come back to Broadway. It will have been some time since the most recent revival, which didn’t serve the material well. I’m certain that our audience is ready. Evita has always been one of the most satisfying experiences of my career."

This is absolutely thrilling! For as long as I can remember, I have hoped for this news! Mr. Prince is dead on. The 2012 Broadway Revival was an unbelievable disappointment on every level. If this does come to pass, I will see it without question. A dream come true, the way it should have been the first time.

Still Can't Believe It…

Saw this on Facebook this morning, and I couldn't believe it. How can it have been five years already?! So crazy!

Anniversary!

  Photo Credit: Broadway World

35 years ago today, Evita opened on Broadway!  Happy anniversary to this icon show!  It's been a constant in my life, and I'm the better for it.  Let's hope another revival isn't far off!

New York City: May 26-27, 2012

 

Photo Credit: Tracie McCarty

Yes, these are the pictures from my trip to New York last year.  I'm sorry it took me so long to put them up, but everytime I tried, I would just get overwhelmed with emotion and memory.  Will always be one of the greatest experiences of my life!  I thought it only appropriate to start out with images of Evita, as that was the reason for going.

WOW!

Patti looks amazing!  So gorgeous and iconic!