Evita cast ready for their audience

Director Richard Marshall is urging the public to see this new production of Evita. Photo/Stephen Parker

After months of preparation Evita opens at the Civic Theatre on Friday night.

Production Manager Jen Minty said they were "all set to go" and the cast were waiting for an audience.

"Everyone has worked so hard on Evita - it has been a pleasure being involved with such a diverse team from our community".

"There is a real buzz around town - people I meet on the street tell me they have already booked their tickets or are about to. With opening night only a few days away I urge people to book now to see this new production of Evita" said director Richard Marshall.

There are still some tickets left for opening night.

"Evita is told through a compelling score written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice - it simply is musical theatre at its best."

It will be produced at the Civic Theatre, located within the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, for a two weeks season opening Friday July 29 and closing Saturday August 13.

Tickets are on-sale now and may be purchased from the Ticketmaster box office located inside the foyer of the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, Fenton Street, Rotorua or online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz.

ABOUT EVITA
Argentina's controversial First Lady is the subject of this dynamic musical masterpiece. As an illegitimate 15 year old, Eva escaped her dirt-poor existence for the bright lights of Buenos Aires. Driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, she was a starlet at 22, the president's mistress at 24, First Lady at 27, and dead at 33.

Told through a compelling score that fuses haunting chorales with exuberant Latin, pop and jazz influences, EVITA creates an arresting theatrical portrait as complex as the woman herself.

This new version of EVITA is based on the 2006 London production and includes the song You Must Love Me from the 1996 movie.

With more than 20 major theatre awards to its credit, plus an Oscar winning film version (starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas), Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA is iconic.

Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don't Cry For Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, You Must Love Me and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.