Don’t shed a tear for Rachel Zegler. The talented actor is set to make her much-anticipated West End debut in a revival of the iconic musical “Evita,” as confirmed by Variety. This exciting production is under the direction of Jamie Lloyd, renowned for his work on “Sunset Boulevard.” Previews for “Evita” are scheduled to begin at the London Palladium on June 14, with the official opening slated for July 1, running through September 6.
In this revival, Zegler will portray the formidable political leader Eva Perón, who was the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. This role comes with a significant legacy, as it has been previously performed by theater icons such as Elaine Paige and Patti LuPone on the West End and Broadway respectively. Additionally, Madonna famously played the character in the 1996 film adaptation of “Evita.” The music for this powerful musical was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, chronicling Perón's remarkable life, from her humble beginnings to her rise in the political arena and her untimely death.
“Evita” is celebrated for its compelling score, including the unforgettable song “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” The show first premiered in London’s West End in 1978, evolving from a rock opera concept album to a Broadway sensation in 1979, featuring performances by LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. Over the years, “Evita” has been revived multiple times on both Broadway and the West End, solidifying its status as a classic in musical theatre.
Expressing her excitement, Zegler shared, “Evita has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together on my back patio. The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd’s singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other. The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to make my West End debut in such great company.”
Rachel Zegler is no stranger to stepping into challenging roles. In 2018, she was selected from a pool of thousands to star as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “West Side Story,” marking her feature film debut. Following this success, she made her Broadway debut as the iconic Juliet in last season’s modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic, “Romeo + Juliet.” Zegler has continued to build her impressive resume with leading roles in notable projects such as the “Hunger Games” prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” where she showcased her vocal talents as the impoverished tribute Lucy Gray Baird, and Disney’s upcoming “Snow White” remake, set to release on March 21, featuring Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
Deadline was the first to report the exciting news of Rachel Zegler’s casting in “Evita,” and anticipation continues to build for what is sure to be a remarkable performance.
