- Performances: 1,567.
- Open / Close: September 25, 1979 – June 26, 1983
- Theater: The Broadway Theatre.
- Tony Awards: A big Tony bonanza for Webber/Rice – nominated for 11, winning 7. It marked the first of the 3 Tonys that Patti Lupone has won up to this point, the first and only win (so far) for Mandy Patinkin.
- Fun (?) Fact: Tim Rice ended up having an affair with Elaine Paige, the star of the London debut production. His connection to the show is reflected in naming his oldest child Eva, who is now a successful novelist.
Podcast
Don’t cry for me, Chasing Phantom fans! I have brought back yet another one of your favorite guests, the diva-tastic Melissa Chase, host of the lifestyle television show, “Showcase.” We discuss the diva-centric “Evita,” a show solidly in Ms. Chase’s wheelhouse thanks to her love of all things Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Don’t expect a lot of dissecting of historical accuracy here; I mean, we gloss by that so quickly I even mispronounce Argentina and “Argentinia” in the episode! What we do dig into, though, is the musical legacy of this show, one that has always involved an explicit connection to popular music. From its beginning as a concept album, pop stars and rock musicians have played important roles in the development and success of this show.
And, of course, we can’t help but spend a fair amount of time discussing Madonna’s intense interest in this show and her commitment to appearing in the movie adaptation. Melissa has a fresh perspective that I loved talking through.