Evita is a sung-through musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It covers the early life, rise to power, charity work, controversies and death of the Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of the Argentine president Juan Perón.
The musical began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976. Its success led to productions in London's West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical.
This has been followed by a string of professional tours and worldwide productions and numerous cast albums, as well as a 1996 film adaptation. The musical was revived in London's West End in 2006, 2014, 2017, and 2025, and on Broadway in 2012, with a second revival scheduled for 2027.
Synopsis
Act I
On 26 July 1952, a crowd in a Buenos Aires, Argentina theatre is watching a movie ("A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952") that is interrupted when news breaks of the death of First Lady Eva Perón. Both the crowd and the nation go into a period of public mourning ("Requiem for Evita") as Che, a member of the public, marvels at the spectacle and promises to show how Eva did "nothing for years" ("Oh What a Circus").
In 1934, 15-year-old Eva Duarte lives in the city of Junín, and longs to seek a better life in Buenos Aires. Eva takes up with a tango singer-songwriter, Agustín Magaldi, after she meets him at one of his shows ("On This Night of a Thousand Stars"). Eva persuades an initially resistant Magaldi to take her with him to Buenos Aires ("Eva, Beware of the City"). Upon her arrival in the city, Eva sings about her hopes and ambitions of glory ("Buenos Aires").
After her arrival, Eva is quick to leave Magaldi and pursue other romantic connections to climb up the social ladder ("Goodnight and Thank You"). Che tells of both a coup in 1943 and Eva's success, implying that Argentine politics and Eva's career may soon coincide. Che also makes a point to introduce the figure of Colonel Juan Domingo Perón, an ambitious army colonel making his way up the Argentine political ladder ("The Lady's Got Potential"). Perón and other military figures compete for power and exhibit their political strategy, with Perón rising above the pack ("The Art of the Possible").
After a massive earthquake hits the town of San Juan, Perón organizes a charity concert at Luna Park to provide aid to the earthquake's victims, which Eva attends. Perón's rousing speech is well-received by the crowd ("Charity Concert"). Eva introduces herself to Perón and they share a secret rendezvous following the charity concert, where Eva hints that she could help Perón rise to power ("I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You"). Eva dismisses Perón's unnamed mistress, who ponders the rejection and her fate ("Another Suitcase in Another Hall").
Upon moving in with Perón, Eva is introduced to high society only to be met with disdain from the upper classes and the Argentine Army ("Perón's Latest Flame"). In 1946, after launching his presidential bid, Perón discusses his chances of winning the election with Eva. After reassuring him of their chances of winning, Eva organizes rallies for the descamisados (shirtless ones) and gives them hope for a better future while Perón and his allies plot to dispose of anyone who stands in their way ("A New Argentina").
Act II
Perón is elected President in a sweeping victory in 1946. He stands "On The Balcony of the Casa Rosada" addressing his descamisados. Eva speaks from the balcony of the Presidential Palace to her adoring supporters, where she proclaims that despite her elevated status, her heart remains with the people of her country ("Don't Cry for Me Argentina"). Che analyses the price of fame as Eva dances at the Inaugural Ball with Perón, now the president-elect ("High Flying, Adored").
Eva insists on a glamorous image to impress the people of Argentina and promote Peronism. She prepares to tour Europe as she is dressed for success by her fashion consultants ("Rainbow High"). Her famous 1947 tour meets with mixed results ("Rainbow Tour"); Spaniards adore her, but the Italians liken her husband to Benito Mussolini. France is impressed, and the British snub her by inviting her to a country estate, rather than Buckingham Palace. Eva affirms her disdain for the upper class, while Che asks her to start helping those in need as she made a promise ("The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)"). Eva begins the Eva Perón Foundation to direct her charity work. Che describes Eva's controversial charitable work and possible money laundering ("And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)").
Eva appears at a church to take the sacrament in front of her adoring supporters ("Santa Evita"), but passes out suddenly, and while unconscious, appears to have a dream that reflects upon the conflicting views of her life. In her dream, she and Che heatedly debate her actions; Che accuses Eva of using the Argentine people for her own ends, while Eva cynically replies that there is no glory in trying to solve the world's problems from the sidelines ("Waltz for Eva and Che"). At the end of the argument, Eva finally admits to herself and Che that she is dying and cannot go on for much longer. Che points out the disastrous results of Perón's policies on Argentina: its treasury is bankrupt, its once-thriving beef industry is under rationing, and the press and other critics of the regime are muzzled.
Perón's generals finally get sick of Eva's meddling and demand that Perón force her to leave politics. However, Perón objects and claims that if it were not for her, they would never have achieved as much as they have ("She Is a Diamond"). But he also concedes that she will not be able to keep working for long as she will soon succumb to her cancer. Even so, Eva is determined to run for Vice President, and Perón fears that the military will stage a coup if she runs and that Eva's health is too delicate for any stressful work, but Eva insists that she can continue, despite her failing health ("Dice Are Rolling/Eva's Sonnet").
Realizing she is about to die, Eva renounces her pursuit of the vice presidency and swears her eternal love to the people of Argentina ("Eva's Final Broadcast"). Eva's numerous achievements flash before her eyes before she dies ("Montage"), and she asks for forgiveness, contemplating her choice of fame instead of long reign ("Lament"). Evita dies, and embalmers preserve her body forever. Che notes a monument was set to be built for Evita but says "only the pedestal was completed, and Evita's body disappeared for 17 years."
Character roles Eva Perón (mezzo-soprano): Lead. Playing age 15–33 Che (tenor): Lead. Playing age 21–35 Juan Perón (baritone): Supporting. Playing age 40–65 Agustín Magaldi (tenor): Supporting. Playing age 23–35 Perón's Mistress (mezzo-soprano): Supporting. Playing age 15-21 Chorus (men, women and children of Argentina)
Notable casts Role Concept album West End Broadway West End revival Broadway revival West End revival West End revival West End revival19761978197920062012201420172025 Eva Perón Julie Covington Elaine Paige Patti LuPone Elena Roger Madalena Alberto Emma Hatton Rachel Zegler Che Colm Wilkinson David Essex Mandy Patinkin Matt Rawle Ricky Martin Marti Pellow Gian Marco Schiaretti Diego Andres Rodriguez Juan Perón Paul Jones Joss Ackland Bob Gunton Philip Quast Michael Cerveris Matthew Cammelle Kevin Stephen-Jones James Olivas Agustín Magaldi Tony Christie Mark Ryan Mark Syers Gary Milner Max von Essen Ben Forster Oscar Balmaseda Aaron Lee Lambert Perón's Mistress Barbara Dickson Siobhán McCarthy Jane Ohringer Lorna Want Rachel Potter Sarah McNicholas Sarah O'Connor Bella Brown
Notable replacements West End (1978–99) Eva Perón: Marti Webb, Stephanie Lawrence, Siobhán McCarthy, Kathryn Evans Che: Gary Bond, Mark Ryan, Martin Smith Juan Perón: John Turner, Oz Clarke, Daniel Benzali Agustín Magaldi: David Burt Mistress: Kelly Hunter
Broadway (1979–83) Eva Perón: Loni Ackerman, Nancy Opel, Pamela Blake Che: Anthony Crivello Juan Perón: David Cryer
Broadway (2012–13) Che: Max von Essen
Musical numbers
Act 1
"A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952" – Crowd "Requiem for Evita" – Chorus "Oh What a Circus" – Che and Crowd "On This Night of a Thousand Stars" – Magaldi "Eva and Magaldi" / "Eva, Beware of the City" – Eva, Magaldi, Che and Evita's Family "Buenos Aires" – Eva, Che and Crowd "Goodnight and Thank You" – Che, Eva, Magaldi and Lovers "The Lady's Got Potential" – Che "The Art of the Possible" – Perón, Generals and Eva "Charity Concert" – Perón, Che, Magaldi and Eva "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" – Eva and Perón "Hello and Goodbye" – Eva "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" – Perón's Mistress and Men's Chorus "Peron's Latest Flame" – Che, Aristocrats, Soldiers and Eva "A New Argentina" – Eva, Che, Perón and Crowd
Act 2
Entr'acte "On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada" – Perón, Che and Crowd "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" – Eva "High Flying, Adored" – Che and Eva "Rainbow High" – Eva and Dressers "Rainbow Tour" – Perón, Advisers and Che "The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)" – Eva, Aristocrats and Che "And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)" – Che and Crowd "Santa Evita" – Children and Chorus "Waltz for Eva and Che" – Eva and Che "You Must Love Me" – Eva "Peron's Latest Flame Playoff" – Soldiers "She Is a Diamond" – Perón "Dice Are Rolling" / "Eva's Sonnet" – Perón and Eva "Eva's Final Broadcast" – Eva and Che "Montage" – Eva, Che, Perón, Magaldi and Chorus "Lament" – Eva, Embalmers and Che
Notes
"A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952" was replaced by "Junin, 26 July 1952" for the Japanese productions, London and Broadway revivals. "The Lady's Got Potential" is usually cut from most of the productions and replaced with "The Art of the Possible," but a modified version has appeared in a number of stagings. It was revived by Alan Parker for the film, with modified lyrics by Tim Rice to remove the insecticide sub-plot. "You Must Love Me", written for the 1996 film, was added to the 2006 London production and several other post-film productions; its placement varies from right after "Waltz for Eva and Che" to right before "Eva's Final Broadcast." "Peron's Latest Flame Playoff" is often subsumed into the following song, "She is a Diamond".
See Evita for the song list from the 1976 concept album.
History
In 1972, Robert Stigwood proposed that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice develop a new musical version of Peter Pan, but abandoned the project.
Travelling late to a meal one night in 1973, though, Rice heard the end of a radio show about Eva Perón which intrigued him. As a child stamp collector, he had been fascinated by her image on the Argentine stamps, but was unaware of her significance in Argentina's history. He began research and was introduced by a Cinema International Corporation executive to the Argentine film director Carlos Pasini Hansen who had produced the TV film Queen of Hearts, which had aired in the UK on 24 October 1972. The executive also arranged for Rice to see the film at Thames Television which he did "at least twenty times" saying also that "by that time I had seen Pasini's superbly researched film, I was hooked."Citron, pp.192–193 The more Rice investigated Eva Perón, going so far as to travel to Buenos Aires to research her life with many documents and contacts that Pasini had supplied, the more fascinated he became by the woman; he even named his first daughter after her.