By KATERINA BELALES CORRESPONDENT After opening on Broadway 35 years ago in 1979, Evita has been one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, it concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita’s early life, rise to power, charity work, and eventual death. 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 major 1996 film of the musical starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. I had the pleasure of finally seeing this show at the Bushnell in Hartford on opening night Sept. 23. I enjoyed the show immensely. Andrew Lloyd Webber has always been one of my favorite composers, and I was already in love with some of the more popular songs from this […]
By KATERINA BELALES CORRESPONDENT After opening on Broadway 35 years ago in 1979, Evita has been one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, it concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita’s early life, rise to power, charity work, and eventual death. 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 major 1996 film of the musical starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. I had the pleasure of finally seeing this show at the Bushnell in Hartford on opening night Sept. 23. I enjoyed the show immensely. Andrew Lloyd Webber has always been one of my favorite composers, and I was already in love with some of the more popular songs from this […]