Evita: Michael Cerveris to star in revival

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced that Michael Cerveris will star as 'Juan Peron' in the upcoming revival of Tim Rice's and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Evita, opening on Broadway in the spring of 2012 at the Marquis Theatre.

Cerveris won a Tony Award for his ortrayal of 'John Wilkes Booth' in 'Assassins' and he has been nominated for Tony's for his appearances in 'Lovemusik,' 'Sweeney Todd' and 'The Who's Tommy.' Other Broadway credits include: 'In the Next Room,' 'Hedda Gabler' and 'Titanic.' Films include: "Stake Land," "As Blood Runs Deep," "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" and "Temptation." TV: "Fringe," "The American Embassy" and "Fame."

Cerveris joins the previously announced music artist Ricky Martin as 'Ché' and, making her Broadway debut, Olivier Award Winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger as 'Evita,' reprising her performance from the 2006 production in London's West End.

Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph, respectively. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago.

Eva Peron used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world's first major political celebrity.

Evita tells Eva's passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's score, which includes "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying Adored," together with "You Must Love Me," the Oscar-winning hit from the film Evita.

After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released Evita in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit.

Soon after, Evita debuted on stage in London's West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince. The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979, directed by Harold Prince and chreographed by Larry Fuller, starring Patti LuPone as 'Eva' and Mandy Patinkin as 'Che.' The show garnered seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as 'Evita' and Antonio Banderas as 'Ché.'