The story of Eva Perón will be told on a Welwyn Garden City stage next week in a hit musical.
The Thalian Theatre Company presents Evita from Tuesday, November 5.
Featuring hit song Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, the musical will be performed at the Thalian Hall.
Director Maureen Davies said: “The life of Eva Perón's is a fascinating rise from rags to riches story. As a director this is one production I have wanted to do for many years.
"When the Thalian Theatre Company offered it to me to direct, I jumped at the chance. It has not been without its challenges, but it has been extremely rewarding.
"The cast and crew have all been fantastic and they have risen to the challenge. I can say with hand on heart they have done me proud and produced a wonderful show.”
Officially María Eva Duarte de Perón, known as Eva Perón and affectionately nicknamed Evita, this pivotal Argentinian figure not only won her nation’s heart in her short lifetime, but also had a major impact on the country’s politics.
Born in 1919, Evita grew up in rural Argentina in a village called Los Toldos.
Her mother was the mistress of Juan Duarte and Evita was the youngest of five children from this relationship. Eventually her father abandoned this second family for his legal one, leaving Evita’s mother in financial hardships.
Perón, aged 15, dreamed of a bigger life. She wanted to become an actress and ran off with a musician to the city of Buenos Aires.
Though the relationship quickly fizzled out, she found a new love: the theatre and landed her first role in a movie in 1937.
Evita worked her way out of poverty to become a voice for Argentina's poor and working class as the wife of President Juan Perón.
Eva Perón was an actress, an activist, and the First Lady of Argentina. The platform gave Perón a loudspeaker to champion issues like poverty and women’s rights.
A beloved figure in her country, Evita’s story inspired an award-winning musical and a movie starring Madonna as Eva.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita, with lyrics written by Tim Rice, was an international success and songs such as Don’t Cry For Me Argentina have become a part of musical history.
Its production in London's West End in 1978 won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Margaret Johnson, musical director of the Thalian's production, said: “Gorgeous melodies, dramatic choruses and iconic songs like Buenos Aires and Another Suitcase in Another Hall — Evita has some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s very best music.
"I am delighted to be musically directing this amazing show, especially recreating Argentina with those South American rhythms in the band!”
Evita will be performed by the Thalian Theatre Company from Tuesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 9, at 7.30pm at the Thalian Hall, 64-68 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City.
Tickets are available at www.thaliantheatrecompany.co.uk.
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