ONE of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most enduring musicals, Evita, is coming back to Siamsa for a limited run from Thursday to Saturday, November 10th to 12th.
This is a fully-staged production of the work with a professional orchestra and a cast of 50 performers drawn from Tralee, Killarney, Miltown, Killorglin, Dingle, Listowel, Causeway and Tarbert who have been rehearsing since late June.
“This is our first production since Chicago in 2019”, says director Grainne O’Carroll of the Light Opera Society of Tralee (LOST).
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“We can’t wait to get back on stage and show our audiences the kind of talent we’ve continued to nurture in Kerry School of Music right through the pandemic”.
The show depicts the rise from abject poverty to national prominence of Eva Duarte and of her elevation to virtual sainthood by the people of Argentina before and after her tragically early death at the age of 33.
The show abounds in hit numbers such as Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina, Another Suitcase In Another Hall, High Flying Adored, You Must Love Me and A New Argentina.
For young Tralee woman Clodagh Harrington, there’s a sense of déjà vu about this run. Clodagh also played Evita in LOST’s 2017 sell-out run of EVITA in Siamsa Tire.
Clodagh previously played Anita in West Side Story, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and Velma in Chicago for the Light Opera Society.
She also recently understudied Rebecca Storm’s Eva Peron in Dublin’s National Concert Hall.
Marcus Nolan, who plays Peron, has previously played Bernardo in West Side Story, the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors and Billy Flynn in Chicago for LOST.
Sean McElligott plays the role of the narrator Che. Sean, from Knockawaddra, just graduated from the American University Dublin with a B.A. Honours in Musical Theatre.
He has previously played the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Tony in West Side Story, Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors all for LOST. Sean is also responsible for EVTA’s magnificent set.
Magaldi, one of Evita’s early ‘patrons’ is played by Eoin Rua Herlihy, an MTU music graduate. The role is understudied by Sean McConologue from Ballymacelligott. Katrina Galvin, Lauren Glennon and Maddie Courtney share the role of the mistress.
The show is again directed by Grainne O’ Carroll. This is Grainne’s seventh consecutive production for LOST.
Choreography is by KSM Dance Academy teacher Tara Dore. Musical direction is in the very capable hands of Anna Connolly. Costume design is by Eileen O’ Connell while lighting design is by John Hurley.
For tickets to the production go to www.siamsatire.com. Tickets are €19, Concession €17. The show starts at 8pm until 10pm.
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