Evita Dances the Tango

Evita, the Tony Award-winning 1978 musical about Eva Peron, the charismatic Argentinian political figure, has been playing continuously somewhere, but always with a version faithful to the original staging. The touring show coming to town this week is the first new production of the musical since the Broadway original, restaged to put more emphasis on dance, notably the tango.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, EVITA tells the story of Eva Peron, a woman who used her charisma and beauty to rise from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. She became one of the most powerful women in the world and was beloved by her people, but her greed, enormous ambition and ill health also led her to become one of the most tragic.

This new production puts more emphasis on authenticity with a re-orchestrated, more authentic Latin sound. The production also includes more dance than any of its predecessors. As one critic notes, “the small ensemble cast (is) in almost constant movement, using steps heavily influenced by tango and other Latin dance styles. This not only solves the problem posed by the static nature of some scenes, it also make the transitions between them that much more fluid.”

The narrator character, Che, is represented as he was written for the original concept album as an “everyman” who serves as a voice of the people since “che” means “guy” in Argentina. He is not meant to represent Argentinean revolution Che Guevara, who the original production’s director Hal Prince decided to use as inspiration for the character, although Guevara would have never actually met Eva Peron.

TCD spoke with Krystina Alabado, who plays the role of the Mistress, Juan Peron’s lover who Evita sends packing so she can steal the spotlight in his life. In the musical, Alabado showcases her singing skills with a performance of the ballad “Another Suitcase in Another Hall.” When asked what she hoped audiences would take away from the show she replied “I hope the audiences take away the beauty of the story that really happened and learning about a woman and her life, and also watching our dancers. The dancing is incredible, everyone’s voices are just top notch, it’s amazing–we’re really bringing Broadway to Milwaukee. We have some of the best, seasoned performers, so anyone that feels like getting a little inspired and watching a beautiful musical should come on down and see the show!”

Evita is part of the BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee Series. Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 4-9. Tickets start at $30, available in person at the Marcus Center Box Office, by phone at 414-273-7206, and online at MarcusCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com.

This week’s other arts offerings:

Theater

Boulevard Theatre: Shooting Star, a bittersweet romantic comedy, Feb. 5-16. Tickets are $20-$23, available online or call (414) 744-5757.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater: The Whipping Man at Stiemke Studio Feb. 7 – March 16. Tickets are $45, $40 for seniors and $20 for ages 19-35 and students 18 and younger, available online or call (414) 224-9490.

Off the Wall Theatre presents David Mamet’s drama, Glengarry Glen Ross, Feb. 6-16. Tickets are $25, available online or call (414) 484-8874.

Milwaukee Theatre: Godspell, a rock musical from Wicked and Pippin composer Stephen Schwartz, Feb. 7-8. Tickets are $41.30 or 68.95, available online or call (800) 745-3000.

South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center presents Baby Wants Candy, an improvised musical comedy, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $8 – $35, available online or call (414) 766-5005.

Waukesha Civic Theatre: Perfect Wedding, Feb. 7-23. Tickets are $23, $20 for seniors and students, available online or call (262) 547-8454.

Cardinal Stritch University Theatre: The Shoemaker and the Elves, Feb. 9-16. Tickets are $5, available by phone at (414) 410-4171.

Falls Patio Players: The Dixie Swim Club, Feb. 7-16. Tickets are $15, $13 for seniors/students, available online.

Music

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music: We Six Jazz Sextet’s Chicago Calling: A Tribute to the Windy City, Thursday, Feb. 6. Tickets are $25, $15 for students with ID at the door, available online or call (414) 276-5760.

Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra: Rhythmic Revolution, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) “Music Under Glass” series presents The R Country Girls 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30. Tickets are $6.50, $5 for seniors/students. 

Visual Art

Tory Folliard Gallery: New exhibitions, Charles Munch “New Paintings” and Bill Reid “What Could Bee?” Feb. 8 – March 8.

The Riverwest Elders: Art exhibit Creative Expressions at the Riverwest Jazz Gallery of the Arts Saturday, Feb. 8 – March 8. Riverwest Elders reception is Feb. 8, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Last Chance

Soulstice Theater Company: God, through Feb. 8

First Stage: A Midnight Cry, through Feb. 9 See photo gallery here.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater: End of the Rainbow, through Feb. 9. For review of show see https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/2014/01/theater-the-ghost-of-judy-garland/

Sunset Playhouse: Murder on the Nile, through Feb. 9

Renaissance Theaterworks: The Understudy, through Feb. 9 For a review, go to second item in this column: https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/2014/01/22/theater-eurydice-eurydice-eurydice/

Ongoing

Next Act Theatre: Race, through Feb. 23

Skylight Music Theatre: In the Heights, through Feb. 23

First Stage: The Cat in the Hat, through Mar. 2

Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, through Mar. 9. For review of show see https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/2014/01/theater-still-radical-after-all-these-years/