Rachel Zegler to Play Eva Perón in London Revival ofEvita: 'An Honor Unlike Any Other'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rachel Zegler on March 12 at the ‘Snow White’ premiere in Segovia, Spain.Photo:Pablo Cuadra/Getty

Pablo Cuadra/Getty

Rachel Zeglermade her Broadway debut this season, inthe acclaimed revival of William Shakespeare’sRomeo & Juliet.And now, theSnow Whiteactress has her next stage role set.

PEOPLE can confirm that Zegler will play Eva Perón in the London revival of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber 1978 musical,Evita,about the life of Eva Perón, the controversial second wife of Argentine military leader-turned president Juan Perón.

Director Jamie Lloyd will helm the production. The musical will play a limited 12-week run this summer, from June 14 through Sept. 6 at the London Palladium.

“Evitahas been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together on my back patio,” Zegler said in a statement toDeadline, who first broke the news. “The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd’s singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other. The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to make my West End debut in such great company.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jamie Lloyd at the opening night of ‘Sunset Blvd.’ in October 2024.Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Lloyd has experience working with theCatscomposer, having directed the Nicole Scherzinger-led revival ofSunset Blvd., which is now on Broadway. The 76-year-old also tapped Lloyd to direct his new musicalThe Illusionist,due in 2026 or 2027.

The Olivier Award winner previously directed a production ofEvitain Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2019, which received two Olivier Award nominations including one for best musical revival.

“This is going to be an exciting Eva for a whole new generation,” Lloyd said.

A poster for Patti LuPone in ‘Evita’ on Broadway.Hulton Archive/Getty

Hulton Archive/Getty

Evita, like many of Lloyd Webber’s musicals, began its life as a 1976 rock opera concept album. A stage version premiered two years later in London’s West End, and won two Olivier Awards — one for best musical and another for best actress for Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Eva.

In 1979,Evitadebuted on Broadway, this time with Patti LuPone in the lead role. The production was awarded seven Tony Awards, including a trophy for LuPone, one for best director Hal Prince, another for Mandy Patinkin (as the musical’s narrator, Ché) as well as the coveted best musical prize.

It’s the first British musical ever to receive Tony’s top honor.

Since then,Evitahas been revived once on Broadway — in a 2012 production from director Michael Grandage. Elena Roger starred as Eva, with Ricky Martin playing Ché. It was nominated for three Tonys, including best revival of a musical and an honor for Michael Cerveris (as Juan).

Madonna in ‘Evita’.Hulton Archive/Getty

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Audiences may also know the musical from its 1996 film adaptation, starring Madonna as Eva, Jonathan Pryce as Juan and Antonio Banderas as Ché.

“You Must Love Me,” which was written for the movie version and won an Oscar for Best Song, is expected to be included in the revival as well.

Rehearsals forEvita,Deadlinereports, on April 28.Tickets are now on sale.

Snow Whiteopens in theaters on March 21.

source: people.com