Hickory – Guest Director LaKeisha Ross-Johnson has just announced the cast for Evita. The blockbuster musical opens on Thursday, June 10 and continues through Sunday, June 20 in the Jeffers Theatre.

Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita’s early life, rise to power, charity work, and death.

The musical began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976. Its success led to productions in London’s West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical. This has been followed by a string of professional tours and worldwide productions and numerous cast albums, as well as a 1996 film adaptation.

In the HCT production Emily Schuttenberg is Eva, Paul David Kurts is Perón, Jared Wachsmuth plays Ché, Emma Theriot plays Perón’s mistress and Jesse Ramirez is Magaldi. The ensemble includes Lily Bodnar, Zoe Charles, Katie Grace Dehart, Charlotte Dick, Sarah Hefner, Dallas McKinney, Dior Scott, Jill Roberts, Cecilia Shoup, Mikeala Skelton, Bethany Spears, Kenna Walton, Rochelle Walton, and Lucy Weaver.

Performances of Evita are Thursdays through Saturdays, June 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19 at 7:30pm and Sundays, June 13 & 20 at 2:30pm.

Tickets for all seats are $18 per person and may be purchased online at hickorytheatre.org or by calling the box office at 828-328-2283 between 12pm and 5pm, Wed.–Fri. Seating is limited in compliance with the governor’s executive order, so advance purchase is strongly recommended. Per the executive order, patrons must wear face coverings at all times while in the building.

Evita is produced by Dr. George Clay III, DDS and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. A Cleaner World, Paramount Automotive, the City of Hickory, Sunbelt Xpress, and Dr. George Clay, DDS are the sponsors of the 2020–2021 Season. The Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County.

Cast Photo: Back row (l. to r.): Rochelle Walton, Jesse Ramirez, Paul David Kurts, Charlotte Dick, Sarah Hefner; middle row (l. to r.): Katie Grace DeHart, Emma Theriot, Kenna Walton, Emily Schuttenberg, Mikeala Skelton; front row (l. to r.): Jared Wachsmuth, Jill Roberts, Lucy Weaver, Zoe Charles, Cecilia Shoup, Lily Bodnar and Bethany Spears. Photo by Lauren Albers.