From March 7 – 9 and March 14 – 16, UHS Theatre Arts presented their spring musical production, “Evita.” Originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the story follows the life of the Argentine First Lady Evita and cleverly weaves social commentary, Argentinian politics and incredible music into one fantastic show.
The musical begins with a broadcast announcing the death of Evita, causing the Argentinian people to enter a period of mourning. Despite this, the narrator, Che, a member of the public, scoffs at the spectacle and seeks to prove her corruption and inaction throughout her stint as First Lady. Evita, originally born Eva Duarte into a poor family, longs for a better life in the dazzling capital city of Buenos Aires. Once she finally gets an opportunity to travel there, she quickly rises to fame as an actress and meets the military and political leader Juan Perón. The two soon marry, with Eva taking on her more popular nickname, Evita, and as a couple, they help each other reach the heights of their careers. However, discontent brews among the Argentinian people, and throughout the musical, Che criticizes the Peróns and invites the audience to question their underhanded political tactics.
The cast and crew found working on the show to be an exciting and memorable opportunity. Freshman Rina Nelson, who played Evita Perón, found that the most enjoyable aspect of being in the musical was a newfound sense of community and friendship.
“My favorite part of working on ‘Evita’ was forming connections with the cast and crew and working together to make the story come to life,” Nelson said.
After months of hard work on the show, students like sophomore Sierra Corliss, in her role as an Argentine villager, enjoyed looking back on their experience and watching it pay off.
“Over the course of this production, I am most proud of the effort everyone contributed to make this show fantastic!” Corliss said. “We all persevered through the long hours, and it felt really rewarding to see what we created.”
Their combined efforts allowed the final show to look and sound incredible, giving each performer the chance to express their emotions and the story beautifully. Senior Arpi Gharadaghian, who played Eva Perón, reflected on her favorite part of the musical to watch and act in.
“My favorite scenes were ‘Eva’s Final Broadcast’ and ‘Lament,'” Gharadaghian said. “Even though they are the slower songs towards the end, I enjoyed them most because I got to act the most through singing. They’re just such beautiful songs that really capture who Eva was.”
This amazing production would not have been possible without the work of the countless members of the running crew, designers, house crew and pit musicians who ensured that the show ran smoothly from behind the scenes. Junior E Huang discussed their best memories from being Property Master for the musical.
“I loved working with the people in our company,” Huang said. “Everyone was so fun to talk to and meet the new actors and techies!”
The cast and crew’s collective dedication and talent culminated in a performance that captivated audiences, leaving a lasting impression long after the final curtain call. From the intricate staging to the heartfelt performances, each element harmonized to bring “Evita” to life in a way that resonated deeply with viewers. UHS Theatre Arts has achieved something remarkable, a testament to their passion and commitment to theatre.
