THE LAST EVITA POST: BACKSTAGE HIGHJINX

But first, I completely forgot to credit where the production photos came from: Bryan Garris took the show photos during one of the shows. I think it's better to do that, as it keeps the action flowing.

Here's a lovely cast and crew photo. Yes, the guy in the upper left is wearing a hard hat the looks like a cowboy hat. The woman in the lower right is our amazing director, Jacque Wheeler.

Some of the lovely chorus ladies: Carla Paige, Chele North, Christie Jo Mayo, Jasmine Lewis and Kenya Delouis.

 

 Blake Fountain as The General and Josh Barcol as Magaldi the tango singer

 Eva's brother and sister, Chele North and Tyrell Ruffin

"Pervita" in the make-up room during intermission. That's Jenah Colledge in the background, she was in charge of keeping all the wigs pretty during the run.

Now, I know everyone wanting to know how "that dress" was made. You can see part of the top in the above photo. We cheated. The Boss found a column dress that had a weird tulle bustle thing for $50 at a resale shop. In theatre, time is money and it would have cost a heck of a lot more to build that dress from the ground up.

We kept the column dress in one peice so we can use it later. The weird bustle thing turned out to have been a skirt that was folded in half (?) I took all the layers apart( all 7 layers) and remade them into a shirt. For some unknown reason the bustle thing also had a hoop petticoat, which had the metal hoops still in it. With the skirt all put back together we ended up with a 2 piece dress. (the straps were added to hold it on the dress form) Lucky for us it didn't need hemming. The skirt is: 1 hoop petticoat, 1 layer of satin, 1 layer of stiff net and 4 layers of tulle.

Here's the dress during "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" . I'd say that was $50 well spent. Rebecca Morris as Evita.

Hope you enjoyed The Rainbow Tour of Evita......

Next up: Summer Stock!

EVITA, Part 2

 

And now Act 2!

 Peron (Ethan Parker) give his thanks for voting for me speech.

 Don't Cry For Me Argentina starts off timid......

 ...by the end, she's kicked it into over drive. In the next post. I'll tell how we made this dress.

"Christan Dior me, from my head to my toes"

Evita goes on The Rainbow Tour of Europe. She visits Spain, Italy, France and Great Britain.  She a big hit in Spain.

 The pro-Peron newspaper loves her!!!

 The Italians....."they called me a whore!"...... She pissed.

 but she's even more pissed with the King of England. Hey, she deserved Buckingham place! After all, she did meet the Pope!

 So, she starts The Eva Peron Foundation.............

 "And The Money Kept Rolling In" and maybe some of it went to a Swiss bank account. That's never been proven.

 School children adore and worship "Santa Evita"

In a reflexive mood

 She wants to run for vice president, but Peron tells her she's dieing.  "Dice are Rolling"

 She giving one last broadcast to tell the people she loves them.

 With Peron and her Mother (Kelsey South)

 She dies of cervix cancer in 1952 at the age of 33.

The play ends as it starts, "Requiem"

As  I said in Part 1, there's all sorts on info about Eva Peron on-line. Some of it is true and some not so true. What is true: after she died, her body was embalmed. That took a year! A monument was being built at the same time, but Peron was ousted and went in exile to Spain. Eva body went missing for 17 years. She turned up buried in Italy under a fake name. Her body was returned to Peron. He and his 3rd wife kept her on their dining room table (for real). She's now buried  in Buenos Aires.  Crazy story, huh?  I didn't have a pro or con opinion about the Perons, I just find their story fascinating. I hope you've enjoyed the photos and I really do wish we could post video because the cast did an amazing job. Next post will be a fun "backstage" one. Hope it's not too boring. :)

AS PROMISED: EVITA!!!!!! (part 1)

 

Evita was written in the mid-1970's by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. It tells the story of Eva Peron, who started out life as a poor girl and ended up being the most famous mummy since King Tut. I'm not going to recount her whole story (check on line for that). The show is called an Broadway opera, because 90%, or so. is sung. Which is different from a regular musical. All the action is told through song. Here is Valdosta State University Theatre and Dance Program's production of Evita!

 

 It opens with the announcement of Eva's death. She died in 1952 at the age of 32, from cancer. Up on the screen is a photo from her funeral, which lasted 2 weeks and was attended by 3 million people.
 

 "Requiem - Oh, What A Circus" is sung during the funeral scenes.

 

 Will Stanley plays "Che", the narrator of the story.

 Evita(played by Rebecca Morris) as a 15-year old girl who wants a better life in Buenos Aires.

 So, she runs off with a tango singer, Magaldi. Played by Josh Barcol on the left and Wendell Hester on the right. The part was double cast. Magaldi was a real person, but she probably didn't run off with him. It makes a better story.

 Hello "Buenos Aires". Needless to say, she loves it there. She becomes an actress and radio personalty.

"Goodnight and Thank You, Magaldi"

"Goodnight and Thank you, Mr. Business Man"

"Goodnight and Thank you, Whoever"

Rumor has it she slept her way to the top. Maybe, maybe not, but it's a funny bit. Mr, Business Man is played by Blake Fountain and Whoever is Micheal McClain.

 "The Art of The Possible" and ruthless game of musical chairs. The first time we see Juan Peron.

 He wins the game. Ethan Parker plays Juan Peron.

 At  charity concert for earthquake relief (which really did happen) Kristen Kebbler and Matty Hogan dance a tango.
At this event  Eva and Juan met for the first time.

 He's quite taken by her. And they start a romance but there's a issue to deal with.......

 The present mistress. Eva kicks her to the curb, but give her the coat. This role was also double cast.

Larren Woodward above and Kelsey Russo below

 The Mistress sings the saddest song in the show, "Another Suitcase in Another Hall"

 "Peron's Latest Flame" the general's don't like the new girlfriend.

 and neither do the rich.

 The newest Senora Peron gives a rousing stump speech....

Peron becomes President and "A New Argentina" begins!

End of Act 1.

next post: Act 2

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 92

 

Say "Hello" to Holly Hobbie.  I know nothing about Holly Hobbie, but she's cute. Love her patchwork outfit.

Evita closes tonight, so I'm hoping to be able to get show photos. I promise to post about the show before next Wednesday. I've been stressed out getting the house ready for market. The plumber is here putting in a new bathroom sink. That's the last fix it up thing to do. I have no idea where I'll been in 6 months, and I'm not too good with change.  So, send me calming vibes.