Jamie Lloyd’s buzzy new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic Evita finally opened at the London Palladium this week, with reviews they could have only dreamt of.
Near‑unanimous five‑star acclaim came from an array of established reviewers, with Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler as Eva Perón drawing the most praise, from “enthralling”, and “astonishing” to plain old “perfection”. Read a round-up of EVITA reviews here.
On this night of a thousand stars, an array of West End legends and Hollywood talent came to support Zegler and the show, including Keanu Reeves, Pedro Pascal, Sarah Paulson, Hayley Atwell, Rosie O’Donnell, Sophie Okonedo, Laurence Fishburne, Ben Whishaw, original Evita Dame Elaine Paige, Richard E. Grant and Dame Arlene Phillips, amongst many others.
Video: Celebrities attend EVITA opening night
Video: EVITA opening night – Rachel Zegler
Also in attendance were the show’s creators, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice. Both were very ready to let Baz Bamigboye at Deadline know that, at their ages, there’s no time like the present for this mega-hit Evita to head to Broadway – and that means soon rather than later!
Jamie Lloyd is also keen, telling Baz and anyone else who would listen at the press opener on Tuesday that 2026 is “when I would like it to go, as soon as possible, really”.
First-look Photos: Evita
See more photos and videos of Evita at the London Palladium >
London-based impresario Michael Harrison, who is producing Evita in London and will be lead producer on Broadway, seems more reserved about timing. He told Baz last month that their current focus is to get Evita officially opened in London first, and reluctantly said that, “then we’ll consider the possibilities of Broadway. And you’ve got to consider aligning the availabilities”.
Unless something goes wrong with Zegler’s availability, it seems that Harrison is seriously outnumbered by the creative team in terms of giving Evita an urgent Broadway transfer, and riding on the buzz from London.
In a rare move earlier this spring, posters went up in New York promoting the London production of Evita, albeit outside the theatre of Jamie Lloyd’s current Lloyd Webber revival, Sunset Boulevard.
The posters raised some eyebrows, and suggested that Lloyd and Lloyd Webber have been manifesting a London-to-Broadway transfer from the get-go.
Tuesday’s opening, and Wednesday’s reviews, now make this a dead-cert.
Read more about Michael Harrison, and Jamie Lloyd’s Evita marketing masterstroke.
More about Evita
Directed and reimagined by Jamie Lloyd (Sunset Boulevard, A Doll’s House), who originally directed Evita at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Evita stars Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, Snow White) as Eva Perón, and Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Boulevard), who is making his West End debut as Che.
The cast also includes James Olivas (American Idiot) as Juan Perón, Aaron Lee Lambert (Hamilton) as Agustín Magaldi and Bella Brown (Hadestown) as The Mistress / Alternate Eva.
The Ensemble of Evita includes Carl Au, Gabriela Benedetti, Shakara Brown, Damian Buhagiar, Kyeirah D’Marni, Sally Frith, DeAngelo Jones, Lucas Koch, Natasha Leaver, Michael Lin, Dianté Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Mireia Mambo, Mia Mullarkey, Perry O’Dea, Alysha Sontae, Monica Swayne, Jon Tsouras and Harrison Wilde, with Myla Carmen, Barney Hudson, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Ricardo Spriggs and Regan Bailey Walker as Swings. Auora Breslin, Lois Haidar, Siena Merilind-Wu and Ffion Rosalie Williams share the role of The Child.
Joining Jamie Lloyd in the creative team are: Choreography by Fabian Aloise, Set and Costume Design by Soutra Gilmour, Music Supervision and Musical Direction by Alan Williams, Lighting Design by Jon Clark, Sound Design by Adam Fisher, Casting by Will Burton CDG, US Casting by Jim Carnahan, Wigs, Hair and Make-up Design by Carole Hancock, Children’s Casting/Children’s Administration by Harry Blumenau, Fight Direction by Kate Waters, Props Supervision by Lily Mollgaard, Intimacy Coordination by Ingrid Mackinnon, Associate Direction by Rupert Hands, Associate Choreography by Amy Thornton, Resident Direction by Cory Hippolyte, Resident Choreography by Paris Green, Associate Set Design by Rachel Wingate, Associate Sound Design by Kelsh B-D, Associate Lighting Design by Lucía Sánchez Roldán, Costume Supervision by Rachel Woodhouse, Assistant Sound Design by Harry Barker, and Orchestral Management by Andy Barnwell and Rich Weedon for BW Musicians.
Booking tickets to Evita
EVITA is playing at the London Palladium until 6 September 2025.
Book tickets to EVITA at the London Palladium in London.
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