Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre Production of “Evita” Opens at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton

April 29, 2017

Pleasanton, CA–Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre production of the Tony Award winning musical Evita with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice opened tonight at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. The show will run through May 14, 2017: Fridays, 5/5 & 5/12 at 8pm; Saturdays, 4/29 & 5/6 & 5/13 at 8pm; Saturday matinees, 5/6 and 5/13 at 2pm; and Sunday matinees 4/30, 5/7, & 5/14 at 2pm. Tickets are $19-$40 each, and are available at the Firehouse Arts Center Box Office, by phone at (925) 931-4848, or online at www.pcrtproductions.org or www.firehousearts.org.

Argentina’s controversial First Lady is the subject of this dynamic musical masterpiece. As an illegitimate fifteen year old, Eva escaped her dirt-poor existence for the bright lights of Buenos Aires. Driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, she was a starlet at twenty-two, the president’s mistress at twenty-four, First Lady at twenty-seven, and dead at thirty-three. Eva Peron ‘saint to the working-class, reviled by the aristocracy and mistrusted by the military’ was destined to leave a fascinating political legacy unique in the 20th century. Told through a compelling score that fuses haunting chorales with exuberant Latin, pop and jazz influences, Evita creates an arresting theatrical portrait as complex as the woman herself. Unforgettable songs include Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, What’s New Buenos Aires, High Flying Adored and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

The production is directed by professional director/choreographer/actor Misty Megia, and supported by Music Director, Rachel Robinson and Choreographer, Christina Lazo.

Of PCRT’s production Megia says, “I am thrilled to be taking on this classic show which is incredibly poignant in our current political lives. It takes on the rise of a power that completely divided a country down socioeconomic lines. A country became engaged because of their passions on the issues that were important to them. They protested, they gathered in large masses (although there were disagreements on crowd size), they made sure their voices were heard. When I began to read the history of this show, I couldn’t help but to draw parallels to today’s world. Minus the time period and the social media aspect the similarities are shocking and I had to consistently set my books down and reflect. Peron claimed that protesters against him had been organized by ‘moneyed interests’, Peron’s speeches were meant to incite fear and rage and they were combative, accusations were made against people who disagreed, or news was created on Eva’s radio station to only talk about how wonderful Peronism was.

“I was able to set down my books and actually had the opportunity to speak to a woman who escaped Peronism, on a ship named Evita which she has tried to scratch off of her now framed certificate of Passage. She gave me incredible detail of her families need to escape during Peronism and the anti-Semitic activity taking place considering them immigrants that need to be dealt with. It is heart breaking to see history’s darkness repeated. But again it’s not as easy as this person is bad, or good. Someone that ruined the lives of many can also be considered another’s salvation. It all depends on the seat you are sitting in and your view.

“Interestingly this show doesn’t provide an ending that wraps everything up in a nice bow and makes a comment on how you should feel. Instead it provides an opportunity to come to your own conclusion with the information it chooses to share. In politics, I feel things aren’t always in black and white. There are always conversations we are not privy too, not all of the good is shown and sometimes the bad is tucked away from view. We are left to make decisions using our knowledge, what we are being told and are influenced by our individual backgrounds and decide what side of history you want to be on.”