Evita coming to Center for the Arts April 11 and 12

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present the national tour of Evita at 8 p.m. on April 11 and April 12 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Winner of seven Tony Awards, Evita brings to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator, Juan Peron. Eva Peron, blessed with charisma, captivated a nation by championing the working class. The epic story of the rise and fall of Eva Peron is told in a sweeping pop opera, featuring one of the Broadway stage's most dynamic and lush melodies, "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina."

From her illegitimate birth into poverty, to her status as a world player and South America's most important woman, Evita is a story of glamour, power and greed.

Beginning its life as a concept album in 1976, Evita instantly became a global phenomenon. It was the first mega musical when it opened at the Broadway Theatre on Sept. 25, 1979, setting records for the largest box office advance. It went on to sweep all theatre awards in 1979, winning seven Tonys including best musical, score, book and director. It played

1,568 performances before closing on June 25, 1983.

Evita became the first Broadway show to be reproduced successfully in every major city in the world, including the Philippines, where it had been banned under the Marcos regime because of the uncomfortable parallels to Imelda Marcos.

Evita also became the first musical since the Rodgers and Hammerstein era to burst on to the world's pop charts. Four of the show's song's including the break-out hit "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," were recorded globally. The Broadway cast album won a Grammy in 1981.

A new generation was introduced to Evita in December 1996 when Alan Parker's critically acclaimed film version opened starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. The film received five Oscar nominations, winning for best song, and won three Golden Globes including best picture.

Lyricist Tim Rice won Tony Awards for best book and best score for Evita. He wrote the stage musicals Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, King David, and The Lion King. He received Oscars for Evita's, "You Must Love Me", and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber won a Tony Award for best score for Evita. He is the composer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Song & Dance, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard and Whistle Down the Wind. He has won six Tonys, three Grammys and an Oscar in 1997 for Evita's "You Must Love Me".

Tickets for EVITA are $52, $42, Students $30. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. Students (of any school) must present valid student ID at the Center Box Office to receive discount.