Casa Mañana’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical EVITA stars Lauren Kennedy as “Evita,” Kevin Gray as “Che” and will be directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford.
Kennedy has starred on Broadway in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Side Show, Sunset Boulevard and Les Misérables.
Gray has starred on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, The King and I, and most recently starred as "Scar" in the National Tour of Disney's The Lion King.
Performances of Evita are at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Woth, Texas, February 5 - 13, 2011.
I think Lauren Kennedy has a lovely voice, but after being extremely disappointed by her Florence in Chess, I don't think she can convincingly play this role. Her voice doesn't really have the weight and power you need to be able to belt Eva's songs, and I get too much ingenue from her.
"I believe Lauren Kennedy to be one of Broadway's most under-used talents. Kennedy needs a starring role on Broadway."
I agree - I love Lauren Kennedy, easily one of the few performers that I will go see her in anything that's possible.
I agree though, I'm curious what she's going to do as Eva. Kennedy deserves a B'way role, she's put her effort & dues in, it baffles me she hasn't got it yet, or she hasn't been able to get great shows to stay with!
I think those of you with doubts may be underestimating Lauren. She IS an under-utilized talent though. I wanted to go see this production, but unfortunately it requires travel and the timing is bad- but I think she will do a great job. If anything, she can't be worse that Sarah Litzinger was on tour. Talk about an Eva with not very much presence!
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
Just met Lauren after a performance of [title of show]. She is very excited about this production. I asked her about Vanities in Seattle and as far as she knows, she's not doing it nor is it coming back to New York. But you never know... those might change.
EVITA has a student preview tonight and officially opens tomorrow. I have my tickets for tomorrow's performance and am very excited! Updated On: 2/4/11 at 08:13 PM
Casa Mañana's production of 'Evita' is polished, entertaining
By Punch Shaw Special to DFW.com Posted 8:30am on Monday, Feb. 07, 2011
FORT WORTH -- No one needs to cry for this Evita.
Casa Mañana's production of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical, which opened a nine-day run Saturday night, is a highly polished and entertaining presentation on almost every front.
Evita, which first came to the stage in 1978, tells the story of Eva Peron, wife of Argentine President Juan Peron in the 1940s and early 1950s. But it is a lot more about hearts than history, concentrating more on the personal rather than political life of its title heroine.
This production, directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, shines in a number of ways that go far beyond the lead roles. The choruses, for example, are exceptionally sharp and crisp. And the production numbers involving those choruses are choreographed with a great deal of verve and creativity. Even some of the work in the smaller parts, such as Jonathan Bragg as Magaldi, surprises with show-stopping moments.
The title role is taken by Lauren Kennedy and, on the whole, she handles it with aplomb. She captures both the vulnerability and the hard edges of her character with equal clarity. And she nails Don't Cry for Me Argentina. But she is also guilty of too frequently stepping over the line separating powerful and piercing when she is delivering her numbers. There are a lot of places where she needs to dial it back a notch. And the same could be said for Kevin Gray in the role of Che.
Indeed, the only problem with the amplified production was that it was often too loud, making the vocals shrill and rendering the lyrics unintelligible.
But despite those problems (which are likely to disappear as the run continues), this production is so well-planned and -executed that it overcomes any superficial flaws.
It looks like a copy of the Harold Prince production. Why aren't the BWW copyright police all over this? Are they too busy flipping out over what high schools are doing?
I don't really put much stock in anything Punch Shaw says, after his comments that: A) Fiddler on the Roof's choreography made the show "sparkle" B) Claiming to not understand why Chorus Line was one of the greatest musicals when it was only about getting a job.