Circle Theatre Presents EVITA, Now thru 5/23

Starting off the Main Stage season in May of 2015 is the musical EVITA, running tonight, May 7 through 23. The subject of this dynamic musical masterpiece by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice is Argentina's controversial First Lady, Eva Peron. 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.

In conjunction with Circle's production of EVITA, a replica of Eva Peron's gown (worn in the upcoming production), will tour downtown Grand Rapids with stops at Modern Day Floral in the Amway Grand Plaza. The Grand Rapids Public Museum, The Grand Rapids Public Library, and The Grand Rapids Art Museum. This gown is up for auction between April 9 and May 22. For more information or to place a bid, click on the following link: http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19397/auctions/22127/auction_items/508870

Proceeds will benefit Circle Theatre.

The Circle Theatre production of Evita will be directed by Rob Karel. Karel will be joined by choreographer William Schutte and music director Scott Patrick Bell. The design team features lighting designer Catherine Marlett Dreher, scenic designer Don Wilson, costume designers Bill Dunckel and Val Fischer, hair & make up designer Scott McGuire, sound designer Timothy K. Schmidt and properties designer Kathy Keehn.

The cast of Evita features Jolene Frankey as Eva Peron, Derek Call as Che, Todd Lewis as Juan Peron, Maris Wimmer as Peron's Mistress and Jason Morrison as Magaldi.

Performances will be held at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center. Performances are May 7 through 23. Curtain for performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30PM. Sunday performances begin at 5:00PM. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased by calling the Circle Theatre box office at 616.456.6656 or online at www.circletheatre.org. The box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5:00PM and from 3:00PM to curtain on days of performances.

2015 will mark Circle Theatre's 63rd year of producing plays and musicals for West Michigan audiences. Other productions in the 2015 season include the rock musical Evita, the comedies The 39 Steps and Becky's New Car, the Stephen Sondheim musical comedy Company and the new musical Catch Me If You Can, based on the DreamWorks motion picture. Circle also offers the children's story The Jungle Book as part of their Family Magic Circle Series. Circle's 2015 Summer Concert Series will perform on select Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7:00PM and will feature the iconic music of James Taylor (Shed A Little Light), the Women of Rock (Leather & Lace), Carole King (Natural Woman) and Neil Diamond (Forever In Blue Jeans). The theatre first produced shows at the Rowe Hotel before moving to the Pantlind Hotel and the pavilion in John Ball Park. Circle Theatre now shares a performing arts center with Aquinas College and the Catholic Secondary Schools at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center. Information regarding season ticket subscriptions, Magic Circle and the Summer Concert Series can be gathered by calling the Circle Theatre box office at (616) 456-6656 or by visiting the theatre's website at www.circletheatre.org.