Paulo Szot, Tony Award Winner and International Opera Singer will Star in Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's EVITA

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (Patrick Mulcahy, Producing Artistic Director, and Casey Wm. Gallagher, Managing Director) announced today that Tony Award-winning actor and world-renowned opera singer Paulo Szot will star in Evita at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival this summer. Mr. Szot will play the role of Juan Perón opposite Broadway star Dee Roscioli who, as previously announced, will play the title role of Eva Perón.

Born in São Paulo, baritone Szot has appeared with many leading opera companies throughout Europe, the United States, and his native Brazil. In 2008 he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Emile De Becque in the Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific at Lincoln Center Theater. In the 2008-2009 season, Szot made his New York Philharmonic debut in a concert conducted by Marvin Hamlisch, appearing alongside Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and Kelli O'Hara. In 2010-2011, he made his highly acclaimed Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of The Nose, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Mr. Szot has also appeared at Opera National de Paris, Teatro Royal de Madrid, Dutch National Opera, Opera Australia, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Washington National Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Carnegie Hall, and at the Glyndebourne Festival.

"Mr. Szot is admired the world over for his mesmerizing talents and we are thrilled he will share his extraordinary gifts in our production of Evita," says Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy. "PSF's vision to create world-class theatre could not be better served than with the artistry of Paulo Szot and Dee Roscioli."

Associate Artistic Director Dennis Razze and veteran director of all of PSF's musicals will direct.

"This is a remarkable opportunity to have an artist like Paulo Szot play the role of Juan Perón in PSF's production of Evita. He is an extraordinarily talented actor and singer who I have admired for many years. I am delighted he will join our company this summer!"

Starring opposite Szot in the title role is Dee Roscioli. She is best known for her long run as Elphaba on Broadway, and in the Chicago, San Francisco, and national touring productions of the hit musical Wicked.

Roscioli returns to PSF following her recent performance of Fruma-Sarah in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof and in John Kander's new musical KID VICTORY at the Vineyard Theatre directed by Liesl Tommy. She performed the leading role of Mrs. Lovett in the Festival's 2012 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

The Festival's upcoming 26th season is sponsored by David B. Rothrock and Patrina L. Rothrock. Associate Season Sponsors are the Harry C. Trexler Trust, Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth, and the Szarko family. The season media sponsor is The Morning Call.