Jamie Lloyd-helmed EVITA revival to play the London Palladium in 2025- Page 17

[gibsons2]

Posted: 6/20/25 at 2:53pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "gibsons2 said: "r

I didn't care for Rachel Zegler before that media vitriol against her, but now I'm all attention."

so you DO understand why people dont like her, because you yourself did not?

I look fwd to her Evita, but its wild to watch the hive mind shift to worship of someone that has been totally unremarkable in almost everything shes ever done before, to the point that now anyone who voices less than praise is a "hater""

No I don't understand. I've never hated or even disliked Rachel Zeigler. I never cared about her existence, if that's more clear. But media vitriol against her made me curious to follow her career because she's a phenomenal singer, at least. And she has received acclaim for at least 2 of her movies. You know, there's a healthy medium between worshipping and hatred, which is the experience for most normal people.

[Ensemble1709276860]

Posted: 6/20/25 at 8:24pm

everythingtaboo said: "everythingtaboo said: "Is it spoilery to ask how Che ends up in his briefs covered in paint at the end?"

Is it also spoilery to ask how Don't Cry for Me looks from the audience inside? Like just a big screen comes down? Does it look like a livestream? It is enhanced to look like footage back in the day?"

Here's how I remember it from when I was there this week - although I don't have the best memory, so someone please correct me and/or fill in the gaps if you remember better!

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The screen just comes down - although I'm not sure of the exact ratio, it's quite short/wide compared to Sunset Blvd's. Throughout the song, it looked like a very, very high quality livestream to me. Definitely not filtered to look like historical footage.

Some more details about the exact scene:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

We first see Evita glamorously dressed in her white gown and blonde wig, and the camera follows her as she makes her way out to the balcony. She begins to sing, and we fade in/out of a few different angles of her, including one from behind a few ensemble members' heads, as well as a shot of the crowd in general. 

I honestly wish I could go back again to soak up all the details, as a good portion of my brainpower went to comprehending the plot - I'm not very familiar with Evita, and neither am I good with abstract imagery, but it was a heck of a great time!

Updated On: 6/20/25 at 08:24 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/22/25 at 5:27pm

Zegler in conversation with fans at the stage door after some kind of pushing/shoving/security incident. The earlier part of what happened seems to not be online yet, if it ever will be at all. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/s/7rDqBbJg2W

Updated On: 6/22/25 at 05:27 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 6/22/25 at 5:46pm

Class. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 6/23/25 at 10:23am

CATSNYrevival said: "Kit Connor was the draw inRomeo andJuliet."

You may believe that but considering it is the only time either one of them has been on broadway, as said above, the only proof we have suggests she’s a success.

Honestly the idea that people won’t go see a talented performer they dislike as a person is pretty much unsupported by history. 

I do think some of the Evita press has the tone of spin but good for her. The Snow White press also had the tone of spin to me so if Andy and Co wanna plant good stories about her, good.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/23/25 at 10:30am

Ke3 said: "CATSNYrevival said: "Kit Connor was the draw inRomeo andJuliet."

You may believe that but considering it is the only time either one of them has been on broadway, as said above, the only proof we have suggests she’s a success.

Honestly the idea that people won’t go see a talented performer they dislike as a person is pretty much unsupported by history.

I do think some of the Evita press has the tone of spin but good for her. The Snow White press also had the tone of spin to me so if Andy and Co wanna plant good stories about her, good."

I mentioned this on a previous thread, but I'm a college theater professor, and the *only* show my students (18-24 age range) were going out of their way to see last fall was ROMEO + JULIET -- and Zegler was a big part of that. No doubt Connor was a draw, but so was she.

 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 6/23/25 at 12:42pm

All this back and forth about whether she’s a draw or not: but does it really matter?  If she’s a sensation in this (and it appears that she is), the run will sell-out and it will be fast-tracked to New York post-Jellical Ball.  Kind of exactly what happened with Nicole and Sunset. 

I never paid attention to her career at all after West Side Story, but suddenly this is the show I’m most excited about seeing in London. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/26/25 at 2:41pm

The earlier part of the stage door security conversation has been posted on Reddit.

I especially like Rachel’s expression after the loud guy in the crowd says “Your Daddy?!”

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/s/LKnOFHxoLo

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 7:20pm

Just back from tonight’s performance: Rachel is more than a sensation, she’s a revelation.  Moreover, Jamie Lloyd clearly thought through the book and lyrics meaningfully and it shows from the choreography to the lighting.  And I don’t know why I haven’t read more about Diego Andres Rodriguez in this, but he is not only nailing the role, but sexy as hell, with or without his shirt. 

I’m incredibly stunned by how much I enjoyed this production. Still need to organize my thoughts about it, and I’m going back Tuesday, but will have more to add. 

Updated On: 6/28/25 at 07:20 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 7:36am

The West End’s Hottest Seats: The Piles of Trash Outside ‘Evita’

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/theater/evita-balcony-rachel-zegler.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Sk8.trdb.GtWIHQ3TUhtu&smid=nytcore-android-share

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 8:09am

I understand the comments to the article because they come from a lack of understanding how the balcony scene plays in the theatre. To me, it absolutely works and I did not feel cheated

[soxboy22]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 8:51am

Delete

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 1:43pm

Toi toi toi to Rachel and the cast on opening night tonight!

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:01pm

As I mentioned in the grosses thread, I find it really hard to believe this won't be coming over within the next 12 months. There's no sense to waiting if it has this much heat on it. Rachel singing on the balcony is an enduring online thing just as Nicole's first curtain call/stage door on Broadway was, but I'd say DCFMA has gotten a hair closer to penetrating a more mainstream zeitgeist. 

Will Jamie do Much Ado this Fall and Evita in the Spring? That seems most logical.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:10pm

If it’s to be within the next 12 months, they’ll have to hope that either Versailles or Hadestown close in time since those are really the only theatres that will support the Balcony Gimmick. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:13pm

The production seems too big for the Kerr, despite the ample fire escape space. St. James it is. 

[mshalo18]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:35pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "The production seems too big for the Kerr, despite the ample fire escape space. St. James it is."

I can't even imagine closing down 44th Street for DCFMA- the logistics seem far more complex (and the scene appears to take quite a bit longer) than the Sunset walk. But what do I know.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:48pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "The production seems too big for the Kerr, despite the ample fire escape space. St. James it is."

Agreed, with 900 or so seats the Kerr is too small. Something I learned recently about the Kerr balcony - it was originally a spotlight platform that was converted into a seating area. When you look at photos of the auditorium it’s quite evident. Worst view on Broadway. I’m sure other members here knew already but as I’d only sat up there for Lysistrata Jones, I hadn’t thought about it for a long time. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:49pm

That’s what I’ve also been saying. An entire street from (depending on theater) Broadway to 8th Ave would have to be barricaded off 8x a week with police presence (since they’re the ones blocking it off). The show has been running in London for what, 3 weeks now? And the crowds outside for that one scene are MASSIVE and I’m sure will only get bigger. Not to mention it’s not just the street that would be filled on Broadway, it’s the sidewalk across the street blocking whatever theater or business is there. 

I’m sure there’s ways to figure that out but just thinking about it, I don’t see how. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 3:04pm

The Majestic is directly opposite the St James. If a quiet scene was being played at the Majestic when Argentina is being sung/applauded/cheered for, it could actually be pretty disruptive. Perhaps Patti and Kecia can mediate. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 3:07pm

^ Thats a really good point, I hadn’t even thought of. The only theater I can see this working at (that doesn’t even have the setup for “that” scene) is the Beaumont. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 3:16pm

Probably the best scenario in NY would be if the Shubert Theatre was available and had a balcony (or could create one) that looked out on Shubert Alley...

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 3:36pm

chernjam said: "Probably the best scenario in NY would be if the Shubert Theatre was available and had a balcony (or could create one) that looked out on Shubert Alley..."

In theory this would avoid vehicular traffic issues, but would still be disruptive for whatever is playing at the Booth. Especially with the echo that would come from Minskoff tower.

Jamie has his work cut out for him. This may not really be possible unless they take the loss and somehow get the Kerr (only nearby theatre is the Longacre, and it’s one plot westward so sound may not matter as much) or if the Majestic is somehow empty and the use the St James.
If both the James and Majestic were owned by the same people, maybe they could have ensured that the Majestic stay dark for 6 or 9 months so there’s no risk of interrupting another show. 

Updated On: 7/1/25 at 03:36 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 4:04pm

It may be that they just cannot logistically replicate what they're doing in London for Broadway. I wouldn't be surprised if DCFMA will be done differently if/when this transfers to Broadway.

Much like the spinning seats for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella in London were scrapped for the Broadway production as it just was not possible to pull off.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 4:21pm

I feel like trying to do this in the city is kind of psychotic in general. It's not set up to allow crowds, not set up to allow people to actually even HEAR it effectively. Its a gimmick that's just going to have to stay in London...