Jamie Lloyd-helmed EVITA revival to play the London Palladium in 2025- Page 19

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:18am

Before Sunset came in, the same people pontificating on if they could recreate the walk around here were saying it was impossible. It’s clear Lloyd isn’t concerned with expense.

Have we considered the Winter Garden? On the main side, it’s just a pedestrian island/bike path isn’t it, so that would make a ton of sense and you can imagine Lloyd salivating at the idea of having a huge billboard of EVITA behind Rachel as she sings the song from atop the marquee canopy (which I imagine they’d need to work out how to modify it to a balcony. I don’t anticipate Mamma Mia being a runaway hit and staying beyond the holidays. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:23am

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

The Music Box has a more suitable balcony and more seats than the Kerr"

This is true (but still too small) and the pillars would be gorgeous. But disruption of the theatres across the street would be guaranteed. Jamie Lloyd mentions being aware of this in the Deadline article. 

This problem will be fascinating to follow and see how they work it out. I wonder if they’d pay for Versailles to move elsewhere if it’s still running. I believe this has been done before but I can’t remember which shows. 

[inception]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:27am

Wow that Deadline writer doesn't just work on the head & shaft, he gets right in there & cleans out their taints & butt holes. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:32am

I hope they announce something soon if only for the sanity of theater message board users who will talk in circles about this 24/7 for the rest of the 2025.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:35am

theatergoer3 said: "understand his rationale but I don’t remember Sunset breaking through to this degree (even though itwas a hit) and there is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot."

Just to clarify any myths — SUNSET is not a financial hit in New York. It will not recoup. It won’t even return half its capitalization to investors. EVITA would be no cheaper to mount, if not more, but I agree that it feels like it could be bigger than Sunset. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:37am

inception said: "Wow that Deadline writer doesn't just work on the head & shaft, he gets right in there & cleans out their taints & butt holes."

We’re entering the BroadwayNSFW subreddit territory.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 9:45am

“Evita” is a MUCH larger show than “Sunset” is so the costs would be a lot higher. But ALW is a billionaire having the kind of renaissance that people his age only dream about and that’s in no small part thanks to Jamie Lloyd. The man has productions of “Phantom”, “Cats”, “Sunset” and “Evita” that are (or will be) talked about all over the world that people are going crazy for, not to mention one new musical premiering next year and ANOTHER that he’s also working on.  

What I’m saying is, I don’t think money is an object for his shows right now. He also wants to buy back the Times Square Church. I walked by the other day wondering if he did, if they could do “Evita” there and use the space across the street for the crowd but there’s no balcony there. Yet. lol

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 10:02am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "theatergoer3 said: "understand his rationale but I don’t remember Sunset breaking through to this degree (even though it was a hit) and there is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot."

Just to clarify any myths — SUNSET is not a financial hit in New York. It will not recoup. It won’t even return half its capitalization to investors. EVITA would be no cheaper to mount, if not more, but I agree that it feels like it could bebigger than Sunset."

I was thinking of its London run. In NY, it’s had its struggles but it feels like it’s the biggest Lloyd has gotten even with his play revivals. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 11:13am

While Sunset may not be a financial runaway hit, it certainly is a cultural one. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 11:32am

MezzA101 said: "'Evita' Could Move To Broadway With Rachel Zegler Reprising Role

https://deadline.com/2025/07/evita-to-broadway-london-palladium-rachel-zegler-jamie-lloyd-1236447524/"

Probably worth noting that in this new piece saying Evita may transfer as early as next year there's no mention of Baz's report in his previous article about the production that Zegler was jn talks to lead a Lincoln Center revival of The Sound of Music either this or next year.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 11:34am

When I read the article earlier, it had Ziegler flatly state her starring in Sound of Music was not happening:

"The star also cleared up a little “Do-re-mi-fa-so” matter concerning rumours about her playing the Julie Andrews role in the Sound of Music at Lincoln Center. She would love to do such a thing but “I don’t mind squashing that,” she says,” It’s not real."

Updated On: 7/2/25 at 11:34 AM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 11:35am

From the article:

The star also cleared up a little “Do-re-mi-fa-so” matter concerning rumours about her playing the Julie Andrews role in the Sound of Music at Lincoln Center. She would love to do such a thing but “I don’t mind squashing that,” she says,” It’s not real.”

[MezzA101]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 1:14pm

Why Rachel Zegler and Jamie Lloyd's 'Evita' Balcony Scene Is Genius

https://variety.com/2025/legit/columns/why-rachel-zegler-jamie-lloyd-evita-balcony-scene-genius-1236446036

[chernjam]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 1:29pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "theatergoer3 said: "understand his rationale but I don’t remember Sunset breaking through to this degree (even though itwas a hit) and there is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot."

Just to clarify any myths — SUNSET is not a financial hit in New York. It will not recoup. It won’t even return half its capitalization to investors. EVITA would be no cheaper to mount, if not more, but I agree that it feels like it could bebigger than Sunset."

I would think only the investors and producers would know that for sure...  Just doing some guesstimates from the information that was floated around ($15 million capitalization; $950k weekly running expenses; fees another $200k per week) I had done some math and it looked like they had gotten about $10million returned with last weeks grosses - and perhaps that's why there was a week extension to see if they might be able to get closer to the total and deem it as recouping.  I'm sure everyone involved would love that final "cherry" on top of this production after all the Olivier and Tony awards as well as critical and popular acclaim this production has had.  

As for how this would go for Evita - I sense that Rachel is a bit of a known name and personality than Nicole was when Sunset opened in NY.  And without as long a lag between productions, they could build on the momentum of this summer in London 

[lastmidnights]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 1:33pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Just to clarify any myths — SUNSET is not a financial hit in New York. It will not recoup. It won’t even return half its capitalization to investors. EVITA would be no cheaper to mount, if not more, but I agree that it feels like it could be bigger than Sunset."

All speculation, but couldn't EVITA conceivably have an open run? I could see someone like Maia Refficio replacing Zegler after a year; she was fabulous and underutilized in that NYCC production.  While most reports indicate that Zegler is top-notch in this role, I don't think the production was effectively made for her in the same way SUNSET was for Scherzinger.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 1:43pm

This production was not custom made for Rachel the way “Sunset” was for Nicole, since so much of the staging etc is the same as it was at the park. If you talk to Sam Pauly, a lot of the show was suited for HER and now it’s adjusted a bit to suit Rachel better. But there’s no “don’t you worry about Monay Honay” bits that alternates try to do and fall flat with, in this. So a suitable alternate wouldn’t have any problem fitting into this production. If that makes sense. 

[MezzA101]

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

Rachel Zegler Delights in an ‘Evita’ for the Masses

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/theater/evita-rachel-zegler-jamie-lloyd.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TU8.OBIu.fE9v6gTqHcne&smid=nytcore-android-share

[Timon3]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 2:27pm

Is that definitely correct that Sunset runs T $1.2m a week?

Also not sure if that NYT review is great, it kind of reminds me of Cinderella, rave in London, but panned in New York.

[chernjam]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 3:32pm

Timon3 said: "Is that definitely correct that Sunset runs T $1.2m a week?

Also not sure if that NYT review is great, it kind of reminds me of Cinderella, rave in London, but panned in New York."

I can't remember where I had read the $900/$950 k a week operating cost and the added $300 k was the speculation by the BWW writer on Reddit who does the Box Office Analysis every week.  A friend who is an investor said at one time that he was in the ball park, but the exact #'s are still confidential and there's variations (for example, Jamie Llloyd and ALW as both creators and producers, perhaps there's differences in how much their royalties are)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 6:40pm

I just know a bunch of you on this board want this to transfer and fail because Rachel Zegler is in this. 
 

I hope it succeeds beyond everyone’s wildest dreams and makes all of you haters even more miserable than you already are. 
 

And if she wins the Tony that would be the cherry on top of the cake! 
 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 6:47pm

CarlosAlberto said: "I just know a bunch of you on this board want this to transfer and fail because Rachel Zegler is in this.


I hope it succeeds beyond everyone’s wildest dreams and makes all of you haters even more miserable than you already are.


And if she wins the Tony that would be the cherry on top of the cake!
"

Same, and you know what: I think it will.  

This production is world’s better than Sunset and easily the best Evita I’ve ever seen.  I had high expectations for Rachel going in, and she destroyed them. This woman is the real deal: singer, dancer, and actress. When she sang “no one else can fill it like I can,” the audience erupted…because it’s true 💅 

Updated On: 7/2/25 at 06:47 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 6:54pm

Play Esq. said: "CarlosAlberto said: "I just know a bunch of you on this board want this to transfer and fail because Rachel Zegler is in this.


I hope it succeeds beyond everyone’s wildest dreams and makes all of you haters even more miserable than you already are.


And if she wins the Tony that would be the cherry on top of the cake!
"

Same, and you know what: I think it will.

This production is world’s better than Sunset and easily the best Evita I’ve ever seen. I had high expectations for Rachel going in, and she destroyed them. This woman is the real deal: singer, dancer, and actress. When she sang “no one else can fill it like I can,” the audience erupted…because it’s true 💅"

Love this! Thanks for sharing! 
 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 7:09pm

Any rumors on cast album?  I hope they do a proper studio recording.  No more of this live nonsense.  

[FolliesCabaret]

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

Rentaholic2 said: "No more of this live nonsense."

Hear hear!!!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/2/25 at 7:43pm

Rentaholic2 said: "Any rumors on cast album? I hope they do a proper studio recording. No more of this live nonsense."

UK loves nothing more than a cheap way to do a cast recording...