LIMERICK Musical Society is letting it be known that their Spring production for 2014 is the Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical, ‘Evita’.
Gerry Ryan, one of the society’s founders, is rightly proud of their committee’s choice for stage next year: “‘Evita’ is set to be a Munster premier for Limerick Musical Society, and of course, for the City of Culture that this great city is celebrating in 2014″.
Given the status of LMS in its home town and with other musical societies with which it competes for Association of Irish Musical Societies awards (AIMS), next year’s show will draw the masses. Hence Limerick Musical Societies loyalty to the 1000-seater University Concert Hall on Thursday March 20 to Saturday 22 at 8pm.
Known to many who have never had a chance to see it staged because of the film with Madonna succeeding powerfully in the central role, the show concentrates on the life of Argentinean political leader, Eva Peron, second wife of President Juan Peron. It follows her early life, the rise to power, charity work and eventual death.
“The musical began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976,” Gerry reminds us. “Its success led to productions in London’s West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical”.
Then came tours and worldwide productions and numerous cast albums, as well as the 1996 film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. The musical was revived in London in 2006, and on Broadway in 2012.
Limerick Musical Society’s ‘Evita’ will be directed by Des Henn; musical direction by Maire Keary-Scanlon and choreography by the national award winning Niamh Twomey.
