Fame, power, and illusion collide in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock-opera Evita, directed by Sammi Cannold. This Tony Award-winning musical examines the rapid and controversial ascent of Eva Perón, the first lady of Argentina, until her untimely death at age 33.

Solea Pfeiffer (Almost Famous, Hamilton), who first blew the roof off City Center in Songs for a New World from the 2018 Encores! Off-Center Season, plays Eva as she emerges as a populist hero ensconced within the elite circles of Buenos Aires society. In iconic ballads like “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “You Must Love Me,” Pfeiffer reveals the savvy artistry with which the eventual celebrity rose from her humble origins. Cannold’s bold new vision also casts Argentine actor and recording artist Maia Reficco to open the show as Young Eva, and the shadow presence of her troubled adolescence provides a unique perspective on Eva’s dazzling adult triumphs. They are joined by Jason Gotay (Call Me Madam at City Center) as Che, Enrique Acevedo(Zorba! at City Center) as Juan Perón, and Philip Hernandez (Les Misérables) as Magaldi. On the one-hundredth anniversary of Eva Perón’s birth, this presentation deepens your understanding of one of Argentina’s most adored and reviled figures.