Casting announced for Jamie Lloyd’s Evita at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Initial casting has been announced for Jamie Lloyd's upcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Samantha Pauly will take on the lead role of Eva Peron in the musical, which is set to open on 2^nd August. Pauly has previously played the role in two different American productions, and has also played the role of Mistress in a third.

Her other stage roles include understudy Valkyrie in the US national tour of Bat Out of Hell, and she's set to appear in the Chicago production of British musical Six, opening next month.

Ektor Rivera will play president Juan Peron. His previous credits include playing Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, and Jesus in Godspell.

Trent Saunders will play the role of Che. His previous roles include the Broadway production of Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre as understudy Aladdin, and the US touring production of American Idiot.

All three are making their UK stage debuts, while Frances Mayli McCann, who appeared in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, will play the Mistress in Lloyd's production. 

Lloyd's creative team includes designer Soutra Gilmour, choreographer Fabian Aloise, musical supervisor Alan Williams, lighting designer Jon Clark and sound designer Nick Lidster. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's fourth musical, Evita first opened in the West End in 1978 starring Elaine Paige and David Essex. It won the Olivier Award for best musical, and became the first British musical to win the Tony Award for best musical when it transferred to Broadway starring Patti LuPone.

Evita tells the story of Argentinian political leader Eva Peron, who was the second wife of president Juan Peron, charting her life and rise to power. It features the songs "Oh What A Circus", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "You Must Love Me".

Evita is at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre from 2^nd August to 21^st September.

Evita tickets are available now.