Evita Resource Guide

Welcome to EVITA! This guide is designed to introduce you to the world of the play, artistically and thematically, and to provide prompts for reflection. As you prepare to attend the show, we invite you to reflect on this production’s essential question, developed in conversation with the creative team:

Icon or human. Villain or saint. Aggressor or victim.

Who was the woman inside the ballgown, and how can we make sense of contradictions in legacy?

Content Warning: This production includes haze, prop firearms, occasional strong language, and stylized violence and sexuality.

Learning about the production process, analyzing context to better understand the artists’ choices, and identifying themes are all valuable ways of preparing for the experience of engaging with live theater. In addition, here are a few elements to keep in mind.

Seeing live theater is a community experience in real time, and being mindful of others is important. Remember that you can be seen and heard just as well as the performers. Keeping your attention focused on the performance will add to the overall experience for everyone. Feeling and expressing emotions is part of the power and magic of theater. We hope you’ll help everyone enjoy the experience by expressing your enjoyment while also considering the experience of those around you. We want you to think of your experience here as one of many. The theater is a place for you. 

There are a few things you can do to help yourself and those around you enjoy the performance:

• Save conversations for intermission and after the show.
• Turn your cell phone off or place it in airplane mode.
• Familiarize yourself with the surroundings (exits, bathrooms) and the resources (this packet, digital program, lobby materials) so you can feel ready to engage fully with the experience.
• Try to take care of your restroom needs before the show and/or at intermission.
• It doesn’t end with the curtain call! Theaters create performances for audiences to enjoy, be inspired by, and reflect upon. Everyone plays a part in building this community and these relationships are vital. Talk with your friends and family about what you’ve experienced. Spread the word!

Learn more about A.R.T.’s production of Evita, including interviews and resources from the creative team, and a bit of history of both the musical and Eva Perón. Hear from the creative team about Evita.

Further Reading

Want to dive deeper into the context, history, and critiques of Evita? The following resources are helpful to explore.

Start with the Recommended Reading/Viewing List for the production. While most titles are geared towards an adult audience, educators can consult this list—including sources used by the creative team—to get a sense of broader themes, history, and critiques that can be discussed with students. You may also enjoy the following resources for further exploration on specific topics:

• Evita and the Responsibility of the Storyteller: Director Sammi Cannold discusses artistic responsibility of storytelling in this TED Talk from 2019.
• Maria Eva Perón: Engage with primary sources, plus a short biography of Eva Perón, compiled by Iowa State University’s Archives of Women’s Political Communication. The website includes English translations of two speeches by Perón from 1951. Learners looking for a deeper dive can compare the text of Eva’s “Speech to the Descamisados” to the way she campaigns in the play, particularly with the famous song “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”
• The Truth Behind… Evita: A short article from Concord Theatricals’ publication Breaking Character series highlights some interesting differences between the characters in the play and the lives of the historical figures upon which they are based. Learners can compare the dramatization of these characters with the facts of their life. Learners can also discuss how an artist might choose the details of a person’s life to include, change, or dramatize when adapting their story to a particular artform such as theater.

Discussion Questions

Evita is sure to spark discussion among learners of all ages. The following are a few questions to consider when unpacking the experience of viewing the production.

Before viewing Evita, consider the following:

• What do you already know about Eva Perón? 
• If you’ve done some initial research on the historical figure Eva Perón, can you describe your initial impression of her in three words? How do you think the musical will portray her?
• What is the responsibility of a storyteller? How do these responsibilities shift when we tell stories about real people?
• What are some of the challenges of adapting a historical figure? What makes adapting a political figure different than, for example, adapting a pop star?
• What other adaptations of historical figures have you seen in books/TV/movies? What did you like/dislike about these interpretations?

After viewing Evita, revisit the previous questions and also consider:

• Why do you think the show’s creators chose to make the Eva Perón story a musical, particularly a rock opera?
• Andrew Lloyd Webber is known for writing musicals that are entirely sung, almost like an opera. What role does music play in this production?
• Why tell this story? And why right now?
• If you could ask the director one question, what would it be?
• If you could ask the cast and creative team one question about the rehearsal room process, what would it be?
• After watching Evita, is Eva portrayed positively, negatively, or somewhere in between? How does this particular production portray her?
• Think back to your initial expectations on the portrayal of Eva Perón. Did the production meet, challenge, or completely defy your expectations? Did it do something entirely different?

For further questions about resources, preparing students, or for recommended lesson plans connected to the production, please contact education@amrep.org.