Culture

ZCT’s Production of ‘Evita’ Opens Feb. 2


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Evita, the rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is the next offering by the Zanesville Community Theatre. The productions opens on Friday, February 2. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3, and February 9 and 10. There will also be two matinees on Sundays February 4 and 11, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Evita is being directed for ZCT by Michelle Robison, with Sheryl Wise and Tom Tompkins as musical co-directors.

Evita is the rags-to-riches, true-life story of Eva Duarte, who was born into poverty but married Juan Peron, a powerful man and went on to become a beloved national figure. With well-known numbers such as “And the Money Kept Rolling In” and “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” Evita is a theatrical classic.

The pivotal role of Eva Peron is being played in the Zanesville Community Theatre production by Jillian B. Von Gunten. She is joined by Steven Hendershott as Juan Peron, Jim Hoskinson as Che, Daniel Kelty as Magaldi, Tahnee Kay as Peron’s mistress, and Richard Tolliver as Eva’s brother.

The cast is completed by a large and versatile ensemble, playing characters ranging from the military to Eva’s family members to workers and people of the streets. Those ensemble members are: Amber Allen, Amanda Cox, Katie Gahagan, Grayson Gantzer, Julie Gantzer, Madeline Gantzer, Emma Gross, Cadence Hendershott, Alaine Kay, Jon Kelty, Gabrielle Labishak, Dee McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Phil Palmer, Kevin Rahrig, Cameron Scott, Kari Scott, Benjamin Stemm, Chad Stemm, Gabriel Stemm, Tyler Tompkins, Payton Van Nort, Becca Wilson, Jodi Wolfe and Margi Wysong.

Evita also features a large live orchestra, conducted by musical co-director Sheryl Wise. Tom Tompkins also serves as musical co-director and plays keyboards. The rest of the orchestra is as follows: Allison Sommers and Jessica Moore on flute, piccolo and alto flute; Aaron Beatty on clarinet; Susan Barzda on clarinet, bass clarinet and tenor saxophone; Blaine Schultice and Jeremy Helsel on French horn; Brandon Barnes and Caleb Stemm, trumpet; Emily Clark and Gavin T. Newton, trumpet and flugelhorn; Alex Clark and Matt Harrison, trombone; Stuart Williams, drum set; Bill and Kira Albright, percussion; Grayson Wasileski, guitar; Mary Beth Ward and Bill Christy, keyboard; Julia Curtis and Rosemary Cipriani, violin; Emily Hoffman, viola; Sharon Evans, violincello; Michael Border, electric bass guitar.

For more information or to order tickets, please phone the Zanesville Community Theatre box office at 740-455-6487. Tickets may also be purchased in advance online at www.zct.org. The Zanesville Community Theatre is fully handicapped accessible.