Rachel Zegler. Image: Instagram/@rachelzegler
As Rachel Zegler continues to engage in promotional activities for the live-action “Snow White,” the actress was cast as Eva Peron in the West End staging of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita.”
The casting of Zegler — who is of Colombian and Polish descent — was announced by “Evita’s” official Instagram page on Saturday, March 15. She is the only confirmed cast member in the musical’s upcoming staging, as of this writing.
“Hello, Buenos Aires! @rachelzegler is Eva Perón,” its post read.
Zegler told Deadline that “Evita” is an “important musical” while recalling how she and her father would sing one of its songs, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” when she was still young.
“‘Evita’ has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl when my dad and I would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together on my back patio. The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd’s singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other. The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to make my West End debut in such great company,” she said, per report.
The actress also expressed her excitement about “Evita’s” West End staging on her Instagram page while sharing the report.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” she captioned her post.
The upcoming staging of “Evita” also marks Zegler’s West End debut. Ariana DeBose was reportedly in talks to portray Eva Peron but dropped out due to scheduling commitments.
The West End staging of “Evita” will run from July 1 to September 6 at the London Palladium. The production will be led by British theatre director Jamie Lloyd.
“Evita” is based on the story of former Argentine First Lady Eva Peron, an activist who fought for labor rights and women’s suffrage. Known as the “Spiritual Leader of the Nation,” she died of cervical cancer in July 1952. She was 33 years old.
Some of the actresses notable for portraying Peron in theater were Patti LuPone and Elena Roger. Meanwhile, Madonna took on the titular role in Peron’s film biopic in December 1996.
Beginning her entertainment career as a theater actress, Zegler became known in the mainstream after starring as Maria in the 2021 film adaptation of “West Side Story.” She also portrayed Lucy Gray Baird in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” in 2023.