In the new West End production of Evita, starring Snow White star Rachel Zegler, one of the musical’s most iconic moments takes place offstage.
Midway through the show, Zegler steps onto the London Palladium’s exterior balcony to sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina’ to passersby on the street and the performance is streamed live to the audience inside the theatre.
The unique staging, directed by Jamie Lloyd, has drawn increasingly large crowds to the streets of London’s West End, eager to catch Zegler’s rendition for free.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber called the moment “extraordinary,” praising how it captures Eva Perón’s connection with the public in a way that’s difficult to replicate on stage.
However, not everyone is thrilled. Some theatregoers – who paid up to £245 (€285) for a ticket – have voiced frustration at watching a recorded video of the song rather than experiencing it live in the theatre. Despite the backlash, others see it as a bold, theatrical gesture.
Check out the video above for footage of the performance and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s comments.