Latest news with #JamieLloyd
BreakingNews.ie
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
West End passersby see Rachel Zegler sing Don't Cry For Me Argentina on balcony
Hunger Games star Rachel Zegler has treated West End passersby with a performance of Don't Cry For Me Argentina from a theatre balcony. The actress plays Eva Peron, the former first lady of Argentina, in Jamie Lloyd's new production of the hit musical Evita, which follows the story of Peron as she rises from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America. Advertisement The 24-year-old was seen singing the musical's most popular number from a balcony outside the London Palladium theatre on Thursday. Rachel Zegler, who plays Eva Peron in a new production of Evita at the London Palladium, sings Don't Cry For Me Argentina on a theatre balcony (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Dressed in a white strapless gown with white-blonde hair, Zegler can be seen serenading crowds of fans who have stopped to film the performance from outside the theatre. The artistic choice has meant that ticketed audience members are unable to witness the live rendition themselves, but rather, watch it on a screen from inside the theatre. Zegler rose to fame after staring as Maria in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story which saw her win the Golden Globe Award for best actress. Advertisement She has since garnered a series of film credits including for the Hunger Games franchise, appearing in the prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, as Lucy Gray Baird, and also starred in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, both of which were released in 2023. Rachel Zegler plays Eva Peron in Jamie Lloyd's new production of Evita (Jordan Pettitt/PA) She went on to make her Broadway debut in 2024, starring as Juliet in Romeo And Juliet with clips going viral after Heartstopper's Kit Connor, who played Romeo, did a pull up on stage to kiss her. Zegler is also known for starring in the title role of a live action film version of Disney's Snow White. Her portrayal of Peron in Lloyd's production marks the actress' debut on the West End. Advertisement Evita opened on June 14th and will run at the London Palladium for 12 weeks.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rachel Zegler Serenades Crowd Outside Theater for Free in a New London Production of ‘Evita'
In a new production of Evita, one of the biggest moments isn't on the stage. Midway through the show, Rachel Zegler, playing Argentine first lady Eva Perón, emerges onto an exterior balcony at the London Palladium and sings 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina' to whoever is passing by below. The performance is streamed back on video to the audience inside. More from Billboard Watch Rachel Zegler Play 'Finish the Lyrics' Disney Edition Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to Receive Vanguard Award at The Guitar Center Music Foundation Gala & Benefit Concert Shakira Announces Two More Dates in Mexico, Extending Record to 28 News has spread quickly since the show began previews this week, and hundreds have gathered outside the historic venue in London's West End theaterland to enjoy the free serenade by the Snow White star. The show's composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, said that it makes for 'an extraordinary moment' in his musical about a woman who rose from poverty to power and was adored by the masses. 'Within the theater, it's really exciting because suddenly you see her with a genuine huge crowd, which you can't do onstage,' Lloyd Webber told The Associated Press on Thursday (June 19). 'I think there will be people who are disappointed that she hasn't sung it live in the theater, but I think it's going to be greatly outweighed by the theatricality of using film in that way.' The decision by director Jamie Lloyd has sparked some grumbling from ticketholders who paid up to 245 pounds ($330) for a seat, only for the musical's most famous number to be sung offstage. It's a technique Lloyd has used before. He had a character in Sunset Boulevard perform a song while walking down the street outside the theater, and his production of Romeo and Juliet saw star Tom Holland play a key scene on the theater blogger Carl Woodward told the BBC that he could understand why some theatregoers who'd forked out for a ticket felt 'a bit aggrieved,' since 'a trip to the theater for some is really a once-a-year occasion.'But Lloyd Webber cited an opinion piece in The Times of London noting that the gesture is 'kind of what Eva Perón would have wanted — that people are actually experiencing her big anthem, as it were, for free.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Associated Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Rachel Zegler serenades the crowd for free in a new London production of 'Evita'
LONDON (AP) — In a new production of 'Evita,' one of the biggest moments isn't on the stage. Midway through the show, Rachel Zegler, playing Argentine first lady Eva Perón, emerges onto an exterior balcony at the London Palladium and sings 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina,' to whoever is passing by below. The performance is streamed back on video to the audience inside. News has spread quickly since the show began previews this week, and hundreds have gathered outside the historic venue in London's West End theaterland to enjoy the free serenade by the 'Snow White' star. The show's composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, said that it makes for 'an extraordinary moment' in his musical about a woman who rose from poverty to power and was adored by the masses. 'Within the theater, it's really exciting because suddenly you see her with a genuine huge crowd, which you can't do onstage,' Lloyd Webber told The Associated Press on Thursday. 'I think there will be people who are disappointed that she hasn't sung it live in the theater, but I think it's goinag to be greatly outweighed by the theatricality of using film in that way.' The decision by director Jamie Lloyd has sparked some grumbling from ticketholders who paid up to 245 pounds ($330) for a seat, only for the musical's most famous number to be sung offstage. It's a technique Lloyd has used before. He had a character in 'Sunset Boulevard' perform a song while walking down the street outside the theater, and his production of 'Romeo and Juliet' saw star Tom Holland play a key scene on the theater roof. Theater blogger Carl Woodward told the BBC that he could understand why some theatregoers who'd forked out for a ticket felt 'a bit aggrieved,' since 'a trip to the theater for some is really a once-a-year occasion.' But Lloyd Webber cited an opinion piece in The Times of London noting that the gesture is 'kind of what Eva Perón would have wanted — that people are actually experiencing her big anthem, as it were, for free.' ___ Lizzie Knight contributed to this report.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Rachel Zegler serenades the crowd for free in a new London production of 'Evita'
In a new production of 'Evita,' one of the biggest moments isn't on the stage. Midway through the show, Rachel Zegler, playing Argentine first lady Eva Perón, emerges onto an exterior balcony at the London Palladium and sings 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina,' to whoever is passing by below. The performance is streamed back on video to the audience inside. News has spread quickly since the show began previews this week, and hundreds have gathered outside the historic venue in London's West End theaterland to enjoy the free serenade by the 'Snow White' star. The show's composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, said that it makes for 'an extraordinary moment' in his musical about a woman who rose from poverty to power and was adored by the masses. 'Within the theater, it's really exciting because suddenly you see her with a genuine huge crowd, which you can't do onstage,' Lloyd Webber told The Associated Press on Thursday. 'I think there will be people who are disappointed that she hasn't sung it live in the theater, but I think it's goinag to be greatly outweighed by the theatricality of using film in that way." The decision by director Jamie Lloyd has sparked some grumbling from ticketholders who paid up to 245 pounds ($330) for a seat, only for the musical's most famous number to be sung offstage. It's a technique Lloyd has used before. He had a character in 'Sunset Boulevard' perform a song while walking down the street outside the theater, and his production of 'Romeo and Juliet' saw star Tom Holland play a key scene on the theater roof. Theater blogger Carl Woodward told the BBC that he could understand why some theatregoers who'd forked out for a ticket felt 'a bit aggrieved,' since 'a trip to the theater for some is really a once-a-year occasion.' But Lloyd Webber cited an opinion piece in The Times of London noting that the gesture is 'kind of what Eva Perón would have wanted — that people are actually experiencing her big anthem, as it were, for free.' ___ Lizzie Knight contributed to this report.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Rachel Zegler's ‘Evita' Performance Is Upsetting Live Theatergoers
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Members of the public watch Rachel Zegler perform "Don't Cry For Me ... More Argentina" live on the balcony as she plays Eva Peron in "Evita" at the London Palladium on June 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Snow White star Rachel Zegler is upsetting fans again, but this time it's over her director's creative decision in London's West End staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic musical Evita. Zegler, of course, has faced several controversies over the past three-plus years because of Snow White, after she made comments about how the live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic is dated. Later on, Zegler caused a stir with politically divisive social media posts about the 2024 presidential election. The newest controversy surrounding Zegler, though, is of Evita director Jamie Lloyd's doing. According to The Guardian, Zegler, who stars as Eva Perón — the second wife of Argentine President Juan Perón — in Evita, performs her showstopping tune Don't Cry for Me Argentina on a balcony to fans on the street outside the London Palladium instead of inside the venue for the show's ticket buyers. As such, The Guardian reported, fans have been assembling outside the theater on Argyll Street at about 9 p.m. every night the show is being performed, while theatergoers inside are left to watch a video feed of the performance on a big screen. The Guardian sampled some reactions on social media to Lloyd's bold move, including one user, who wrote, 'Sorry, are you saying I've paid £350 [roughly $470] for 2 tickets and she's singing the biggest number outside at people who haven't paid?' Metro UK also quoted some disgruntled social media users, including Marcusgomezz26, who wrote, 'I'm seeing it on Thursday and I'm excited but the fact singing this outside while everyone inside theatre have to see it on screen kinda of a rip off for our money while people who haven't got a ticket can see it outside FOR FREE.' Evita started previews on Saturday and officially opens on July 1. While some paying fans are upset over Rachel Zegler's performance Don't Cry for Me Argentina on the balcony of the London Palladium, the move persuaded Metro's music writer, Danni Scott that it was a fitting move considering the source material. 'While I had not purchased a ticket, I initially found myself siding with the disgruntled Evita audience members,' Scott told Metro. 'If I had paid hard-earned cash to see a show, I'd be disappointed (at best) if the biggest song was performed off-stage. 'Jamie Lloyd's production works on the symbolism that those in the theatre are the 'rich' bourgeoisie, while those on the street are the 'poor' Argentines, to whom Evita is singing," she added. 'His positioning alienates those — like my family — who see a West End show as a one-off or special occasion-only event. As a child, I only saw one West End show; had that been this production of Evita, I'd have been devastated to miss out on the big number.' Scott's feelings changed, though, after seeing Zegler's performance. I [realized] it was exactly people in my position growing up that she was singing for,' Scott told Metro. Evita, starring Rachel Zegler, is scheduled to run at London Palladium through Sept. 6.
