Stafford Lancers Announce 2008 Show

For 2008 the Lancers continue our tradition of putting on the field big themed productions that will appeal to both the members and audience alike with a different kind of musical genre.

Filled with straight jazz, Latin tangos, modern pop, stylish waltzes, orchestral operas, chorale ensembles and everything in between, Evita is a musical score packed with passion and energy, emotion and movement. 

Music Arrangements are by Jay Howard (Brass + Percussion), Adam Lowes (Drums) with Visual Designs by David Milton (Visual Design) & Jenna Riley (Choreography).

Musical Director Jay Howard said: “We wanted to explore different avenues of music (for the members), although trying to stick to our big production banner and Evita seemed to tick all the boxes!”

EVITA is an opera based on the life story of Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. Eva Duarte was born in 1919, illegitimate, poor, without privilege. She became the most powerful woman her country had ever seen, the First Lady of Argentina at the age of 27. She died in 1952 of cancer, aged just 33.

Evita was conceived as a sung-through dramatic piece and Don't Cry For Me Argentina proved to be the most popular single number from a show in many years. However, it was eighteen months after the release of the record before the Evita arrived on stage. 

Following stints in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Evita premiered on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on September 25, 1979. The production ran for an incredible 1,567 performances (more than twice as many as Jesus Christ Superstar). Evita won an impressive seven Tony Awards including best book, best score and best musical of the year. In 1981, the Evita cast recording was awarded a Grammy Award.

A film version of Evita directed by Alan Parker and starring Madonna opened to great acclaim and won Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber a Golden Globe award and an Oscar for Best Original Song from the movie soundtrack - You Must Love Me. 

A new version of the show directed by Michael Grandage and starring Elena Roger, opened at the Adelphi Theatre on June 21st 2006. It was the first time the stage show had featured the new song You Must Love Me. This production closed on 26th May 2007. 

Don't Cry For Me Argentina sung by Julie Covington, was Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's first UK No 1 - selling over 2 million copies. 

Corps Director Dave Milton said” EVITA is such an emotive show, there is so much to explore and we look forward to bringing it to life on various stages all over the UK in 2008”.

New members are welcome across all sections, so please feel free to contact us to express your interest or just pop along to anyone of our rehearsals.

www.lancers.co.uk