Regent’s Park Theatre have today announced principal casting for their productions of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, alongside the full creative team for Evita.
Chicago-based Samantha Pauly makes her UK debut in the role of Eva Peron, direct from her performance in SIX (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and as Valkyrie in Bat Out Of Hell (US Tour). She appears alongside Ektor Rivera, also making his UK debut, having recently played Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet! on Broadway and US Tour. In addition to lead roles in Rent, Hairspray and High School Musical, Ektor was selected by Jennifer López to be one of the lead singers in the US Television and Live show Q’Viva! The Chosen.
An original Broadway cast member of Disney’s Aladdin – where he has been performing on and off for the last 5 years – Trent Saunders returns to the UK in the role of Che following his appearance as St. Jimmy in Green Day’s American Idiot (Hammersmith Apollo). Nominated for an Olivier Award for her role as Kylah in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Frances Mayli McCann plays the role of The Mistress.
Director Jamie Lloyd has said: “After an international search, I am incredibly excited about the amazing talent we have discovered, and the variety of voices we have assembled, to share this story today. Samantha Pauly will lead a thrillingly diverse and powerful company.”
Joining Director Jamie Lloyd are: Soutra Gilmour (Designer), Fabian Aloise (Choreographer), Alan Williams (Musical Supervisor), Jon Clark (Lighting Designer), Nick Lidster for Autograph (Sound Designer) and Barbara Houseman (Season Associate Director, Voice and Text). UK casting is by Will Burton CDG for DGA, and US casting by Tara Rubin Casting.
The new cast of Jesus Christ Superstar includes: Robert Tripolino and Ricardo Afonso in the iconic roles of Jesus and Judas, with Sallay Garnett as Mary. Matt Cardle* plays the role of Pilate, with Cavin Cornwall and Nathan Amzi as Caiaphas and Annas.
Robert Tripolino (Jesus) recently played Sal Russo in RAGS (Hope Mill, Manchester); Ricardo Afonso (Judas) previously appeared in Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse), Top Hat (Aldwych/UK Tour) and Thriller Live (Lyric); Sallay Garnett (Mary) is an Irish-Sierra Leonean artist, who also performs and records under the name Loah; Cavin Cornwall (Caiaphas) originated the role of Caiaphas in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production and is currently appearing in Rip It Up (Garrick); and Nathan Amzi (Annas) most recently appeared in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket). They will be joined by West End LIVE favourite and multi-platinum selling recording artist Matt Cardle (Pilate) who recently appeared as Wally Strand in Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly).
Joining them will be Samuel Buttery as Herod, who most recently appeared in Fat Blokes (Southbank Centre/HOME/UK/Ireland Tour), Tim Newman who reprises his performance as Simon, and Matthew Harvey as Peter.
Completing the cast are: Daniel Bailey, Bernadette Bangura, Robert Bannon, Cyrus Brandon, Melanie Bright, Georgia Carling, Dale Evans, Rosie Fletcher, Luke Hall, Simon Hardwick, Zac Hawkins, Dayle Hodge, Stevie Hutchinson, Cleopatra Joseph, Rachel Moran, Billy Nevers, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda and Elliotte Williams-N’Dure.
Jesus Christ Superstar is directed by Timothy Sheader, with design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie, musical supervision by Tom Deering, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, musical direction by Ed Bussey and fight direction by Kate Waters. Barbara Houseman is Associate Director, Voice and Text, and casting is by Will Burton CDG and David Grindrod CDG.
The fastest selling production in the theatre’s history, Evita plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 2 August to 21 September. Jesus Christ Superstar, which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, plays a limited 60 performance run at the Barbican Theatre from 4 July to 24 August.
* Please note that Matt Cardle will not appear on Friday 12 July, Saturday 13 July (evening), Tuesday 30 July or Wednesday 31 July