Although originally conceived as a record project, Evita was destined from the beginning for the stage. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice provide a rich score which includes the internationally acclaimed hit "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina."  Because of the huge success it had enjoyed in London (2,900 performances in its initial run), the Broadway production of Evita was nearly sold out before it even began.

The story of Evita, told entirely through song and dance, follows the life of Argentina's infamous Eva Peron. It begins in 1934 and follows the young girl from her small hometown to Buenos Aires where she uses her feminine powers to climb the ladder of success, first as a model, then an actress, and finally as the wife of General Juan Peron. When Peron is elected president, Eva becomes the most powerful woman in South America.

Evita opened its New York run at the Broadway Theatre on September 25, 1979 with Patti LuPone in the lead and Mandy Patinkin as the enigmatic Che Guevera. The production ran for 1,567 performances and spawned several touring companies. The 1996 screen version of Evita featured Madonna and Antonio Banderas.