Gilliom

WAILUKU – Hawaii’s top-selling female vocalist of all time, Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom, will return to her roots in musical theatre to perform the title role of Eva Peron in MAPA Live’s production of the iconic musical “Evita.” The show is slated to run Aug. 21-30 in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

With five Grammy Award nominations and 24 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Gilliom is one of Hawaii’s most respected and loved female vocalists. She is also a songwriter, composer, producer and performer.

With 15 solo albums released, Gilliom has performed for sold-out crowds in Europe, Japan, China, French Polynesia and the U.S., and she has played and recorded with some of the music industry’s biggest names.

“Evita” brings Gilliom full circle back to her origins in theatre. She got her first taste of performing as a young drama student at Maui Youth Theatre (now MAPA) and went on to graduate from Baldwin High School’s Performing Arts Center and earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theater on the Mainland.

Directed by David C. Johnston with music direction by Gary Shin-Leavitt and choreography by Andre Morissette, “Evita” follows in the footsteps of MAPA Live’s recent Broadway-quality theatrical productions at the MACC: “Les Miserables” in 2013 and “Miss Saigon” in 2014.

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice, “Evita” ran for 1,567 performances on Broadway and won seven Tony Awards and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

The design team for the MAPA production includes Set Designer Dan Hays, Costume Designers Vanessa Cerrito and Kenneth Peter Lee, and Lighting Designer Mark Astrella.

Based on the true story of Argentina’s most controversial and beloved first lady, “Evita” tells the story of Eva’s meteoric rise from the slums of Argentina to the presidential palace. A champion of the poor, she became one of the most glamorous and powerful women in the world.

The passionate and unforgettable score features some of theater’s most beautiful songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” and “High Flying, Adored.”

Performing with Gilliom in the cast will be a slew of powerhouse Maui performers, including Kepa Cabanilla-Aricayos as Che, Francis Tau’a as Juan Peron, Joey Schumacher as Magaldi and Danielle Delaunay as Peron’s Mistress. An ensemble of 48 actors rounds out the cast.

Tickets will be available to members of the Evita Producers’ Circle in late June and to the public in early July. To learn more about joining the Evita Producers’ Circle, and for more information about the production, call MAPA at 244-8760.