The Dinner That Changed Musical Theatre Forever

Here's a trivia question for you: Who wrote the lyrics for the musical "Evita"?

If you said Tim Rice, you'd be right. But the story of how Evita came to exist is far more extraordinary than most people realise — and it all started with a chance encounter on the radio during a drive to dinner.

A Radio Program That Changed Everything

In 1973, Tim Rice was driving to dinner in London when he caught a radio program about Eva Perón — the charismatic, controversial First Lady of Argentina who had died of cancer at just 33, leaving a nation in mourning. Rice was so captivated that he pulled over to listen.

It wasn't entirely out of nowhere. Rice had previously seen Eva Perón's face on Argentine stamps he'd collected as a child, and something about her story had always intrigued him. But that radio program was the spark that lit the fire.

He called his creative partner Andrew Lloyd Webber the next day and pitched the idea: a musical about Eva Perón. Lloyd Webber agreed, and the two set to work on what would become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatre history.

From Stamps to Stages

Eva Perón's story is one of the most remarkable in 20th century history. Born in poverty in rural Argentina in 1919, she moved to Buenos Aires at 15 to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She eventually met Colonel Juan Perón at a charity gala in 1944, and their relationship transformed both of their lives — and Argentina's.

As First Lady, she became an icon of the working class — known as "Evita" — and wielded enormous political influence. When she died of cervical cancer in 1952, aged just 33, the outpouring of grief was extraordinary. Thousands lined the streets of Buenos Aires. She was embalmed and her body became the subject of a remarkable and bizarre saga that continued for decades after her death.

Rice and Lloyd Webber first released Evita as a concept album in 1976, with Julie Covington performing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." The album went platinum before the stage show had even opened. When it finally premiered in London's West End in 1978, it won the Olivier Award for Musical of the Year.

Don't Cry for Me, Argentina

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" became one of the most recognisable songs in musical theatre history — and it almost didn't make the cut. Rice and Lloyd Webber reportedly debated whether it was too simple, too direct. They needn't have worried. The song has since been recorded by hundreds of artists and remains instantly recognisable to audiences around the world.

The 1996 film adaptation starred Madonna as Eva and Antonio Banderas as Che — and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "You Must Love Me," a new number written specifically for the film.

Think You Know Your Musicals?

The Tim Rice question is just one of 80 questions across 8 rounds in our latest trivia pack — covering everything from music and art to geography, sport and our signature "What is the Theme?" round.

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