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Rachel Zegler, a known critic of the president, is set to star in Present Donald Trump‘s favorite show this year.
Zegler, who recently starred in the critically panned new live remake of Disney‘s Snow White, will play Eva Perón in Evita on London’s West End this summer.
Trump wrote in his 2004 book Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life: “My favorite Broadway show is ‘Evita’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber, starring Patti LuPone. I saw it six times, mostly with Ivana.”
Rachel Zegler has been contacted for comment via email to her agency.
Left: Sthanlee B. Mirador, Right: Chip Somodevilla/Left: Sipa via AP Images, Right: Getty Images
Why It Matters
President Trump appointed himself to chair the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and promised to bring “some really good shows” and “Broadway hits” to the Kennedy Center stage.
Following his first board meeting at the Kennedy Center last weekend, the president posed by the Presidential Box balcony with his arms outstretched akin to a pose from Evita.
The Kennedy Center often puts on productions that have already played in other places, such as London’s West End but is unlikely to now host a production of Zegler’s Evita given her public views on the President.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
What To Know
Zegler made her debut starring in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and is currently on Broadway as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She also just starred in the critically panned Disney life-action Snow White.
When she was selected to play Snow White in Disney’s live remake, she was subjected to racist trolling online because she is Latina.
She has been vocal about her political beliefs online, using her social media platforms to advocate for Palestinians and criticize the current president.
Following his election, she said on X, “There is a deep, deep sickness in this country,” referring to people who voted for Trump, and stated: “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.”
She apologized for the latter two statements, saying: “Hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding, and I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse. This week has been emotional for so many of us, but I firmly believe that everyone has the right to their opinion, even when it differs from my own. I am committed to contributing positively towards a better tomorrow.”
Evita is a musical about the ambitious rise of a former actress who marries Juan Perón, a military leader who became the president of Argentina. Throughout the show, she becomes the most powerful woman in Latin America, pulling the strings behind her husband’s campaigns.
She rises up in the hearts of Argentinians through populism but then demands to only wear designer clothes and starts looting the charity she sets up to help the poor.
Zegler’s production is being directed by Jamie Lloyd, the director behind the Olivier award-winning Sunset Boulevard revival.
Sergio Goya/AFP via Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Rachel Zegler: “Evita has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together on my back patio. The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd’s singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other. The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to make my West End debut in such great company.”
Jamie Lloyd: “I am so excited to be collaborating with the brilliant Rachel Zegler on Evita. She is a phenomenal talent, and I am delighted she will be making her West End debut as the iconic Eva Perón.”
What Happens Next
Zegler’s production will be at the London Palladium from July 1 until September 6. It is unknown at this time whether it will transfer to Broadway from London like Lloyd’s Sunset Boulevard did last year.
