Moorpark’s High Street Arts Center re-opened its celebrated doors on Oct. 8 to bring the production of the historical musical, Evita.

The epic musical follows the life of Eva Perón who was second wife to then president of Argentina, Juan Perón.

Based on a true story, Evita tells a story through comedy, tragedy and despair of a time when Argentina was engulfed in the fascination of their first lady, Eva Peron.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber produced musical opened with a scene from an audience was watching a black and white film in Argentina. All of the sudden, the movie was stopped.

An announcer’s voice came over the intercom and sadly informed the audience that their beloved Eva Perón has passed away. About thirty second after, a bright and glorious name came on the movie screen that got every ones attention. In bold it read, EVITA.

The screen rose up and with sobbing actors and actresses on the stage, Eva Perón’s dead body was brought to the stage entering from the back of the seating area, with her casket being embraced.

This left the audience to question who Eva Perón really was, and why was she so significant to the citizens of Argentina.

A scene was played out of how Eva Perón’s community was devastated with her death.  The scene soon ended and so the play went on to showcases just what a life changing heroine, and contributor Eva Perón was in Argentinean history.

The origins of the High Street Arts Center dates back to the year 1926 when a movie theater was built in the city to not only serve entertainment to Moorpark, but was the only theater on the east side of Ventura County to provide entertainment for the bordering cities of Simi Valley, Somis, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks.

Sarah Bulger, actress who played the role of Eva Perón, said that she has been in a numerous amounts of plays in the local surrounding cities and loved being able to perform Evita at Moorpark’s High Street Arts Center.

“The best part about playing Eva was that I had the power to tell everyone what to do in my role,” said Bulger. “This is just one night down with many more on the way.”

The opening night was concluded with a reception following right after. The audience was able to meet all the cast members in a personal meet and greet.

Shayne Donart-Williams, one of the supporting actors in Evita, said that all of the members involved in the play only had a month to practice which was something that seemed a lot to handle but ended up working out. He said the cast would mainly practice inside the theater itself or at an old fire station building which is located right up the street from the theater.

Narrator of Evita, Che, played by Philip Wieck, said that the best part about the opening night performance was the end.

“I did not mess up and I got through the entire performance and did a good job,” Wieck said.

Bulger and Wieck have been involved in several local plays together.

Hugh R. Riley, Chief Financial Officer for Moorpark’s Foundation for the Arts, said that Evita coming to the High Street Arts Center was going to be an exciting time because the musical story line is excellent.

Evita will be playing at Moorpark’s High Street Arts Center from Oct. 8 to Nov. 14. Friday and Saturday nights the show will begin at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoons the show will begin at 2:00 p.m. Please call (805) 529-8700 for more information. 

Evita will be playing at the Moorpark High Street Arts Center from Oct. 8 to Nov. 14. (Courtesy of High Street Arts Center)