The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 11, 1994-9 'Evita' is stilEimortal Talent of Detroiter adds to the classic musical By JASON CARROLL Nineteen years ago Andrew Lloyd Webber met with Tim Rice and together they penned what would become the musical "Evita." It is amazing that after so many years audiences still pack themselves into theaters to see the rise of Eva Peron, wife of Juan Peron, the powerful President of Argentina whose reign spanned three decades. "Evita" chronicles Eva's life, beginning with her as- cension to power and ending with her sudden, untimely death. She rose from hustler, to B-movie actress, to the wife of Juan Peron. Eva became immensely popular with the public and used her close connections to the govern- ment to support her own political motives. Toward the end of her short life (she died of cancer at 33), she created the Eva Peron Foundation, an organiza- tion that helped her popularity soar among those who benefited from it. But, at the time, no one really knew about the darker side of the Peron administration. Eva was worshipped like a goddess. The plot of the musical is told through the character Che, an Argentine student. There is no evidence that Che ever met Eva in actuality. His purpose changes throughout the play, but most often serves as a narrator, observer and critic of Eva's actions. In the current touring production coming to Detroit's Fisher Theatre this Tuesday, Che is played by Daniel Cooney, a native Detroiter who grew up in Westland. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Cooney via telephone from Cincinnati. Cooney attended Henry Ford Community College for a year when he decided he "wanted to be an actor, but didn't think it was feasible." He moved to Florida and landed a job at a dinner theater to help realize his dream. A few months later he moved to New York and eventually landed the role of Marius in the Broadway company of "Les Misdrables." Touring has played a major role in Cooney's theatrical career. "I really like touring - the money is better and I don't really have any ties. I've been on this tour for 10 months now, and it's not really grueling for me. I can't stand being in one place for too long. I really enjoy being in a different city each week," he said. Cooney has toured in many different productions including "Jesus Christ Superstar," "West Side Story," "Grease," "Oklahoma" and "Carousel." "I enjoy working in rock operas. I'm most comfortable singing those roles. I loved playing Judas in 'Superstar.' The vocal and emo- tional range is huge, and belting it out eight times a week is definitely a challenge." It is important for actors to get along with everyone in the company while touring, since they see each other almost every night. Cooney said he and his supporting cast have a great working relationship, "I really enjoy working with everyone involved in the show. Donna Marie Ashbury (Evita), a veteran of numerous musicals, and David Brummel (Peron) give 108 percent to every show." Recently, Broadway has suffered from a lack of inge- nuity and diversity. Cooney commented, "Theatre has had a hard time during the recession, but it is kicking back in right now. There are a lot of revivals coming out and I think we'll be seeing a lot more in the future. They are the safe bet. It's all about money. It's unfortunate that no one looks to theater as a teacher or point of view." Cooney is a huge fan of country music and has just begun work on a solo album. "On tour I picked up the guitar I played while I was a kid, and I got together with some guys in the orchestra we're going to record a demo tape. It's at the beginning stages but I really enjoy it." Whether on the stage or in the studio Cooney is definitely a talent to be reckoned with. His versatility in the performing arts will definitely be a great addition to "Evita," an already classic musical theater piece. EVITA will run April 12th throuzh 17th at the Fisher Theatre (3011 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit.) Performances are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $25-$47.50. Call 645-6666 for tickets or 872-1000 for more information. Yes, folks, in case you've missed those one and two-page ads in the newspapers, the rumors are true, brace yourselves-Elton John and Billy Joel are going on tour together. And they're even making a stop in Detroit. Antici- pating the rush for seats to their August 4th concert, they've de- * cided to play the Pontiac Silverdome, which seats 80,000 plus, perhaps at the expense of good acoustics. But that's no rea- son to miss them -- it's sure to be a smash. Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m.. - oh my gosh! What time is it?'- at all TicketMaster outlets. Tickets range from $46 to $86, depending on seat location. (Hey, what are you complaining about? They could be charging $300like Streisand is.) Don't miss what's likely tobe oneofthe great- est concerts in history. Golden Key N.H.S. INDUCTION CEREMONY Many women wish they didn't have to remember their birth control every day. If you're one of them, you might want to know about Depo-Provera. Some of the benefits of Depo-Provera. Depo-Provera is an injection you get from your doctor or nurse, every three months. When taken as scheduled -just 4 times a year- it's more than 99% effective. So it's one of the most reliable contraceptives available. Depo-Provera has been used for many years by millions of women in countries like England, Some of the side effects of Depo-Provera. Most women experience irregular or unpre- dictable menstrual bleeding and weight gain. 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