Understanding EVITA from an Indigenous Perspective

OnStage Blog: Ah, yes. White-washing and EVITA, two roaches that never seem to die.

Last Fall, when North Shore Musical Theatre in Massachusetts announced their production of EVITA, “controversy” (one of my least favourite buzzwords, because it clouds the validity of legitimate concerns) erupted over its lack of Latinx actors cast in any of the leading roles. When North Shore issued its statement that “race is not part of the narrative” as a response, I was legitimately floored. Everything in Latin America has to do with race, because everything in Latin America it is a direct result of colonialism, slavery and genocide. (This isn’t exclusive to Latin America, obviously). Race is irrevocable from any narrative set in the Americas, especially in Latin American countries where race and racial identification are class distinctions.