Rachel Zegler’s rendition of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from the London Palladium balcony divided audiences, with some paying theatre-goers upset to miss the iconic number live inside the venue, while others praised the accessibility and unique atmosphere created by the outdoor performance ahead of the 2025 West End revival of Evita.
Rachel Zegler delivered a stirring rendition of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from the balcony of the London Palladium on Wednesday, captivating a crowd of onlookers gathered outside the venue. The performance marked a striking introduction to her role as Eva Perón in the 2025 West End revival of Evita, which is set to open officially on 1 July, with previews from 14 June. The musical, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by Jamie Lloyd, chronicles the dramatic rise of Eva Perón from poverty to become a powerful and divisive political icon in Argentina.
For this outdoor performance, Zegler donned a white strapless gown and a platinum blonde wig styled in a chignon, embodying the glamour and poignancy of the character. As she sang the iconic number, which has been famously performed by actresses such as Elaine Paige and Madonna, the crowd happily received her heartfelt delivery, with many recording the moment on their phones.
However, the choice to perform the show’s most celebrated song outside the theatre sparked controversy among some ticket holders. Several theatre-goers expressed frustration on social media, lamenting that despite paying up to £350 for tickets, they would not witness “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” live inside the auditorium. “Sorry, are you saying I’ve paid £350 for 2 tickets and she’s singing the biggest number outside at people who haven’t paid?” one person questioned. Others voiced disappointment, noting they attend the theatre to share the intimate experience of live performance within the same space as the artist.
Conversely, some praised the decision for its potential to broaden access to theatre and enhance the production’s atmosphere. Abi, a 21-year-old student from London, remarked, “I think it’s making theatre more accessible. It’s actually adding to the ambience of the show,” adding that the outdoor setting infused Zegler’s performance with additional emotional resonance. Another observer suggested that while some inside the theatre might feel disappointed missing the iconic song live on stage, the rest of the show remains intact, and the outdoor performance provided a unique and memorable experience for many.
It remains unclear if this balcony performance will be incorporated as a deliberate artistic choice in the production or serve a promotional role. Director Jamie Lloyd is known for innovative staging, having employed similar directorial techniques in past shows, such as a title song performed outside the main stage in Sunset Boulevard.
This West End run is a significant milestone for Zegler, whose career has been notably marked by both acclaim and controversy following her lead role in Disney’s recent adaptation of Snow White. The actress has expressed deep personal connections to Evita, recalling childhood moments singing the song with her father. She said earlier this year, “Evita has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl… The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to make my West End debut in such great company.”
The production, running until 6 September 2025, is already garnering excitement due to its star power and the creative vision brought by Lloyd, who calls it a reimagining of this legendary musical. With Zegler’s performance generating early buzz, it will be interesting to see how the show is received once it officially opens, including how audiences react to the unconventional opening number staging.
Evita holds a celebrated place in musical theatre history, with its powerful score featuring not only “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” but also numbers such as “Oh What a Circus” and “You Must Love Me.” The role of Eva Perón has been immortalised by a number of celebrated performers over the years, including Patti LuPone, Elaine Paige, and Madonna in the famous 1996 film adaptation.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14827629/Rachel-Zegler-belts-Dont-Cry-Argentina-passersby-balcony-London-Palladium-Evita-paying-audience-slam-decision.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Rachel-Zegler-Sings-Dont-Cry-For-Me-Argentina-Outside-the-EVITA-Theatre-20250605 – A video has emerged showing Rachel Zegler performing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ outside the London Palladium, ahead of the upcoming production of ‘Evita’. The footage captures Zegler, in blonde hair, singing the iconic song, with a camera recording her from the side. It remains unconfirmed whether this recording will be incorporated into Jamie Lloyd’s new production or if it’s intended for promotional purposes. Director Jamie Lloyd has previously employed similar directorial choices in his productions, such as the title song in ‘Sunset Boulevard’. ([broadwayworld.com](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Rachel-Zegler-Sings-Dont-Cry-For-Me-Argentina-Outside-the-EVITA-Theatre-20250605?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/evita/london-palladium/ – ‘Evita’ is scheduled to run at the London Palladium from 14 June to 6 September 2025, with previews starting on 14 June. The production is directed by Jamie Lloyd and stars Rachel Zegler as Eva Perón. Tickets are available from £35.40, with performances held Monday to Saturday at 19:30 and Thursday and Saturday at 14:30. Age guidance is 12+, and the venue is located at 8 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF. ([atgtickets.com](https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/evita/london-palladium/?utm_source=openai))
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evita_(musical) – ‘Evita’ is a musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, focusing on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón. The 2025 West End revival, directed by Jamie Lloyd, is playing a limited run at the London Palladium from 14 June to 6 September 2025, with an official opening on 1 July. Rachel Zegler is making her West End debut as Eva Perón, joined by Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evita_%28musical%29?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/news/rachel-zegler-stars-in-tim-rice-andrew-lloyds-evita-at-the-london-palladium-summer-2025-2 – Rachel Zegler is set to make her West End debut as Eva Perón in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Evita’. The production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, opens at the London Palladium on 1 July, with previews from 14 June, and runs until 6 September 2025. Zegler expressed her excitement, recalling her childhood when she and her father would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together. ([andrewlloydwebber.com](https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/news/rachel-zegler-stars-in-tim-rice-andrew-lloyd-webbers-evita-at-the-london-palladium-summer-2025-2?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/2025/06/06/rachel-zegler-sorprendio-en-londres-al-cantar-no-llores-por-mi-argentina-antes-del-estreno-de-evita/ – Rachel Zegler surprised passersby in London by performing ‘No llores por mí, Argentina’ (the Spanish version of ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’) on the balcony of the London Palladium. This spontaneous performance occurred a week before the official premiere of ‘Evita’, where Zegler will play the lead role. The audience’s immediate reaction was applause and enthusiasm, with many recording the scene and sharing it on social media. ([infobae.com](https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/2025/06/06/rachel-zegler-sorprendio-en-londres-al-cantar-no-llores-por-mi-argentina-antes-del-estreno-de-evita/?utm_source=openai))
- https://theatreweekly.com/rachel-zegler-stars-in-evita-at-the-london-palladium-summer-2025/ – Rachel Zegler is set to star as Eva Perón in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Evita’ at the London Palladium. The production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, opens on 1 July, with previews from 14 June, and runs until 6 September 2025. Zegler shared her excitement, recalling her childhood when she and her father would sing ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ together. ([theatreweekly.com](https://theatreweekly.com/rachel-zegler-stars-in-evita-at-the-london-palladium-summer-2025/?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative reports on Rachel Zegler’s recent balcony performance of ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ at the London Palladium, which took place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This event has been covered by multiple reputable outlets, including BroadwayWorld on June 5, 2025 ([broadwayworld.com](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Rachel-Zegler-Sings-Dont-Cry-For-Me-Argentina-Outside-the-EVITA-Theatre-20250605?utm_source=openai)), and The Standard on June 12, 2025 ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/tim-rice-jamie-lloyd-latin-america-west-end-tickets-b1216768.html?utm_source=openai)). The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is June 5, 2025. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Additionally, the narrative mentions that the performance was recorded for promotional footage, indicating that the content may be repurposed. The choice to perform the song outside the theatre sparked controversy among some ticket holders, with several expressing frustration on social media. However, the narrative does not provide specific details or direct quotes from these social media posts, which would have added credibility to the claims. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets raises questions about the authenticity of these claims. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, or dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with typical media reporting, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is neutral and factual, resembling typical media reporting.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes a direct quote from Rachel Zegler expressing her excitement about the role of Eva Perón in ‘Evita’. This quote has been previously reported in other reputable outlets, such as Theatre-News.com on March 18, 2025 ([theatre-news.com](https://www.theatre-news.com/news/UK/116858/Rachel-Zegler-to-star-in-Evita-st-The-London-Palladium?utm_source=openai)). The identical wording of the quote suggests that it may have been reused from earlier material. The lack of new or exclusive quotes in the narrative raises questions about the originality of the content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable organisation known for its extensive coverage of entertainment news. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism in the past for sensationalism and inaccuracies. The reliance on a single source for the narrative raises concerns about the reliability and potential bias of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative reports on a balcony performance of ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ by Rachel Zegler at the London Palladium, an event that has been covered by multiple reputable outlets. The details provided in the narrative align with information from other sources, suggesting that the event did occur. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets, such as specific quotes from ticket holders expressing frustration, raises questions about the authenticity of these claims. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, or dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with typical media reporting, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is neutral and factual, resembling typical media reporting.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative reports on a balcony performance of ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ by Rachel Zegler at the London Palladium, an event that has been covered by multiple reputable outlets. However, the identical wording of the quote from Rachel Zegler suggests that it may have been reused from earlier material, raising questions about the originality of the content. The reliance on a single source for the narrative raises concerns about the reliability and potential bias of the information presented. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets, such as specific quotes from ticket holders expressing frustration, and the absence of specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, or dates, reduce the score and flag it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with typical media reporting, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is neutral and factual, resembling typical media reporting. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a ‘FAIL’ with a ‘MEDIUM’ confidence level.
