Rachel Zegler Exits Evita Performance Mid-Show Due to Illness; Understudy Receives 5-Minute Standing Ovation

Rachel Zegler did, in fact, give Evita theatergoers something to cry about on Thursday, July 24.

The Golden Globe-winning actress — who is currently making her London stage debut as Eva Perón in director Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-back revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic rock opera — made a sudden exit from the stage during the show’s evening performance, due to illness.

PEOPLE happened to be among the crowd of the famed London Palladium theatre at the time, alongside a sea of stars in attendance. Her departure was announced at intermission.

After a brief hold, understudy Bella Brown, seen earlier as Perón’s Mistress in the musical, stepped in for Zegler for Act 2. The act nearly kicks off with the song “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” easily the most famous tune from composer Lloyd Webber and lyricist/book writer Tim Rice’s score.

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It’s also the scene making the most headlines from Lloyd’s production. Like he did in last season’s Tony Award-winning revival of Sunset Blvd. (which recently wrapped its run on Broadway after transferring from the West End), Lloyd utilizes cutting-edge video technology to capture an outdoor, live performance of a song and project it to those inside.

In this case, that’s the iconic scene in which Eva sings from the balcony of the Presidential Palace to her adoring Argentinean supporters. Lloyd stages the performance on the balcony of the London Palladium, with the public gathered below on Argyll Street in London mimicking the historic moment.

Brown completely nailed the number, and her performance as Eva throughout the rest of the show carried over the electricity, intensity and vulnerability Zegler had established in Act 1.

Audiences responded by giving Brown a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes. Brown and the company bowed a whopping 10 times.

“Today really showed just how important swings and covers are within this industry,” the actress later wrote in an Instagram Story. “They are pillars of a show!! A proud day to be at Evita.”

“What a lucky audience getting to see both myself and MY ANGEL REG ZEG!!” she penned, in another post.

It’s unclear whether Zegler, 24, will be back on stage for the evening performance on Friday, July 25. Thursday was a two-show day for the actress, and she previously made it through both acts of the matinee.

Evita — which follows the controversial second wife of Argentine military leader-turned-president Juan Perón — is currently scheduled to run until Sept. 6 in London. The production began performances on June 14, and opened on July 1 to rave reviews.

“I couldn’t be luckier,” Zegler wrote at the time of opening, in a lengthy Instagram post. “I never thought I would get to live my dream this way. Surrounded by the most amazing people. I feel so held.”

The musical also stars Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che, James Olivas as Juan Perón and Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustín Magaldi. Carl Au, Gabriela Benedetti, Shakara Brown, Damian Buhagiar, Kyeirah D’Marni, Sally Frith, DeAngelo Jones, Lucas Koch, Natasha Leaver, Michael Lin, Dianté Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Mireia Mambo, Mia Mullarkey, Perry O’Dea, Alysha Sontae, Monica Swayne, Jon Tsouras and Harrison Wilde make up the show’s ensemble, with Myla Carmen, Barney Hudson, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Ricardo Spriggs and Regan Bailey Walker as Swings.

Auora Breslin, Lois Haidar, Siena Merilind-Wu and Ffion Rosalie Williams share the role of The Child. 

All, Zegler said, make “a cast of the most incredible individuals I have ever come across.”

“[They are] triple threats in every sense of the word,” she wrote. “Our company keeps its arms open and ready to accept whatever the day brings. Our swings keep the show running with an ease that only they can pull off. It’s wildly inspiring to witness on a day-to-day basis.”

Tickets for Evita are now on sale.