The opening number of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Evita begins at the ending of the story. In a unnamed movie theater in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a movie is interrupted by an Announcer. He informs the moviegoers of the death of Eva María Duarte de Perón, also known as Evita, the protagonist of the musical. She passed away on July 26th, 1952 at age 33 after struggling with cancer.

Through her life, Eva represented the country of Argentina – alongside her husband, Juan Perón, she inspired a political revolution and became the first lady of her country.

After the news of Eva’s death spreads, a crowd gathers, lamenting Eva’s death in latin. They refer to her by the pet name of Evita, adding the diminutive -ita to her name to show affection. She was popularly referred to by this name during her life, and it takes position as the title of the musical.