Image Post: Backstage Gerswin Turkeys

The Cast Members of "Wicked" on Broadway made Turkeys using the outlines of their hands like many of us fondly remember doing around Thanksgiving in Elementary School. Check them out!

Remember That Time...?: Julie Reiber

Remember that time when everybody just KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that Julie Reiber (s/b for Elphaba in LA and on Broadway) was taking over for Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) in the Broadway Production?

That would be an example of a rumor that REALLLLY took off.

Cast Update: Broadway and 1st National Tour

Broadway:

Brian Munn (Swing; u/s Wizard, Dr. Dillamond, Witch's Father/Ozian Official) has left the cast but no replacement has been added to the website.

1st National:

Kevin Jordan has replaced Phillip Dean Lightstone.

Kevin Jordan (swing; u/s Chistrey) is proud to be part of the "Wicked" family. Other credits include "Altar Boyz" (Mark), "Cats" (Skimbleshanks), "You're a...Charlie Brown" (Shroeder), "A Chorus Line" (swing). BFA from BYU. Love to family and friends.

Media: Wicked in Cleveland

Here is a review I found from the current run of the 1st National Tour in Cleveland. It also has a (previously used) video of Donna getting green from Minneapolis.

Review

Kerry Ellis to play Nancy in West End's "Oliver"

Kerry Ellis (former Elphaba in London & on Broadway; s/b for Elphaba in London) will be taking over the role of Nancy in the current West End production of "Oliver" in March 2010. This was confirmed by her today in Daily Mail. Congratulations, Kerry!

Video Footage: Sydney Cast of "Wicked"

As soon as I made a post saying that there would be no major posts today, this comes up ... Kerri-Anne, a popular talk show host in Syndey has interviewed Jemma Rix (standby for Elphaba - currently acting as lead), Lucy Durack (Glinda), Rob Mills (Fiyero), Penny McNamee (Nessarose, and James Smith (Boq) for her show. The cast also performed "What is this Feeling?" and "Popular". As of now, "Popular" is not posted, but we'll keep our eyes peeled.

Interview

What is this Feeling?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey day or Tofurky day! (depending which way you swing :p ) I don't plan on making any posts today unless major news breaks, but I'll have my eyes peeled as always! Have a great day filled with family, friends, and fun!!!!

Editorial: Adam Lambert

This one shall be a quickie, but here are my thoughts on the whole Adam Lambert (former Fiyero u/s on the 1st National Tour and Los Angeles productions).

Adam Lambert is with no doubt an incredibly talented performer; he has an amazing voice and he has stage presence like few others. I have enjoyed just about everything he sung, with the exception of "Ring of Fire" on American Idol and the stunt he pulled earlier this week which led to Lambertgate.

Quite frankly, I feel that what he did was completely and totally inappropriate, for several reasons. For one, just because it's been done for years on TV does not make it appropriate. The shock factor he wanted was totally there, so it's clearly not common. Secondly, he knew it was inappropriate when he didn't do any of it in dress rehearsal, thus putting ABC in an incredibly difficult position of having someone doing things onstage that is not conducive to their family station. And the fact that it was 7:45 in the west when he was doing it makes it even worse. Do any of you really want to explain to a small child why that man was putting someone else's head in his crotch and moving back and forth? I don't think so... And yes, I also agree with ABC canceling his appearance later this week. He compromised the values of their station; he has to deal with it.

Do I think it'll ruin his career? Absolutely not. But was it stupid? Yes. He's talented, but even the talented have to show limits, something which he utterly failed to do.

Fan Interview: Val

A new section is debuting today: fan interviews. These are surveys that I offer to fans so that they can share their opinions about "Wicked" and have it publicized for our readers to enjoy. If you would like to participate in one of these interviews, I request that you've seen at least three people in each leading role (so for example, I wouldn't be eligible...). If you'd like to apply, shoot me an email at iwevans@bellsouth.net
---
Our first fan interview is by Pennsylvania native Val, who has seen the show fifty-eight times between three productions (New York, Chicago, and the 1st National Tour) within a space of about a year and ten months. Her first Elphaba was Mrs. Stephanie J. Block and the last one she saw was Miss Dee Roscioli. Enjoy the interview below!!

Who is your favorite Elphaba and why?
Stephanie J. Block, She has it all, great singing, great acting and just a presence about her. She is Elphaba to me.

Who is your favorite Glinda and why?
Erin Mackey, Great voice, great acting and has the best transformation from Act 1 to Act 2.

Which Elphie/Glinda pair do you think has the best chemistry?
Stephanie J. Block and Annaleigh Ashford

What other standouts have you seen in other principal roles?
Kyle Dean Massey and Brad Bass as Fiyero.

Who are some standout understudies you have seen?
Lindsay K. Northen, Katie Adams, Laura Woyasz as Glinda. Julie Reiber, Jenny DiNoia, Lisa Brescia, Chelsea Krombach as Elphaba. Brad Bass and Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero.

Who is the nicest person you have met at the stagedoor?
They are all nice and I can't pick just one meeting.

What was your favorite time seeing the show?
There really isn't a favorite time. I love every performance I have seen for different reasons.

Other than Wicked, what are some of your favorite shows?
Next to Normal, Rent, Phantom, Les Miz, Legally Blonde, 9 to 5.

Which "Wicked" alumni/current cast member's work outside of "Wicked" do you admire most?
Julie Reiber, Brad Bass, Stephanie J. Block

We thank Val for her willingness to participate and hope that we see many more of these in the coming weeks! Also keep your eyes peeled for two different "Wicked" cast members who are scheduled for interviews!

PHOTO: Val with Nicole Parker at Nicole's Last Show

News Interview: Lisa Brescia

Hudson Reporter Interviews Lisa Brescia

Lisa Brescia was the standby for Elphaba on Broadway and played the role full-time from June to August 2008 in Chicago.

San Francisco Cast News

According to the cast's official twitter, Tom McGowan will replace Lee Wilkoff as The Wizard and January 5, 2010.

Some Understudy Notes...

Merideth Kaye Clarke (s/b Elphaba; 1st National Tour) will be on as Elphaba from December 1 through December 10. Stephanie Torns (Ensemble; u/s Elphaba; 1st Ntl. Tour) also said that she may be getting a few shows as Elphaba between December 11 and 13.

Angel Reda (Ensemble; u/s Elphaba; San Francisco) will be on standby for Elphaba the first week of December (December 1-6)

Cast Update: San Francisco Production

Two new cast members have joined the San Francisco company of "Wicked". These two have actually been in the show for a couple of weeks but were just added to the website.

Chris Fox (Ensemble; u/s Chistrey) Chris's credits include the feature film Fame, Rhianna, Subway National Commercials; owns his own dance company: Human Dance Co., and toured with Bollywood dance company Blue 13. He thanks Mom, Dad, Sis, Lexi, and the family love and support.

(Chris Fox was added to the site, but no one was taken off...does anyone know who he replaced?)

Annie Funke (Ensemble; u/s Madame Morrible) is so excited to be heading West and joining the company of Wicked! Broadway: Hairspray (Tracy standby). Favorite Regional: Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred), ...Charlie Brown (Lucy), Steel Magnolias (Annelle), Grease! (Jan and Cha-Cha!). BFA: University of Oklahoma. Many thanks to Craig at Telsey, and all who have believed in me. This is for my family - I love you.

(Annie Funke replaced Celisse Henderson as Pfanee & has the second-act opener solo "Like some terrible green blizzard, throughout the land she flies!)

Video Footage: Natalie Weiss performs at Shendandoah Conservatory

These two videos are from a recent performance of Natalie Weiss (2nd National Tour Ensemble; u/s Elphaba) at Shenandoah Conservatory. She sang several songs, but these are two of my favorites: obviously "The Wizard and I", and "Alto's Lament", which she has really spiced up and made even more amazing than before. Pure sarcasm. And in "The Wizard and I", she takes a little tumble! The videos are embedded below for your convenience.

The Wizard and I:



Alto's Lament:

Video Footage: Teal Wicks Sings "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 49ers Game

Click Here for Video

Teal Wicks sang the National Anthem at the 49ers Monday Night Football game on November 16, 2009. Click the link above to watch!

Tom Flynn & Paul Slade Smith to Switch Places

According to a reliable poster on WitchesofOz, Paul Slade Smith (Dr. Dillamond - 1st Ntl. Tour) and Tom Flynn (Dr. Dillamond - San Francisco) are set to switch places soon. We will let you know as soon as anything is returned, but I believe said poster to be very reliable, hence the reason I posted this here.

Editorial: Respectful Critisicm vs. Bashing

I thought I'd write an article on another issue that seems to be rather important within the "Wicked" community - respectful criticism vs. bashing. When critiquing a performance, one should not be expected to be all sunshine and rainbows - it actually makes a review better if it can see both good and bad in any give production. That being said, it is most certainly not a good thing when a review is filled with, "OMG that girl who played Elphaba sucked so terrible I hope she never plays it again..."

Many people need to learn to express dislike respectfully. If you truly think she sucked, say something along the lines of, "I did not care for so-and-so's interpretation of Elphaba at all - I thought it was pretty awful BECAUSE..." The word "because" is also very important - if you're going to say something, at LEAST back it up. I feel that that is the difference between constructive, respectful criticism and bashing. Always remember that the actor or actress who you are reviewing may read what you said - and they're much more likely to take offense at bashing than constructive criticism.

Closely related, when somebody criticizes your favorite actor in the role, don't jump down his or her throat. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion; not that there's anything wrong with saying you disagree, but getting into a "No, I think so-and-so is miles ahead of what's her face" is just silly and proves absolutely nothing: it's an opinion, nothing more, nothing less.

I think if we all learned how to be respectful when reviewing a show, it would make the world of "Wicked" a much better place.

Video Footage: Celina Carvajal sings "Defying Gravity"

This is Celina Carvajal of the Legally Blonde reality show singing "Defying Gravity" at a benefit for the Laurie Beechman theatre. I personally think she's very shouty, but there is a lot of passion in her performance. Embedded below for your convinience!

Media: Wicked in Kansas City

The following two articles are news coverage from the 2nd National Tour's run in Kansas City, MO.

Wicked Returning to KC, popular as ever (contains interview with producer Marc Platt)

‘Wicked’: The hit machine lands for a long Music Hall run

Wicked Preps for Run in Kansas City

Cast Changes: Broadway Company

The official "Wicked" website's Broadway cast list has been updated. Changes include:

Julie Reiber has replaced Jennifer DiNoia as standby for Elphaba.

Eddie Pendergraft (of the Original Broadway ensemble) has replaced Michael Drolet as Ensemble; u/s Boq.

Remember That Time...?: Idina Menzel & Cassidy Janson

Remember that time in London when Cassidy Janson (Ensemble; u/s Elphaba & later s/b Elphaba) was on as a flathead in "One Short Day" and fell over and just rolled around the stage? Idina Menzel (Elphaba) and Helen Dallimore (Glinda) started laughing so hard they had to stop the show to pick up Ms. Janson and to allow Ms. Menzel & Ms. Dallimore to compose themselves.

Thanks to Rach for this RMT...? suggestion.

PHOTO: Idina Menzel & Helen Dallimore in "Wicked"

Wicked Alum to Open West End Cast of "Hair"

Congratulations to Caissie Levy (Ensemble and u/s Elphaba on Broadway; s/b and lead Elphaba in Los Angeles) and Saycon Sengbloh (s/b for Elphaba on Broadway) and Josh Lamon (Boq on 1st National Tour) who will all be reprising their Broadway roles in "Hair" for the West End Production, opening April 2010.

Tom Flynn to leave San Francisco cast in January

According to a fan who spoke to him at the stagedoor, Tom Flynn (Dr. Dillamond) will be departing the San Francisco cast on January 10, 2009.

San Francisco Cast of "Wicked" to sing at Santana Christmas Tree Lighting

Site with the Information

Copied and pasted for your convenience:

Light Up the Row, Santana Row’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

DATE/TIME
November 17, 2009
Tree Lighting 7:00pm-8:00pm

It will be a very festive Christmas at Santana Row this year, with one of the stars of the hit musical Wicked and the one and only Grinch making special appearances at Santana Row's 8th Annual Light Up the Row, sponsored by CADILLAC, taking place Tuesday, November 17, 2009 in Park Valencia on Olin Avenue. NBC Bay Area's Mike Inouye and Jessica Aguirre will host the event, which kicks off the holiday season and has become a favorite family tradition in the South Bay.

Arrive early to take a holiday photo with the one and only Grinch, who will be available in Santana Row Park from 4-6 p.m. And if you still have time to spare, take advantage of Santana Row's Fashionably Early Dining program: enjoy a three-course dinner at one of Santana Row's acclaimed restaurants for just $30! Fashionably Early Dining is available from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday evenings from Nov. 1 - Dec. 17.

Guests who attend will receive an early holiday gift from Santana Row: an exclusive savings card good for 20% off any one item at select shops and restaurants! Pick up a card at Vera Bradley or the Concierge Center on Nov. 17 between 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and hurry—cards are valid through Friday, Nov. 20 only! (while supplies last)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Photos with the Grinch 4:00-6 p.m.
Holiday Festivities 6:00-9 p.m.
Tree Lighting 7:00-8 p.m.

Video Footage: Julia Murney & Megan Hilty & The Cincinatti Pops

This is video footage from YouTube of Julia Murney & Megan Hilty singing with the Cincinatti Pops. This was the concert in which they replaced Kristin Chenoweth.

Defying Gravity:


The Wizard and I:


Popular:


For Good:

Exploring Oz: Trivia on Glinda's Costumes

This is just some various trivia about Glinda's costumes that you may or may not know...

- There have been three different designs for the Bubble Dress: the original (such as what Kristin Chenoweth wore), which had a less sequined top and a flatter bottom; the second one (designed as a more flattering approach for Glindas who were not as small; the bottom puffed out more and the top was more curvy); and the latest one, which was very similar to number two, except the bottom puffed out even more and the bottom was made out of an even shinier material. The three designs are shown right here, in order:


- The actress playing Glinda wears her shoes for the Shiz scenes while in the opening of the show because she has to change clothes & wig in thirty seconds for the next scene.

- The other costumes have also had changes throughout the run, though none as significant as the bubble dress.

- The Glinda wig for shiz was originally straight, but then they changed it to curly, and now they have once again returned to straight, though it has a different twist to it now. Pictures are below:



- Glinda actually has two different wands: one for the bubble and one for the catfight.

Wicked to Return to Chicago

According to a post on the popular "Wicked" fansite WitchesofOz, "Wicked" will be returning to Chicago for nine weeks because ticket sales were still good upon closing; it will not be at the Oriental Theatre but it will be somewhere in Chicago.

Thanks to sparklegem on WitchesofOz for the heads up!

Remember That Time...?: Shoshana Bean

Remember that time when Shoshana Bean came running on stage for her entrance at the top of the show and slipped and slid into the netting over the orchestra pit?

PHOTO: Shoshana Bean as Elphaba on Broadway

A Quick Thank You...

I just wanted to thank everyone for this first several days on the blog ... we, after five days (so not including today's statistics), average having forty-three different people on the blog every day and have had 152 unique visitors visit; this is the reason I do the blog and I am thrilled that it has taken off so well. So thank you, everyone, for visiting so far; please continue to visit and tell anyone who may be interested about the blog!

Also, a list of countries from which we have had visitors: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Croatia, India, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Video Footage: Stephanie J. Block sings "The Wizard and I" with the Utah Symphony

This is a wonderful find from YouTube. On Tuesday, November 12, 2009, Stephanie J. Block joined the Utah Symphony and performed "The Wizard and I". It's also fun to watch the conductor perform...he sure was moving! Embedded for your convenience.

Exploring Oz: Vocabulary

It was brought to my attention a couple of days ago that a lot of people, particularly newcomers to the world of theatre may not understand some of the terms that we use on this site and in the "Wicked" world in general. So this morning, I have compiled a list of terms that might be helpful. If anyone has any other suggestions for terms to add, please feel free to comment or email me (address located in the right hand column).

standby - a person who sits backstage/stays very close to the theatre during the show and only performs if the lead who they cover is ill or away for some reason. In all productions of "Wicked", Elphaba has a standby and in several of them, so does Glinda.

understudy/cover - a person who has a part in the show (usually the ensemble) but can step into a leading part if it is needed.

swing - a person who sits backstage unless a member of the ensemble is absent or stepping into a leading role; they usually cover six or seven ensemble roles. Sometimes, swings also cover a principal role.

super swing - a swing who floats between the four US productions of "Wicked", filling in as needed. One current example would be Brenda Hamilton.

phoning in - when an actor/actress does not seem as if they are actually putting forth an effort when playing a part; commonly occurs when someone has been in a role for a very long time.

lift call - a call to practice the parts of the show where characters lift other characters while dancing ("Dancing Through Life" in "Wicked"). This is very important because if an understudy/swing is being lifted and has not practiced with the person who is lifting them, injury could easily occur.

places call - exactly what the name says; a call for actors, actresses, and crew to go to the position where they start an act.

sit-down - an open-ended production of the show in a city; examples have been Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco currently. New York's production technically would be but is not usually referred to as such.

cherry picker - in the world of "Wicked", this is the machine that takes Elphaba into the air in "Defying Gravity".

stage door - to fans of "Wicked", may be used as a noun or verb. As a noun, it is the place where actors and actresses enter and leave the building and greet fans after the show. As a verb, it is used to describe visiting the door.

Video Footage: 1st National Touring Cast Visits the Ronald McDonald House

This is actually older news, but I just found it and I'm sure many people have not seen it. This is an audio slideshow (from March 2009) of the 1st National Touring Cast of "Wicked" visiting the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City. They make crafts, perform, and just hang out with the children in the house. There is also a short clip of Lesley McKinnel (Swing; u/s Nessarose, Midwife) singing "Over the Rainbow". What a sweet outreach for the cast to provide!

PHOTO: 1st National Touring Cast of "Wicked"

Editorial: Why Don't Standbys and Understudies Get Promoted?

Today’s editorial will be on a question which fans of “Wicked” commonly wonder: why do the producers of “Wicked” not promote very many standbys and understudies into leading parts? After all, they’re tested in the role and “deserve” the leading roles after understudying it for a long time. So why don’t they get it? Well, to answer this question, one really has to be in the mind of the people who cast the show: clearly, we are not. However, we can make educated guesses on the logic behind their decisions.

I feel that the main point is that standbys and understudies are cast as exactly that - standbys and understudies. Even if we as fans don’t see it, and even if we feel that Julie Reiber (standby for Elphaba in Los Angeles & Broadway) is the best thing since sliced bread, there has to be some reason that she was cast as a standby and not as the lead position – in this case, no doubt the experience of Eden Espinosa (standby Elphaba/Nessarose on Broadway; Elphaba on 1^st National Tour [temporary], Broadway, Los Angeles) sealed the nail on that coffin. Does it mean Eden is better than Julie? No, that’s a subjective decision: and honestly, we don’t even know if the producers think so: They could be going with her proven ability to lead a show (in both “Wicked” and “Brooklyn” on Broadway) over sheer talent. We never really know.

Closely related to that point, just to touch on the whole method of thinking that a standby or understudy “deserves” a part, one must honestly remember that the world isn’t fair – and also the fact that they do not have a guaranteed promotion clause in their contracts. Don’t get me wrong, I feel that many have been overlooked who really did deserve a leading role, but that’s really not up to us to decide.

Money also sometimes plays a part in the decision of who may lead a part. I know for a fact from people involved with the show that Laura Bell Bundy (standby for Glinda on Broadway; later played Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” on Broadway and Tour) was offered the role of Glinda after Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda – Original Broadway Cast) but demanded the same amount of money as Chenoweth and ended up breaking the contract. However, we often do not know about money in the situations (and it’s really none of our business), so I’m sure that may be fairly common behind the scenes.

We also are not guaranteed that all standbys and understudies want to be promoted. While I do not know specifically whether or not she wanted to be promoted, Lisa Brescia (standby for Elphaba on Broadway; Elphaba in Chicago) was working on a degree in Womens’ Studies while backstage at The Gershwin and may have not accepted offers to be promoted until the Chicago stint. Once again, we will most likely never know.

Finally, I think name is important to “Wicked” producers, especially with the Broadway Cast. Look at all of the Broadway cast replacements: they had either had a good bit of New York theatrical experience or were very familiar within the “Wicked” world – Shoshana Bean (had done “Hairspray”, “Godspell”, toured with “Leader of the Pack”); Eden Espinosa (led “Brooklyn” on Broadway); Ana Gasteyer (of Saturday Night Live fame); Julia Murney (“The Wild Party” on Broadway; National Tour of “Wicked” as Elphaba); Stephanie J. Block (“The Pirate Queen”; “The Boy from Oz”; National Tour of “Wicked” as Elphaba; original Elphaba in “Wicked” workshops); Kerry Ellis (“Wicked” imported from London); Marcie Dodd (toured with “Hairspray”; toured in ensemble and as Elphaba and Nessarose understudy with “Wicked”; Nessarose in Los Angeles “Wicked”; standby for Elphaba in Los Angeles “Wicked”); Nicole Parker (MadTV); Dee Roscioli (2 ½ years with the Chicago company of “Wicked”, two of which were spent playing Elphaba full-time). Everyone of these women had shown a capacity to lead a show (or were a publicity stunt) and thus were given the leading role. I would go through and do the Glindas as well, but I think it’s fairly self-explanatory.

One other quick factor; especially for smaller roles: if an understudy is a swing, I feel that the production is much less likely to move them up simply because swings are so versatile and so difficult to train, as they have to learn 9-10 roles in the show: the one exception I know of with a swing promotion was Briana Yacavone to Nessarose in Los Angeles, and that was kind of done on an emergency basis with Caissie Levy’s vocal troubles. I do feel that being a swing can be a bad thing if you want to be promoted.

All of this being said, I still think that we fans must remember overall that it is the producer’s decision to promote people as they please, and though we may search for logic in their decisions, the only way to know for sure is to be them, and we are not.

PHOTOS: Top Right: Eden Espinosa & Laura Bell Bundy as standby for Elphaba & Glinda together on Broadway
Bottom Left: Nicole Parker as Elphaba on Broadway

Understudy Alert: Julie Reiber

Julie Reiber will be performing the role of Elphaba on December 11 (8:00 PM) and December 12 (2:00 & 8:00 PM) on Broadway. Her last day with the show will be December 13. All information is per her Facebook.

Remember That Time...?: Katie Rose Clarke

Remember that time on the first national tour when Katie Rose Clarke lost her crown and wig when she was in the bubble?

Note: Scroll down the page for info on what "Remember That Time...?" is.

Cast Update: Jared Zirilli

Jared Zirilli joined the 1st National Touring Cast of "Wicked" on October 9, 2009 as an Ensemble Member and understudy for Fiyero. Click here to view his website, which not only contains pictures, a biography, etc., but also clips of him in rehearsal for Fiyero. You can hear him singing "Dancing Through Life" and "As Long As You're Mine" with Merideth Kaye Clark. What a voice! I wouldn't mind seeing him on the board as Fiyero when I see the show in New Orleans.

Tom McGowan to Join San Francisco Cast of "Wicked"

According to David de Vries' (Dr. Dillamond; 2nd National Tour; Chicago) blog, in December, Tom McGowan (The Wizard) will be leaving the 2nd National Touring Cast to join the San Francisco Cast of the show. He will be the third actor to play The Wizard in San Francisco, succeeding Lee Wilkoff and David Garrison. No replacement for the 2nd National Tour has been announced as of now.

Video Footage: Dee Roscioli is Elphaba

Broadway.com: Dee Roscioli is Elphaba

This is another in the series of ten minute interviews of the stars of Broadway's production of "Wicked". More interviews are linked to under the video, including Alli Mauzey (Glinda), PJ Benjamin (The Wizard), Kevin Kern (Fiyero), and Tony-Award Winning Rondi Reed (Madame Morrible). I have also embedded the video for your convenience.

Clearning Confusion: Wicked 1st National Tour

With the help of a reliable source, I am posting now to clear some confusion about the 1st National Tour of "Wicked".

The reason for this confusion is the fact that Donna Vivino's (Elphaba) site originally listed her as being with the tour through November 1, 2009. Clearly, she is still with it. She rescinded this statement once things had changed, but unfortunately some people still misunderstood and thought it meant she was leaving soon. According to my source, Donna Vivino will be with the tour AT LEAST through April 11, 2010 in New Orleans, as will Chandra Lee Schwartz (Glinda).

Another rumor that started was that Katie Rose Clarke (former 1st Ntl. Tour Glinda) would be returning in December 2009. This is incorrect; she was going to return but the contract fell through. Whether or not the other part of the rumor is true (that she would replace Erin Mackey (Broadway Glinda) in February 2010) is unclear at the moment.

It is also worth noting that many ensemble contracts also expire in April 2009 at the end of the New Orleans stop.

Hope this helps clear any confusion, and remember that any of this is subject to change, but as soon as we know here, you'll know.

The First National Tour is currently in Denver, Colorado through Sunday, November 15th. Visit ticketmaster.com for tickets to the show.

PHOTO: Chandra Lee Schwartz (Glinda) & Donna Vivino (Elphaba)

Editorial: Why was Annaleigh Ashford let go from Cirque de Soleil?

There has been a stink in the "Wicked" community (and rightfully so) lately over the sudden firing of Annaleigh Ashford (former Broadway Glinda; u/s Glinda in 1st National Tour) from Cirque de Soleil, and it has left many people wondering why she was let go when she was such a major character, appearing in most of the press articles, photos, and even having a large spot in the commercials. For some reason though, producers wrote her part (and one other part) out of the show.

Even though my heart goes out to Ms. Ashford, I think we must understand that Cirque de Soleil is a huge production - one that most people attend without really caring who's in it. In a sense, it's like "Wicked", where maybe 0.005% of people could even tell you who was in the show. And like Cirque, it's going to continue selling out anyway. That being said, if someone is not working or a part is not working (we really don't know which is actually true in this case), they can be let go without any major repercussions, unless the casting is big and public. An example of this was the firing of Joanna Pacitti from the leading role of Annie on the National Tour and subsequent Broadway production of 1997: the casting had been done on a huge Macy's Talent Search with a Turning Point Special also being aired about the casting. Needless to say, when word got out that she had been let go when she was out for two days with bronchitis, many people boycotted the show, leading to it's quick demise, with the Broadway production only running from March to October of 1997.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for Annaleigh Ashford. She is merely a face on a commerical in pictures to most Cirque fans and her firing will not hurt the ticket sales of the show. That being said, I'm sure we all feel awfully sorry for her, because this is still a dreadful situation for her to be in.

PHOTO: Annaleigh Ashford in "Cirque de Soleil"; photo courtesy of playbill.com

Video Footage: Shoshana Bean - "The Wizard and I"

Shoshana Bean sings "The Wizard and I" at UCLA

This is one of the best performances of "The Wizard and I" that I have ever heard. So much passion without sacrificing vocal clarity. Shoshana Bean covered & played the role of Elphaba on Broadway and played the role on the 1st National Tour. She also covered the role of Nessarose on Broadway when she was standby for Elphaba.

If you would like to suggest anything for the Video Footage sections, please email them to fritz28408@gmail.com. Bootlegs and other illegal materials will not be utilized.

Reminder: Glee Tomorrow Night!

Remember, tomorrow night's episode of "Glee", called "Wheels" features Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Rachel (Lea Michele) singing "Defying Gravity". The song (and both of their solo versions) are avaliable for purchase on iTunes.

Though I doubt if it will happen now due to the success of "Glee", wouldn't it be wonderful to see Lea Michele play Elphaba?

Upcoming Event: Wicked 1st Ntl. Tour

The cast of the 1st Ntl. Tour of Wicked will be performing "The Star Spangled Banner" tonight at the Denver Broncos game at 6:30 Mountain Time.

Media: Wicked In Wichita

These links are media, both in the form of video and text, pertaining to the 2nd National Tour of "Wicked"'s stop in Wichita, Kansas. This tour currently stars Marcie Dodd as Elphaba and Heléne Yorke as Glinda.

Article & Video: Crews Work Fast to Make Century II Theatre "Wicked"

Review: Wicked A Wonder of Sight & Sound (Note: This review also has understudy Zach Hanna as Boq)

Video Footage: Wicked Melbourne Interviews

Wicked: Behind the Scenes

This link, posted by the official website of "Wicked", has some behind the scenes interviews with Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) from when "Wicked" was in Melbourne. It also features a full video of Ms. Harrison singing the ending of "The Wizard and I" (quite well, I might add). It was aired on Channel 7 in Australia last year. Check it out!

Wicked on San Francisco's "WHERE" Magazine Cover

This month, "Wicked" is featured on the front cover of San Francisco's "WHERE" Magazine, with Teal Wicks (Elphaba) and Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda) doing the standard "Wicked" logo pose. Take a look!

Coming Soon...

We've scheduled an interview with an ensemble member on the 2nd National Tour of "Wicked". Keep watching the blog to find out who it is and to read the interview!

Is it True?: Maria Eberline

Articles with this title will usually be rumors that are widespread but do not have a clear source: basically me letting you know, but making clear that it is purely a rumor:

Is it True? Several people are suggesting that Maria Eberline (former 1st Ntl. Tour Ensemble; u/s Elphaba, Nessarose; temporary Broadway ensemble; u/s Elphaba) will be taking over as the next standby for Elphaba on Broadway.

Who knows if it's true, but I know I wouldn't be disappointed!

Remember That Time...?: Zoe Gertz & The Phantom Flying Machine

"Remember that time...?" will be a feature in the blog in which we remember funny, amazing, and random moments from "Wicked".

I thought we'd start with a funny blooper: Remember that time that Zoe Gertz was on as Elphaba and the lift malfunctioned and went up without her?

These articles will not be lengthy at all; after this one, they will probably be about two lines to make you chuckle and that will be that.

The Way I See It: The Current Wicked in London Situation

As I'm sure anyone reading this blog knows, there's currently a bit of a situation in the West End production of "Wicked." But let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start...sorry, couldn't help it!). Flashback to October 11, 2009: the day in which we find out via an interview that Mrs. Stephanie J. Block (former Broadway, 1st National Tour Elphaba) was nearly lined up (and had actually been put in!) to do the West End production of Wicked due to the illness of Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Ashleigh Grey (standby for Elphaba), AND Sabrina Carter (understudy for Elphaba). Thankfully, Shona White (former West End standby for Elphaba) was able to come in and stand by for the role (though she never performed, unfortunately).

So everybody figured it was a rather temporary situation as the regular players for the role of Elphaba recovered: wrong! Now, on November 8, we are still speculating from day to day of who will be playing Elphaba each evening... So now the question becomes: Are we about to see another situation where the role of Elphaba murders somebody's vocal chords? I hope not, for everyone's sake.

My firm opinion, caused by many situations of this sort, is that all productions of "Wicked" should resort to an alternate system in which a lead is only expected to do six shows per week. This system has been successfully utilized in Germany since the production began previews on October 31, 2007 and has had Willemijn Verkaik stay healthy in the role of Elphaba since then.

Best wishes to all involved in this situation!

PHOTOS: Top Left - Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba (1st National Tour, Broadway)
Bottom Right - Alexia Khadime as Elphaba (West End Production)

Jennifer DiNoia Goes "Down Under" with Wicked!

On Monday, November 2, 2009, Jennifer DiNoia, standby for Elphaba on Broadway (previously u/s and s/b Elphaba in Wicked: Chicago) got on a plane to Sydney to join the Australian cast of Wicked as standby to Jemma Rix. As is well known, lead Amanda Harrison has been rather ill as of late and has not performed very often, playing her latest performance in mid-October. Zoe Gertz, understudy for Elphaba in Australia, is also known to be leaving on a honeymoon in the near future.

As of now, Miss DiNoia will be staying with the production for six weeks, which puts her in Australia until December 13, 2009. Julie Reiber, former standby for Elphaba on Broadway and Los Angeles, has stated that she will be taking Miss DiNoia's spot on Broadway until December 20, 2009.

Best wishes go out to all of the leading ladies for their hard work and especially to Ms. Harrison for a speedy recovery!

PHOTO: Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my blog! As the title suggests, on this blog, I'd like to provide news, rumors, and interviews all about our favorite musical: WICKED! Your interest is what will keep this going, so please comment often and let me know what YOU want to see on this blog!