I was just wondering, are there any actress that have done the role of elphaba (tour, B'way or chicago) that could easily sing the parts for Glinda. I know that Idina had some classical training and does have a legit voice as proven on the SWIWS soundtrack. But, are there any others?
I am just wondering which is why I am asking.
I don't think Idina would be able to play Glinda. Glinda has more of an opera style part. Idina is a belter.
Shoshana Bean could probably sing it.
If Idina has any classical training, she sure doesn't show it...anyway, I bet there are plenty of actresses out there who could do both roles. Maybe not anyone who's a "name" (who I can think of at the moment anyway), but plenty all the same. By the end of the run, like, fifteen years from now, lol, I'm sure by then SOMEONE will have done both (understudies included).
Megan Hilty probably could. She has a HUGE range. She obviously does not look the role though.
Updated On: 10/23/06 at 08:57 PM
It doesn't really matter what you look like for Elphaba. I mean, ideally she would be tall and thin, but other than that, because of the green makeup, it's kind of fair game.
I was going to say Megan, but the question was the opposite way.
Considering it is this way, maybe Megan Sikora. But, I haven't heard enough to judge.
If Glinda was supposed to riff on everything and have soul, then yeah Shoshana Bean could play her, but Bean is a belter, so she probably wouldn't do a good job.
Idina had classical training, but she's so immersed in her own style by now. She couldn't do it.
I bet Shoshana Bean could sing Glinda. I know she's classically trained and very versatile...vocally I wonder if she lays off the riffing when she sings classical..
Understudy Joined: 8/28/06
Megan Hilty could do both.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
Shoshana Bean can sing Glinda. She may not show it, but I believe she has had some classical training and she has said in interviews that she can sing the notes Glinda does, and higher.
When it comes to the opposite way, Megan Hilty can sing Elphaba. She said in an interview that when she was in college at Carnegie Mellon, her friends came back after a performance of Wicked saying that there's a new show she could definitely be in, but the only downside would be that she would have to paint herself green every night. Apparently, in college, she was a big belter and no one even thought of her playing Glinda.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/04
Wow, I'd love to hear Megan sing No Good Deed or Defying Gravity.
Just listen to the HAIR Benefit Recording to hear Sho's insane range.
15 years from now Patti LuPone WILL play both... in the same production. John Doyle will direct and Patti will play the harmonica in her off-time. She will get nominated for a Tony for her roles, but will tragically lose to the newcomer staring in Schindler's List: The Musical!
I think Jennifer Laura Thompson could do both. I believe she mentioned in an interview when she was in the show that she always thought of herself as an Elphie, not a Glinda.
Understudy Joined: 3/30/06
There is a video on the the youknowwhatsiteimtalkingabout where Shoshana did a Musical Medly, and she did some soprono range songs, and sounded great.
Kristy Cates who was the Elphaba in Chicago has stated she is a trained soprano, and singing Elphabas songs are a bit of a challenge.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
People around here are throwing around classical training too much. NO Idina does NOT have classical vocal training. No Shoshana Bean does NOT have classical training. Classical training is more than singing Caro Mio Ben in a voice lesson. Kristin, Audra, Kelli, Vikki these are women with classical training that belt...albeit some more than others (Audra). The point is I think there are VERY few people who should be singing both those roles. usually it's one or the other. You'd have to be SOME singer to pull that off.
I just saw Sho live yesterday, she definitely has the range for Glinda.
Shoshana sing opera?? Shoshana Bean??? Ha ha I love her, but no.
Even though she has the range, I can't see Shoshana singing GLinda. Her quality is nothing like that of any actress that has played that part (not that that's a bad thing). If anyone could play both roles, it would be Kristy Cates.
Yeah... I agree. Shoshana also has a vowel issue. That would probably screw up some of the songs, too.
i think sho could sing it. i mean she did do tracey at some times and she is very perky. she may not be the best glinda though. but i have heard her cornet man on the site we can't speak about and its pretty kick ass...and a side of her she doesn't show off very often.
I definitely think Sho can sing. Tracey isn't really the greatest example of singing ability because it's not the hardest material. I think her "Bless the Lord" was amazing. I just don't think she can sing Glinda.
her bless the lord is quite amazing...i remember hearing that and was like WHO IS THIS GIRL?
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