Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

#1

Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:20pm

"Wicked will welcome a new pair of leading ladies on October 9: Stephanie J. Block will be Broadway's latest Elphaba and newcomer Annaleigh Ashford has been chosen to play Glinda in the blockbuster musical.

They replace Julia Murney and Kendra Kassebaum, who will play their final performance as Elphaba and Glinda on October 7 at the Gershwin Theatre..."

http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=552040

---

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 8/27/07 at 06:20 PM

#2

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:21pm

i was just about to post this....

Many people are going to be happy for Block. I know a few people who saw her on the tour and loved her performance!

---

BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless

SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!

#3

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:23pm

I'm really happy for Stephanie. From many interviews, it just hasn't seemed like she thought she was done with the show. So good for her.

---

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#4

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:23pm

They're gonna look totally awkward together.

#5

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:24pm

When did Legally Blonde open? I feel like Annaleigh Ashford left pretty early...or maybe the days are going by quickly as I get older.

---

I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

#6

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:25pm

*Yawn* I'll go in January if the Lea Michele rumors are true.

---

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#7

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:25pm

Regarding this announcement:

Duh, duh, duh, duh....duuuuuuuuuuuuh.

#8

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:26pm

Ray- seriously? I'll be happy in January when Lea takes over so I don't have to see the show again.

EDIT: And the million dollar question- what's going on with Stephanie and her wedding?

---

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

Updated On: 8/27/07 at 06:26 PM

#9

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:37pm

YAY, it's official!

Ashley, the million dollar question is actually: How the heck do I explain a winter trip to NY to see a show I've already seen way too many times?

#10

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:43pm

Popular, I knew i'd find you here!

(And that's not a bad thing - I leaped for joy when I heard the news!)

I wish I wasn't completely booked for my Fall trip to NYC... I might have to see Wicked again just to see Steph in the role! Love her!

---

"The nice thing about the rain is that it always stops... eventually."

- Eeyore

#11

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:45pm

Popular- that too. :)

Now I have to figure out a weekend to get down to the city to see her. I'll probably be in Boston less than I'm in NYC this year.

---

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#12

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:47pm

Yay, I am so there!

Although- Ashford is a 'newcomer'?

#13

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:57pm

I was, too, about to post this. haha

But I am sooo excited. *sigh* I don't know why, seeing as I'll never make it up to New York to see it. hmm

---

sumladfrompa.tumblr.com

#14

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 6:57pm

Gosh, now I actually have an urge to see this show again

I love Stephanie, and love Annaleigh...hate the show

Maybe I will see this in October...who knows...probably not...but its possible.

---

My 2007/2008 Season: Grey Gardens (7/5) 110 in the Shade (7/6) Mary Poppins (7/7) Xanadu (7/7) Deuce (7/8) Spamalot (7/8) Jersey Boys (8/25) The Year of Magical Thinking (8/25) Mauritius (11/2) Young Frankenstein (11/3) Rock 'N' Roll (11/3) Pygmalion (11/4) Mauritius (11/10) Mauritius (11/21) Mauritius (11/21) Sunday in the Park with George (3/6) South Pacific (3/7) Gypsy (3/8) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (3/9)

#15

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:00pm

I want to see Ashford opposite Michele. It'll be like the Playskool Playset version of Wicked. The Fisher-Price Little People Shiz Playset would be brilliant, for the record.

I'm sure Stephanie will be fantastic. Too bad they couldn't find a more complementary Glinda for her run.

#16

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:01pm

Must. Go. See. Block !!!

#17

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:02pm

Annaleigh is awesome in everyway! She has a great voice. And she's hot. Stephanie is great like we all know.

Off topic: who will be playbing margot in LB?

#18

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:03pm

Ok...back to the lottery tries for me once they're back. LOVE Stephanie!! :)

---

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

#19

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:07pm

Yay! I'm glad to see Annaleigh moving on to bigger roles and Stephanie getting work. This is great for both of them.

---

One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...


It was awesome. - theaterkid1015

#20

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:08pm

I'll be in New York in mid-March. Does anyone know if Stephanie will still be with the show?

#21

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:15pm

^mostlikely not. i think the contract ends in january.

#22

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:21pm

So is it safe to say Lea Michele takes over for Block on Tuesday, Jan 8th?

#23

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:26pm

Guess I will now have to try and see it before and after
I really love Julia Murney. *(obsessed with her cd)*
And I adore Stephanie Block!

Guesss I know what I want for christmas

---

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#24

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:30pm

"Ashford is a 'newcomer'?"

I was thinking the same thing. Annaleigh is quite accomplished for someone so young and I don't think of her as a "newcomer" at all.

#25

re: Ashford and Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:32pm

She's not even a newcomer to the show, never mind the business. Though she's, to say the least, not my favorite, it will be interesting to see how she's (hopefully) matured in the role.

---

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife