Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?- Page 2
Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
#25Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/15/13 at 9:59amWhoops... sorry for that typo. Post edited. Good catch. Monday morning mind slip.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#26Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/15/13 at 10:32am
These are interesting stories. What exactly happened with Bundy?
I also know the actor who played Boq got replaced after SF.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#27Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/15/13 at 11:29am
There were rumours on this board a few years back that Kristin makes 2% from all Wicked productions. Which if true, is a staggering amount.
That's ridiculous. Two percent is what each writer traditionally gets. What's the point of repeating years-old "rumors" of things that never were.
#28Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/15/13 at 11:44am
As most have mentioned the show was originally built as a vehicle for Chenoweth, but as they realized in the SF tryout, the show's plot revolves around Elphaba and not Galinda.
When adapting an epic/novel to the stage a problem many shows have in their creation is finding who to base the show around. Initially Schwartz and Holzman chose Galinda, by having her tell Elphaba's story through her eyes, as is still seen in the opening number, with Galinda initially narrating the story, which is completely dropped after that scene. They realized that you can't tell Elphaba's story through Galinda, because it either gets in the way of the story telling or is just forgotten about midshow. Very few shows that have narrators are effective in that style. The only one that I can think of that it somewhat worked, was Bert in Mary Poppins.
So when they realized this they began to refocus the show on Elphaba, and in doing show it greatly lessened the significance of Elphaba. In my honest opinion if Chenoweth was not the first person to play Galinda, and it was some no name, the role would not have been considered for leading actress, and instead would of just been a heavily featured role alla Louise in Gypsy, or Josie de Guzman as Maria in the 1980 revival of West Side Story.
Think about it Elphaba has, The Wizard and I, Defying Gravity, As Long As You're Mine, No Good Deed, I'm not that Girl, Something Bad, and For Good, where she is either singing solo or duet, and Galinda has Popular, I'm not The Girl (Reprise), and For Good. Yes she is heavily featured in No One Mourns the Wicked and Thank Goodness but they are truly ensemble numbers that are just focused by having Galinda being center stage. The One Short Day and What is this feeling? are a similar situation to the No One Mourns the Wicked and Thank Goodness, except she is singing along side Elphaba. Galinda is all but forgotten in the second act outside of her 30 second reprise of I'm Not that Girl, and her accidentally setting Morrible in the Wizard's plan in motion to destroy Elphaba through Nessarose. And then she reappears for For Good and the Finale. To quote Spamalot, when Wicked transfered to Broadway, Chenoweth most certainly thought "Whatever Happened to My Part?"
#29Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 6:50am
The incident involving Laura Bell is fairly well known around these parts - Kristin was recovering from having injured her neck, and Laura Bell was the only actual cover (the standby) at the time given the other understudy - Melissa Bell Chait - was recovering from having a stroke. The producers, as someone had mentioned before, had planned for Laura Bell to replace Kristin when she left, but this deal (and her good standing with them) was shot in the face when without any word to them, Laura jetted off to LA to audition for a new project, leaving them with a Vicodin looped Kristin in the role. Laura Bell was fired (from what I heard, but per elphaba.scares.me - they may not be true), and as someone else explained Jennifer Laura Thompson was hired as new full time Glinda and Megan Hilty was hired not too long after as the new standby.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#30Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 8:04am
Wait, so let me get the feud, right (I THINK I AM COMPLETLY WRONG):
After Idina joined the show, Kristin got jealous because another superstar outshine her, plus Idina Menzel became the main focus of advertising and not her? Then, the producers pushed Menzel for the Tony, not Chenoweth and that made her angry? And she got mad that she lost the Tony? And as that happened, there was a huge misunderstanding about a Broadway.com interview from Cheno, that resulted in a huge screaming match?
No offense, I love Cheno, but it seems like to me that SHE's the problem, not Menzel. Even though it sounded like Menzel overracted over the interview. BTW, What was exactly the comment Chenoweth made?
Updated On: 4/16/13 at 08:04 AM
BariTenor1018
Swing Joined: 4/9/13
#31Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:17amSJB was originally going to play Elphaba, and did play her in come of the workshops. As to why she was replaced, I have no idea. I'm not sure how much RENT had to do with Idina getting the part, because the 2 shows opened on broadway 10 years apart. I personally prefer SJB's voice to Idina's, and was glad to see that she got a chance to play the part on broadway. The songs truly are written for her. Idina's belting is, at least in my opinion, not as powerful and slightly nasal. Which is in and of itself not terrible, but I feel like a more chesty and in your face belt like SJB's works better for the part.
#32Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:34amJust to nerd out here for a second, it seems crazy to think that Galinda would be the focus of the show since the book is all about Elphaba. Galinda isn't heavily featured in any of the books except for maybe A Lion Among Men although I could be misremembering that.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
broadway guy
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/5/11
#33Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:41am
Didn't Kristin have to perform with a neck brace for a couple shows or something? Why would they make glinda go on with a neck brace? Makes no sense and probably ruined the show for most people.
I have always preferred SJB's elphaba to Menzel's. I always thought Stephanie had the stronger acting and singing for elphaba. Menzel is great though.
One thing i don't get is why Idina did the London Production? By the end of her broadway run you could tell that her voice was very tired. Didn't they have to do a voice over during the "ITS MEEEEE" in defying gravity cause idina's voice was shot right before act 2?
To me kristin always looked like she enjoyed wicked. Her last perfomance of wicked is floating around somewhere and she couldn't get through ten minutes of the show without balling her eyes out. She even choked up a little bit during "for good". It seemed like she genuinely was going to miss Idina and the show.
#34Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:47am
Didn't Kristin have to perform with a neck brace for a couple shows or something? Why would they make glinda go on with a neck brace? Makes no sense and probably ruined the show for most people.
Because it was either she go on or the show doesn't considering Laura Bell wasn't there to do her duty as standby because she was in LA without having given the producer's notice and the other understudy was still recovering from having had her stroke.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
broadway guy
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/5/11
#35Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:50amWell if i was Kristin I would be pissed also in that situation.
#36Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:55amIf Laura Bell went off to LA without informing the producers, why didn't that put her in violation of her contract, freeing up the producers to not have to honor the guarantee that she would replace Cheno? Has Laura Bell Bundy shared side to that story that puts her in a better light? Cause it seems beyond unprofessional and I'm surprised she was able to get leading roles after that.
#37Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:55am
"...the show was originally built as a vehicle for Chenoweth..."
As someone else pointed out, this doesn't make much sense (but certainly isn't impossible), as the novel upon which the show is based is called "Wicked," and is entirely about Elphaba.
#38Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:58am
Amelia - The version I heard of the story had the deal for full time take over up in the air, and Laura was fired after the whole ordeal especially after having to put Kristin on in her condition. Laura Bell, at least from what I've heard, has not discussed the whole ordeal which I believe is in her best interest.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 4/16/13 at 10:58 AM
#39Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:00amThat someone was ME like five posts above yours, dick.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#40Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:00am
Double post.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
Updated On: 4/16/13 at 11:00 AM
#41Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:03am
Whoops, my bad.
Nothing to see here folks.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 4/16/13 at 11:03 AM
#42Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:04amI was referring to newintown. I don't even know what you're talking about.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#43Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:07amClyde - I misunderstood your post entirely, I'm sorry for the confusion.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#44Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:12amClyde is having a bad morning.
Jonwo
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/06
#45Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 11:19amIdina was paid well for reprising Elphaba in London but its not unusual for performers to reprise roles elsewhere like the West End, she could have said no and the producers would have been fine with it. Its not like The Producers where Susan Stroman had to beg Nathan Lane to takeover Richard Dreyfus for the West End production of The Producers,
#46Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 12:12pm
I'm not sure how much RENT had to do with Idina getting the part, because the 2 shows opened on broadway 10 years apart.
1996 to 2003 is not 10 years. More importantly, RENT launched Idina's career and she rode that wave (including a Tony nod for Best Supporting Actress for playing Maureen). Idina became a NAME in the Theatre World after RENT. Also, I'm sure her involvement with RENT helped her to be cast as the Amneris replacement in AIDA.
I personally prefer SJB's voice to Idina's, and was glad to see that she got a chance to play the part on broadway. The songs truly are written for her.
I couldn't agree more. Seeing her play the role in Houston was amazing!
#47Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 2:56pm
Here is an audio of "Which Way To The Party" which morphed into "Dancing Through Life".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCJ-5kz0PtM
You can see "WWTTP" in this video The Road To Broadway: Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi-p7anJCmM
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCXEgzBkfsA
SF preview audio of "Defying Gravity"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6fyE7BXaYM
SF preview audio of "No Good Deed" which is different from what wound up in the show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXKA4_rsXBk
Updated On: 4/16/13 at 02:56 PM
#48Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 3:38pmAlso one of the best songs IMO in the show "Wicked Witch of the East" started off as a solo for Nessa called "Step by Step" which sounded very dated. It is interesting because a lot of the earlier drafts of the songs sound like they were written in the 70's and 80's.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#49Did Wicked go through alot of Problems before it opened?
Posted: 4/16/13 at 3:52pmWow, I never thought we'd be dredging up the old rumors again, much less anyone taking them seriously. Anyone watch the video on this site of Chenoweth and Mika performing "The Popular Song" together recently? Guess she's not distancing herself too much from the show.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
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