Did anyone see Kerry tonight? — Page 3

^^"It may have been someone like Kerry's vocal coach or something telling her not to riff because its uncertain how her voice could cope with the added strain?

I only say that because it seems unlikely that producers or whoever of the Broadway Wicked company would say something like that....I mean come on, they've had Eden Espinosa + Shoshana Bean who like riff everything and anthing."


No, the rumor is she was told off IN THE LONDON PRODUCTION for riffing by the folks in charge. Conductor, producer, whatever. No clue whether she's been encouraged or not encouraged to riff on Broadway - I do hope she does, I have heard her riff *The Wizard and I* and *Defying Gravity* and she is marvelous when she detours from the score.

Updated On: 6/19/08 at 06:10 PM

Maybe she was just tired from jet lag or something?
Maybe she has to adjust or was nervous
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She told us at SD on Tuesday night that she was very disoriented on stage for most of the show. I did take notice that she was standing on the wrong side of the stage at some parts. And she even sat down during I'm Not That Girl. Also the Broadway stage is at a steep angle and maybe she's isn't used to that either. I thought that she was AMAZING.

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Updated On: 6/20/08 at 06:25 PM

It wouldn't suprise me to hear that it is the music director in London telliing her to not riff anymore. Only because the music director is in charge of all things related to the score when the composer is not around. Maybe Ellis wants to ease into riffing and feel the waters with the music director on Broadway. Most likely because it would be a bad move to start her run with a bad relationship with the music director and she just wants to test the waters and feel it out.

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I'm glad she came over. She's got a really great voice! Look forward. I'm seeing Wicked 4 times this summer, how is her attendance?

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Updated On: 6/21/08 at 12:47 AM

but why is Oliver Tompsett allowed to riff?

he does proper riffing that really add to the score and make his rare singing in the show stand out, so maybe they cut him some slack. seems unfair.


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i saw Kerry in We Will Rock You and she was on fire! She is in her element when she has a bit of a rocking tune to perform, if you YouTube 'I Want It All' + 'No-One But You' from the show (they're bootlegs) you will see what she can do when she gets really into it.

she was also pretty good in Les Mis.

I agree with Leo Yikes, Kerry can be very uninvolved in her performance sometimes, one talent she has that causes a problem is that her voice is extremely powerful...but its effortless, she doesn't need to strain so her facial expressions are minimal.

maybe she's just tired of it all now and needs some new material to get her teeth into.

Quite true - Although i must say i've seen Stephanie Block go on as Elphaba with a horrible flu and i didn't even know she was sick until after the show! It can be done, but not by many!

Note : Julie, as standby, doesn't always go on for Kerry. Last night (Thursday) understudy Chelsea went on instead, whereas on Wednesday night Julie went on. It varies from performance to performance.

Riffing can get a little annoying if the performer does it on EVERY note (hello, Shoshana Bean).

Ok so here it is.
I am a huge Kerry Ellis fan, infact there is probably in my opinion no better actress in the world. Her voice is to die for and she is most certainly my Elphaba.
I live in England and have only seen the London production but I have seen Kerry, Idina and CJ and I am going to see Willhemijn next week who is the German Elphaba.
I have seen kerry 9 times and she has never disappointed.
The girl can riff for England, just look at her performances outside Wicked.
She was sensational at West End Live and there you will hear proper WAI riffs!!!
Kerry was told not to riff In London but every so often she did it regardess, especially the big occasions and saturday nights.
I have seen Kerry in Les Mis and We Will Rock You and at a small gig she did in Wolverhampton and every time she blew me away!!!
If Broadway is open to riffs Kerry will find her way and rock the socks off the theatre eventually.
As for her illness she has been sick for a while. She was off all of her last week except her last show and one mid week so her understudy did 6 of the 8 and she was off the week before that too and some of the week before. She has not ben well for a while and with doing her album and Chess has not taken the break she so needs. She is a hard worker but likes to overwork herself and probably should have taken more time out before hitting the stage out there. I can promise that when she hits good health again she will be outstanding though!!!
I am coming over to NYC in August to see her, too good an opportunity to miss and I hope she will be settled and chilled by then.
It must be hard because I know if Kerry is not going on she will be sat at home feeling terrible!!!

The thing I'm worried about is her straining her voice. As amazing as she is...she does tend to over do it. I hope we dont have another Caissie levy (if you dont know that story...Caissie Levy took over for Eden Espinosa in the LA production and was amazing..but strained her voice and had to leave about 4 months into her run)

yeah Oliver does riff a fair bit, every time i've seen him he's added in bits in 'Dancing Through Life' + 'As Long As Your Mine'.

there's a cute story about Kerry's last night, how he added in really good riffs into 'Dancing Through Life' for her...apparently she loves when he does it.

they clearly should embrace there inner rebel and riff to their hearts content (but not to Eden/Shoshana levels haha).

what exactly would the producers do anyway? not like they would get rid of them. that would be stupid.

Kerry is not in Wicked on Broadway til next June. She returns to the London company of the show in December.