Donna Vivino to Take Over Elphaba in WICKED Tour

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:20pm

"Donna Vivino will take over the role of Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked on Wednesday, November 5 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. Katie Rose Clarke continues as Glinda, as does Myra Lucretia Taylor as Madame Morrible and Lenny Wolpe as The Wizard.

The musical, with a score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, tells the story of two girls in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is misunderstood and the other is beautiful, ambitious, and very popular. The production is directed by Joe Mantello, with choreography by Wayne Cilento.

Vivino's Broadway credits include Les Miserables, Saturday Night Fever, Hairspray, and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me..."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/16118

[dg22894]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:24pm

Has anyone seen her go on I have tickets for the third week in December. Is she good?? Last time I saw it with Stephenie J Block she was AMAZING.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:24pm

I listened to her on "that site" and I cannot wait to see her in Detroit. she sounds like she has a powerhouse voice. I would love to see her onstage with Katie Rose Clarke and Richard H. Blake

[dg22894]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:26pm

Richard H. Blake is going on too. For what role. I am seeing it in Detroit CANNOT wait.

[pli1018]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:29pm

Fiyero.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:30pm

Donna is AWESOME. So is Merideth Kaye Clarke(s/b).
It's about time they made the official announcement. She starts tomorrow.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 9:30pm

All he has to do is sign on the dotted line. which I am hoping he will do by the end of this month.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 10:05pm

I am so happy for Donna. She is fantastic as Elphaba!

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 8:27am

Donna is excellent! When she went on for Carmen I have heard people say how they can't believe she was the understudy and that someone is better than her.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 8:47am

So happy for her, but disappointed that the tour will be no where near DC. I can't believe we have only had one visit from this production so far and that was almost 3 years ago.

[zamedy]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 9:33am

What happened to Carmen Cusack? I saw her on tour in Buffalo and she was amazing.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 9:51am

her contract expired...so happy for Donna! She is an amazing Elphaba!!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:04am

Donna is phenomenal and Richard H. Blake is amazing. The audiences are very lucky.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:09am

Good for Donna

She's come a long way since Little Cosette

[actorgaedu]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 11:58am

Saw her in Atlanta a couple weeks ago and she was AMAZING! So wonderful in every capacity. I had a feeling she would get bumped up once Carmen's contract was up. Glad to hear it is true! I would like to see Carmen take over on Broadway.

[Parks]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 12:02pm

Wow--Donna sounds INCREDIBLE on that site!!

[NDR]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 10:03am

Donna is fabulous! (IMHO) She is significantly better than Carmen. I am so happy for her.

Who knows more details on the casting changes for the tour?
I heard that Tom Flynn (Dr. Dillamond) is leaving in two weeks, Brad Weinstock's last performance was yesterday and DeeDee Magno-Hall (Nessarose) and Cliffton Hall (Fiyero) play their last show this week.

Anyone know why so much change? Just contracts ending or...?

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 6:11pm

Richard Blake starts as Fiyero on the first national tour on November 18th, I believe.

[me2]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 7:08pm

Vivino is marvelous. She's very strong voiced and takes the role like a pro.
Broadway Mouth: Coat of Many Colors: The Beauty of Broadway

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 9:18pm

I can't wait til ElphiesMagic weighs in on this!

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 3:43pm

I recently heard audio of the newest Wicked tour cast.

Although I'm biased, Richard Blake sounds FANTASTIC as Fiyero andMeredith Kay Clark (understudy i think?) sounds pretty kickass as Elphaba. I'm seeing the tour in Detroit in a few weeks...has anyone seen them live that wants to weigh in?

The GLinda and Nessa sound a little weak, but it's hard to tell from hearing just a few songs...

Updated On: 12/2/08 at 03:43 PM

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 4:37pm

Meredith is now the stand-by.

[wadney92]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:52pm

I just saw the tour. But I didn't see the Elphaba your talking about I saw Donna Vivino. She was FANTASTIC. Her voice is actually similar to Idina Menzel, but stronger sounding, in my opinion. (I didn't say better, it just has a strength to to it if you know what i mean.) But she her belting was so amazing. I got chills in No Good Deed. Richard Blake was great. I actually didn't realize he was Fiyero, but when he walked on stage I reconized him from Legally Blonde and was very excited. But he did so amazing, and had a great chemistry with Donna, and Katie Rose Clarke(Glina) as well.

Katie Rose Clark is Glinda and does phenomenal. She hit those notes in the beginning, and belts wonderful. Her physical acting is very nice as well. She just potrayed the emotional depths of glinda(which I feel has more of an actual emoional struggle then Elphaba) so well. And the Girl playing Nessa did good. Her voice was very strong.

PS.My friend saw the Understudy Elphaba and liked her better then the Elphaba in Chicago.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:19am

Who played Nesarose?

[wadney92]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 12:24am

Kristine Reese. I honestly don't know much about Nessarose's character. But she played it off very bitchy, which actually worked for me.