Eden Rocks the House Again

[Ustadance]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:17am

Just in case anyone of the "432,896" giddy "Wicked" fans here haven't seen her yet - Eden Espinosa is doing Elphaba for the next two weeks. Was lucky enough to catch her last night and it is beyond amazing. The audience, which was hesitant at first (without their beloved Idina) went wild after "Wizard" - and never stopped. She really blew the roof off this time.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 12:27pm

BRAVA EDEN!Much luck on your perormances!

[Brooklyn Bound]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 12:54pm

You go girl

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 1:28pm

Eden was truly awesome. I saw her in April when Ms. Menzel was taken ill. She rocked the house and got some encouraging entrance applause.

[junglered]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 2:07pm

I saw Eden take over for an ailing Idina in Act 2 this past Sunday evening. She was terrific! The audience truly appreciated her stepping in and giving a spectacular performance on the spur of the moment. Laura Bell Bundy, who played Galinda that evening, was gracious as she stepped back to give Eden the final bow of the night.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 2:13pm

i cannot wait to see eden as elphaba, it will be such a great experience to see her take on other than idina's. i think i'm going the night before idina returns (july 1st) so eden will be doing it full out as it is the last show of idina's absence. can't wait to compare the two.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 4:36pm

I saw Eden in April too when Idina was sick. I was kinda mad at first because it was a birthday present for me, but Eden had me screaming my lungs out whenever she finished a song. She was such a doll at the stage door! She replied to my letter as well.
EDEN ROCKS MY SOCKS!!!!! hehe.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 4:37pm

I would love to see Eden. It sounds like she is fantastic!

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 7:40pm

I'm looking forward to seeing Eden's take on it when I see July 1.

Have to say though that I really don't get how you can say that the audience was hesitant at first...unless Idina has somehow gotten super celebrity status since her Tony win, I can't imagine more than 20% of the audience or so actually knowing who she was.

I say this as a huge Idina fan, who wishes she would get more mainstream attention.

Wicked sells on the Oz appeal for most, not the leads.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 7:58pm

"I can't imagine more than 20% of the audience or so actually knowing who she was. "

I'm sure its more than that....if not, then its a shame.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:08pm

I'm sure more than that, have you heard the applause Idina gets when she comes on stage? That was before the TONYS. I'm just glad that my tickets are for 7/3...I have a friend that got 7/2, and the box office told her there were no absences. Poor thing.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:52pm

Actually Idina is coming back 7/2. Eden's last show will be 7/1.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:40pm

Wow, it seems like she really made a great impression as Elphaba. I'm so glad she's getting her chance to perform in the role. For all of you that liked her, you might consider joining her fanclub.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/edenespinosafanclub/

As>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/edenespinosafanclub/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/edenespinosafanclub/

As an up-and-coming actress, she's going to need lots of support. Not to mention she 100% deserves it!

[Ustadance]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:30pm

I said "hesitant" because that's exactly how they were. No applause when she came out (so they all knew it wasn't Idina) - but as soon as "Wizard and I" was finished - they went insane and never stopped. I've heard that they've started going insane from the top now and the crowds outside the stage door afterwards are out of control.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:37pm

According to the box office, 7/2 is Eden's last day, as it's been posted here, and I believe both Playbill and Broadway.com say Idina is out 6/15-7/2.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:32pm

Out of control stagedoor crowds? Wow! I'm proud of Eden! I bet it made her really sad, though, that no one clapped when she first came out as Elphaba. Thank god she's finally getting the credit she deserves.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 6:14pm

It's weird, she got entrance applause when I saw it in April.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 8:28pm

If I were her, I'd be more surprised if she did. Those of us that know of her are few and far between. She isn't a big name, I'm sure she's more expecting applause afterwards.

[bernadette88]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 9:16pm

I have to know for sure...Is idina in the show July 2nd??? Or is she coming back JUly 3rd at the matinee?? I have tickets to see the show on the second...while I hate the fact I am going to miss idina I can't wait to see Eden...but it'll give me another excuse to go back to see wicked again!!!!!:

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 10:00pm

She's scheduled to be out.

[BROADWAYFAN3]

Posted: 6/19/04 at 12:58pm

can't wait to see her in BROOKLYN

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 6/19/04 at 1:26pm

Me neither! It's going to be incredible.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 3:29am

I think another reason why audience members might be hesitant to accept Eden is because they realize that she's the understudy. They might not know who Idina is, but they definitely know that the star is out and that they're not seeing her. Many out-of-towners who come and see a Broadway show are unaware of the abilities of the understudies, who are often better than the regular performers.

All the power to Eden, and best of luck to her as she prepares for her two weeks!

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 7:14am

It really annoys me how people hear understudy, or STAND-BY (Eden is a stand-by, not an understudy), and automatically thing "BAD." Come on. The stand-by/understudy is the SECOND most eligable actress for the role, maybe even more, but casting gave the role to a bigger name. It's just the standard reaction to think "Oh, damn, I'm seeing a stand-by, so the show will be ****ty. Let me see if any lottery losers will buy my tickets!"

[BROADWAYFAN3]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 7:25am

SEEING EDEN WEDD NIGHT, CAN'T WAIT. SAW HER IN BROOKLYN AND SHE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO BELT OUT A TUNE