God Smiles on Stephanie--Wicked in Chicago review

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:52pm

So..When I put my ticket in for the lottery, in the big witch hat at 3:00 it was already VERY FULL. I had to shove it in there. So I started to prepare myself for the next 2 and half hours that I wasn't going to win. When I went back to the theatre at 5:00 and waited nervously I heard the guy in the Box Office say there was at least 100 entries in there.

So imagine MY surprise *the girl who never wins ANYTHING!* when out of the 10 people they drew out of the 100 in there I WAS CALLED FIRST!! I screamed and got my tickets 2nd ROW!!!

I saw the show in Ny but I was in the last row so THIS time I actually got to see there faces! I'll break down the cast as best as I can!

Jenna *nessa*- she was actually the first person I saw *as an ensemble member* she was so close I was like AHH! as Nessa, just GORGEOUS, better than Michelle in my opinion. STRONG voice, just as strong of acting, gorgeous girl and the sweetest person ever *I'll talk about that later!*

Kendra *glinda*- Also awesome. She brought a lot of things to the role that were similar to JLT but very different. She did a lot of cute dancey things and she reminded me of myself and my friends *in the little spastic things* BEAUTIFUL voice though some high notes were missing and I think she might be getting sick, but still awesome!

Derrick *Fiyero*- GORGEOUS, and great. Some didn't like him but I did. His singing was great and I did think he did a good job with Fiyero, considering it is underwritten! Also very sweet!
David Garrison*the Wizard*- GREAT, I liked him better than George hearn. His singing was great and during Wonderful he actually did something! i think it worked better since he was a bit younger than most wizards. Great dancer as well!
Logan Lipton *boq*- I'm including him cuz he was GREAT! I actually CARED about Boq and (maybe cuz I was sooo close) but I could feel his pain. THis is true of the whole cast, always in character and always made me feel something!

Stephanie--WHERE CAN I START?? She is everything I wanted when I saw it in Broadway and walked away slightly disappointed by Saycon. From the moment she walked on stage I couldn't take my eyes off her. Every movement was exactly how Elphie would move, and she was always in the moment and her reactions were right on! She had such character development through the show. She made me cry many many times! Her VOICE!---Angels listen! Every belted note was not forced, strained nothing! she belts as easy as we breath. It is SOOO obvious the music was written for her-NO ONE could ever sing it better. Now, I have seen Saycon, and seen tv clips of Idina, and of course heard the OBC but Stephanie IS Elphaba..no one else holds a candle. If you feel differently, I don't understand you! :)

OVERRALL!! the best EVER...better than Bway cast BY FAR...however I think I like JLT's Glinda slightly better.
Oh and BTW, As Long as You're Mine was the hottest thing EVER. I seriously thought they were gonna just have sex! it was HOT!


STAGE DOOR!! OMG...so I went to the stage door immediatly and there was no one there but me and my friend and another girl at first, more people came then so there was a total of like 15 people maybe.
Logan *boq* came out first but he was talking on his phone so I didn't bother him. When he was dialing I told him he was WONDERFUL, etc. and he was really nice, ut appeared to be busy soo...
David *the wizard* came out *That was when only my friend, me and another person were there so that was nice* and we talked to. We told him we liked the energy he brought to the role and that he was awesome! he was soooo nice too!
Kendra-She came out right away and I didn't recognize her so she walked right by. I realized it was her when she was about 40 feet away so I didn't bother her either!

Derrick....ahhhh!! when he came out I was like "HI!" really loud. and then he signed the younger girls playbills and then JENNA CAME OUT!
I said "HI!" to her too and proceded to talk to her for a few minutes! I asked her if she knew if she was going on as Elphaba anytime soon and she said it will be spur of the moment from now on...last time she went on she had only 4 hours of rehearsals! we talked to her about Bare and she seemed really excited that we knew who she was!
Derrick was done with those girls so I went up to him and asked for his sig. I told him he was great and he said "I'm glad you enjoyed the show" and put a hand on my back *MELT* then he went back in the stage door for a while.

Stephanie! another SWEET SWEET woman. Told her I thought she was AMAZING *though there are NOT words to describe how great I thought she was!* and we talked and got a pic with her!
before Jenna left she got my attention and said "It was nice talking to you glad you enjoyed the show!" How adorable is she!?

Derrick came back out and we asked for a pic, he pulled me and my friend close and we took the pic *MELTS AGAIN*

Carol Kane was a quiet little nice woman! got a pic with her too!

then everyone was leaving and Stephanie, Carol, and two men walked out of the alley and down the street and it was almost the same way we were going. I find it amazing that I was walking down a street behind Steph J Block and Carol Kane...!


I LOVE CHICAGO!! sorry this is soooo long...if anyone has any question PM me or post..i'll get to them eventually!

Updated On: 5/7/05 at 05:52 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:58pm

I'm glad you got to see it! Do you know how many seats are available for the lottery?

I'm glad you got to meet the cast. They all are so nice!! *points to icon*

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 6:03pm

They gave away 20 seats--so 10 people were drawn since everyone checked 2 seats!
OMG I LOVE JENNA! I can't wait to get the pics back! my digital camera died even though it was on a charger all day, so my friend took pics on her regular camera! so..soon!!!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 6:07pm

I'm glad you had a good experience! :)

[HeyJayNYC]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 6:18pm

What a wonderful bloq. Someone who had a dream come true! Actually, two women..you and Stephanie! Stephanie was heartbroken when she was replaced in SF by Idina, but...she got to go on in "Boy From Oz". I saw her when she did her first solo gig at Birdland, with Isabel and Hugh in the audience. When she sang the 3 big songs from "Wicked" she was amazing...and brought tears to Isabels eyes. I knew she'd get the tour..and it sounds like she is owning the role, the tour, and bringing happiness to those who see her in the role. Sometimes it just is in "it's own time". Congrats to you for winning the lotto, and congrats to Stephanie for Flying Solo.

[jo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:24pm

I saw The Boy From Oz many times and thought Stephanie Block was wonderful. In the closing performance on September 12, she almost stole the show from Hugh ( which was like "defying gravity" as the crowd was hysterical over The Boy )...But when Stephanie sang SHE LOVES TO HEAR THE MUSIC, the stage practically shook, the atmosphere vibrated with her energetic singing, and the standing ovation was endless!

In one of the stage door encounters, I asked her to sign my TBFO cap. When she saw Hugh's autograph on the cap, she asked me if I really wanted her autograph on the same cap ( probably thinking that I was only being kind to ask for hers) - and I told her assuredly, "Yes of course!"

I am so glad I did get such memorabilia of the show - of two great stars onstage!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:26pm

You didn't like Saycon you bum?

Maybe you saw her on a bad day!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:37pm

Her contract doesn't happen to be until next May does it? No, probably not... darn.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:43pm

How can Saycon have a bad day? she's only gone on like 3 times! :) No i liked her! she was great! but I felt something was missing and was expecting more from Elphaba. and then I saw Steph and it was HER that I expected and I got more than that too! :) that didn't really make sense but I know what it means.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:50pm

Great review! God, I can't wait to see this show in June with Stephanie and Kendra. Or even with Jenna if Steph is out for whatever reason. I know I keep saying it over and over but it sounds like a great cast.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:56pm

I really wanna see Jenna now as Elphaba too! If anyone gets the heads up PLEASE post it! I will drop whatever I have to do! :)
I wanna see if I can go again Wednesday maybe *though I'll never win the lottery again! I'd actually feel bad!*

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:58pm

To add more to the review: I like Carol Kane's Madame Morrible. it's fine that she doesn't really sing--she doesn't need to. And her acting was great. When she does the little announcement during Defy Gravity where she calls Elphaba "Wicked WITCH!" me and my friend got goosebumps! it was scary!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:04am

God can't seem to get things settled down with war in the Middle East but made some time in a very busy schedule to make sure you won the Wicked lottery. Talk about working in mysterious ways! You must be an awfully good person.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:12am

Glad you won the lottery. Maybe we'll go again together. I'm thinking of entering the lottery and seeing the show on my own. I really want to go the the stage door!

Updated On: 5/7/05 at 02:12 AM

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:02am

NAMO--- very funny..The subject title was a joke :)

Aigoo--MAKE SURE you go to the stage door..that was the best stage door experience! they were the nicest people I've ever met and there wasn't that many people!