Idina Menzel to Star in London WICKED- Page 8

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 8:53pm

lovepuppy- it was the White Queens role but I enjoyed which is what counts!!

Have a good weekend!

[bella cantato]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:00pm

Can someone link me to where I could find the Chenoweth article that references her fued w/ Menzel? I can't seem to find it. thanks!

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:08pm

I don't think there is such an article.

I'm not sure why there even would be. I don't think that kind of stuff would be publicized.

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:09pm

Someone did post a link to that type of article in the first half of this thread somewhere...not sure who.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:12pm

Lovepuppy - perhaps I am a bit more sensitive to it because I have seen things like your question, which, on its face was only a question, spiral out of control and create all new rumors onto themselves.

So, if I reacted strongly, or over-reacted, then it was merely because I wanted to make sure that did not happen in this case.

Let us just leave it at that - I was trying to prevent something from being created out of nothing, and you were asking a question to try and get more info out of MB.

Who, but the way, started this whole can of worms.

As for the rumor of the alleged feud, I cannot help anyone with specifics.

[Come Back to Me]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:13pm

oh my goodness! Idina Menzel!
I wonder how much shes getting paid per week to do the role...

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 9:15pm

I know Idina originated the role, but I think she is the weakest Elphaba of all those who have played the role. I've seen Stephanie, Ana, Kristy, and Maria Eberline and think they do a much better job.

[Bangkok(ER)]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 10:12pm

Idina wasn't the weakest Elphaba. She had her own style and voice which was kind of different to another Elphaba. She was the best who created a really remarkable role that hard to take over. IMO, Ana was the weakest Elphaba!!
Updated On: 4/21/06 at 10:12 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:00pm

"I don't think there is such an article.

I'm not sure why there even would be. I don't think that kind of stuff would be publicized."

I posted the link to the original article way up thread. Here is the relevant quote from Chenoweth:

"There's a lot of drama in this business. Wicked was full of it—drama every day. I ended up leaving at the end of my contract, and the producers weren't happy that I wasn't going to stay. They even said that if I left they wouldn't promote me for a Tony Award, but I said, "Well, that's okay." And I was nominated for a Tony anyway.

I worked with some tough people in that one—and my faith was tested. My mom was also struggling for a while with some health issues, and I was doing The Pink Panther and some other projects, so I was tired. And when I get really tested, I push it all down inside and hold it in. So I began to get sick with stomach problems, I lost weight, my face broke out … And because I kept it all in, one day it all just came out in a big explosion—and it happened with a non-Christian. And I've had to forgive myself for that. But that's the tough part about being a Christian in a business like this—everyone is watching what you do."

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:33pm

I do have to admit that it is surprising that the article was actually publisized.

However, it didn't mention any specific feud (ie: Idina). It said non-Christian but it was good she didn't mention any names. She more blamed it on herself and her problems rather than putting the blame on other people which I think was a good way to go about expressing it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:36pm

It sounds like the producers treated Kristin like crap.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:40pm

how long is her run for? I'm thinking of spending winter break in london and will look into getting tickets

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:38am

I'm interested to know what these "hobbies" are as well.

PM me if you like.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:54am

I'm sure we should expect this to be posted about ten more times tomorrow by the latecomers who don't realize that everyone has the power to view the front page of BWW (and don't know how to use the search engine).
Updated On: 4/22/06 at 12:54 AM

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:09am

oliver award possibly??

[Queenie Was A Blonde]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:46am

Bah. I just wish I lived or could afford a vacation to London in the fall. I hope she is in the cast recording anyways because that will be the best I will be getting. I am glad she is doing it,but also glad it's not for too long because it seemed her long original run burnt her out a bit. Hmmm I wonder if this means her album will be put on hold now.....

[bella cantato]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:49am

Idina confirmed on her website, in case anyone is interested. =)

[Claire2141]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 5:27am

No doubt about it, no way would she put it on her website and let the press sing about it if it wasn't going ahead...

Wow never thouhgt this was an option. Excited now and it's 5 months away!

About Kristen, I wouldn't want her performing Glinda here. I'm sure she was treated badly poor girl but I don't like her Glinda. I also want one of the leads to be new British talent. Well even if it's not new, some good talent from our country.

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:30am

"But Broadway actors have come over to reprise their roles in British openings before, and it is only for a few months".

and britsh actors some here to reprise their roles too! its all good!

[algy]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:59am

London has it's share of nutcases (just ask Tony Vincent), but they tend to go for the male stars.

I'm excited to see Wicked (I have preview tickets) and to see Idina (now I can take part in the debate), but I hope we get a British takeover (and not Jenna Lee James - I didn't like her version of the Wizard and I at the Voice of Musical theatre).

I'm hoping for Emma Williams (OLC Truly Scrumptious) as Glinda.

The whole Idina casting does raise the whole accent question again though...

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:15pm

Does it? Carole Shelley had an English accent here while everyone else had an American accent.

Not that I think it's the best thing.

I guess I always assumed they'd go for American accents.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:17pm

^ Yes that's who I'm hoping for for the part. I loved her in Chitty and think she would be a fantastic Glinda. Has the 'poshness' in her voice (well she did as Truely) to make it brilliant.

I quite liked Jenna's version of Wizard and I, think she could be quite good in the part. I've heard good things about her in We Will Rock You too.

With accents...as it's a make believe world having two different accents shouldn't be too much of an issue. Would prefer Idina to use her natural accent than use an awful British one and if a British Glinda is cast then vice versa.

[algy]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:22pm

BroadwayGirl107 - What I meant is accents between the characters - rumours were that we were going to get English accents, now with Idina we have the spectre of either a dodgy english accent or, morelikely a cast full of dodgy American accents. Personally, I'd cope if we had Elphaba and Nessa with American accents and the rest with English - keep the continuity going!

Claire2141 - Jenna's been great in 'Rock you, and I have no problem with her singing, just at the Voice of Musical Theatre, I felt (and I don't know if I can explain this) like she was singing along to the OBC recording, but the Orchestra were slightly quicker. Does that make sense? The music was kinda getting away from her? It maybe made me think that she'd be a carbon copy of the vocals from the OBC recording (and whilst I love that I'd like some more originality). Jenna really wants/wanted the part though

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:32pm

I doubt Idina Menzel will put on an English accent. They are in Oz, after all. So it doesn't mean that everyone needs to speak the same way. What I am most curious about are any changes to the book that need to be made. Or is the source material so well known that it will read to a British audience.

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:00pm

My instincts tell me that the British critics may go after both the show AND Idina pretty hard.

After all, are people forgetting that Wicked became a box office smash and a fav of teen girls in spite of mixed reviews? Also, Idina's notices were not universally positive either. They were generally mixed/positive and most pundits predicted that Tonya Pinkins would win Best Actress in a musical that year.

But Wicked will go to London with the same level of hype that The Producers had when it opened in London. With such stratospheric expectations, I think there are bound to be some disappointed people.