Idina or Stephanie?

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supposed to have been?? says who??

she signed on for a workshop.. not the full Bway staging.. so there is no "supposed to" involved..

she was supposed to UNDERSTUDY

Excuse me, she was going to UNDERSTUDY her. She was planning on doing this all the way up until the San Fransisco run started. If you did not know what I meant, I meant with Wicked in SF.

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Who you callin' regular folk?
I cannot say enough nice things about Stephanie J. Block. A true gem. You have to see her in action. She IS Liza.

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Updated On: 12/26/03 at 01:12 AM

"If and when Idina [Menzel] is ever ready and feels like she's ready to move on, I would love to do the role of Elphaba [in Wicked]. v]. I was able to do it once in full production in San Francisco. Because I had been such a part of it — I had done all of the readings [as Elphaba] in L.A., so I've been part of it since February 2000. So when everything was being done in Los Angeles and being presented to Universal Pictures and whatnot, I felt like there was just an investment and I feel such an attachment to the piece. So, being able to do it that one night with orchestra and sets and costumes and sharing the stage with Kristin Chenoweth. It was a dream, and the night went over tremendous. Stephen Schwartz was in the audience and Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book, was there and Marc Platt, one of the producers from Universal was there, and they all had amazing things to say, and the response from the audience was overwhelming and I thought, 'Wow!' It's just a role that you just go 'Ooh, I really connect with this role.' So to be able to do it for a couple months and in a run here on Broadway, that would be amazing. I'm not saying that's the next step for my career — because Idina is wowing the audiences, and what an amazing gal she is — but I certainly know that somewhere down the road . . ."

This was from the Playbill interview.

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Updated On: 12/26/03 at 01:23 AM

this is true

I think Stephanie should take ova for Idina when she leaves- That interview shows a lot of positve feedback for Stephanie as Elphaba and all and I hear she is a very talented woman. I cant wait to see Boy from Oz!! Does anyone know how good the understudy is for Idina? All I can remember is her credits include BOOBS! The Musical..o dear.

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Well, I certainlty wouldn't second guess anything at this point. When I interviewd Stephanie (prior to the Playbill article) she indicated to me that she was indeed a part of Stephen Schwartz's plan "early on" in the creative process.

But remember, Schwartz is in the enviable position to entice a handfull of top Broadway actors because he's constantly stirring up his projects. Just a few months ago, my last interview-ee, Christaine Noll mentioned that Stephen is toying with the idea of doing something with Christiane & "The Bakers Wife". *not that anyone is saying anything firm is in place*.

It's very likely that Stephanie could be part of a future "OZ" thing, when, if, it lingers beyond Sept. 2004, when Stephanie's contract supposedly lasts with TBFO.
Stephanie was listed as swing, understudy for Elphaba in SF. As timing would have it, it was then that she was called in to do "Oz". Really this is a huge double bonus Equity-wize for her.

No matter how you discect it, Stehpanie Block will likely be working in a Broadway Show well beyond 2004, hopefully.

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Stephanie Block is impressive in THE BOY FROM OZ. I hope she wins a TONY award for her LIZA.


Jo

Well, I did See BFO a while back and besides thinking the show was practically un-watchable, (other than the tour de force performance of Jackman), I found Block, laughably BAD. Never mind her ridiculous imitation of Liza which was more Streisand than Liza, but I found her to be one of the least skilled *actresses* I've seen in a long time. She didn't give one line reading that didn't sound like she was reading off a cue card. Sorry folks, this is my opinion and I'm sticking by it. I know Menzel is not known for her brilliant acting skills, but Block makes her seem like Streep, in comparison. I was not impressed.

Yes, she does seem like she would be an extremely great friend! I respect your opinion, but how can you not like her voice? She sounds like Liza to me...I don't know about her acting, but I bet she is good.

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"...and they all had amazing things to say, and the response from the audience was overwhelming and I thought, 'Wow!' It's just a role that you just go 'Ooh, I really connect with this role.' So to be able to do it for a couple months and in a run here on Broadway, that would be amazing. I'm not saying that's the next step for my career — because Idina is wowing the audiences, and what an amazing gal she is — but I certainly know that somewhere down the road . . ."

I missed this entry into Julianna's journal, when was it posted and why is she talking about WICKED? Did this go over my head or what?

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Actually, I think the VERY tongue in cheek *bashing* (as has to be spelled out on this board), was meant for Block, NOT Juliana. Again, Blocks voice is fine but the sound is very common. She sounds like a pale imitation of all the belter's that are already established, which would be fine for a "fresh out of school" newbie, but not something I'd want to hear out of a thirty something year old grown-up who should be more original. I'm sure she's a perfectly lovely gal, she's just not covering any new/exciting territory. I remain firm on my opinion of her bad acting.