Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

#1

Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:50am

You'd never know it from her attendance record thus far in Minneapolis.

Out of eight shows she has done 4...with Victoria Matlock taking the reins while she was out. I'm just going to call Victoria the main Elphaba now because she has been getting some major play time these last few months since Julia took over.

I know tour life is hard, I know the show has its demands on a voice. But why cast someone who is now on doctor's orders not to do matinees? She wasn't at either show today.

Sebastian also has been out since Friday. Some VERY underwhelming Fieryo understudies have taken his place.

Can Alma Cuervo please come to BW now? Her Morrible is spectacular.

#2

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:52am

"But why cast someone who is now on doctor's orders not to do matinees?"

because Julia is FANTASTIC! Plus she wasn't sick when they cast her...

#3

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:53am

Well Julia has been very sick for the past couple months or so, her doctors have ordered her to not do matinee's and she has been following their orders. Before this, she has had a stellar attendence record.. I feel so bad for her. I don't know about Sebastian though.

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"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee

#4

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:55am

Didn't she have a weeks scheduled vacation to do Rosie's cruise?

That probably accounts for many of her absences.

Also, are you sure Victoria Matlock didn't split the role with Maria Eberline? I had friends who live in Cleveland who saw Eberline as Elphie.

#5

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:56am

Oh! I forgot about the cruise.

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"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee

#6

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:57am

But why cast someone who is now on doctor's orders not to do matinees?

Because she didn't have those orders when she was cast. She started the tour doing all performances, and she's been pretty sick.

I hope she gets well soon.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#7

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:57am

I think Sebastian has been taking care of an injured knee. I hope Julia feels better.

Let's not judge unless we've been in their shoes AND know the FULL story. Not like that's going to stop some of you but it's completely unfair and frankly none of our business.

#8

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:01am

Get over it. When Norbert Leo Butz was out of DRS quite often a few months ago because of illness, people were pouring out get well wishes, not being brats about his attendance record. Would it kill you to display a bit of class?

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Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

#9

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:01am

Sorry...my wordng on the doctor's order thing was wrong.

And I shouldn't complain...Matlock is more than a worthy Elphaba.

I heard the prodcers weren't happy with Eberline's take on Elphaba and that's why a stand-by was brought on board so she wouldn't have to be the only one to turn to if main Elphaba is out.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:01 AM

#10

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:03am

God forbid a performer actually sits out shows to take care of their illness.

I am sure if Julia had continued to go on sick, the same people that criticize her for missing shows would then criticze her performance.

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:03 AM

#11

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:10am

Exactly, somethingwicked. It's a lose-lose situation. People should respect the fact that if someone is ill, she is being responsible enough to watch out for her health for the sake of her career in the future as well. She is more than capable of handling the part, so I don't know why this thread was even started...

#12

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:13am

Perhaps because someone is jealous they didn't get to see someone as wonderful as Julia in the part?

#13

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:15am

I saw Julia... =)
Sorry, that doesn't help.

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"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee

#14

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:18am

That rumor about Eberline doesn't surprise me. I saw her back in November and thought she was terrible.

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"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey

#15

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:22am

I agree about Alma Cuervo...she is the best Morrible I've seen! I hope she transfers to Broadway.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:22 AM

#16

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:23am

That Eberline rumor is completely untrue.

A standby was brought in because they needed a second Elphaba cover and had no room in the ensemble track for one (since Jenna Leigh Green had previously covered the part while playing a principle role.)

Do you honestly think that if the producers were that unhappy with Maria that they'd keep her around? To go as far as to bring in a standby to ensure that an understudy goes on less is just ridiculous. If that were the case, said understudy would just be let go.

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:23 AM

#17

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:27am

Again sorry...did not mean to open up a can of worms about this. All I was pointing out was that she was missing a lot of shows. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but she misses a fair amount of shows in each city she has visited.

Why not just advertise in the program like Phantom and Miss Saigon do that at certain performances V. Matlock will play Elphaba?

The Eberline rumor may not be 100% true but it is partly the reason that Matlock goes on much more than Eberline does. Yeah, I know it's easier to put Matlock so the swing track doesn't have to be utilized but, as for performance, that part is totally true.

#18

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:28am

Maria Eberline was adequate when I saw her... quite up to the part vocally, but just unfortunately missing any sort of fire or spunk. I'm not much a fan of her take on the role, which I can only think to describe as too "Disney princess."

#19

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:31am

Louie, Matlock goes on more because she is the standby.

The standby is first in line to perform if the principle is out, then the understudy. They try and alternate both Maria and Victoria if they can, but Victoria isn't going on more because they think she's better. She is going on more because her job entails that.

I don't even like Maria all that much in the role, but these rumors about her are laughable.

---

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:31 AM

#20

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:34am

"Why not just advertise in the program like Phantom and Miss Saigon do that at certain performances V. Matlock will play Elphaba?"

I'm assuming that it's because it's not a contractual thing. When tickets went on sale, the assumption was that Murney would perform in all shows, and even if she's currently having to lighten up on her shows per week, it's probably a temporary thing.

#21

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:34am

somethingwicked...yes, I know what the stand-by job entails and that she would be first in line to go on (same for Saycon and Dee in their respective companies). And I know Matlock and Eberline split time too...

What was I even talking about...=)

Anyway...the Wicked tour rocks. It would rock if it was done with sock puppets. Don't mean to bit the hand that feeds us in Mpls here...we're very happy to have Wicked here.

#22

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:48am

Trying to dig yourself out?


I think with Wicked, if you're going to see the tour perform, go to a night show because you're more likely to see the main Elphaba. It's a hard show vocally and it's demanding always being in a new place every couple of weeks especially during summer with all the allergies in the air. Although I'm suprised if she's so sick that she'd even being night shows. Seems like they'd want her to just sleep and rest. If I remember correctly, I think Stephanie J. Block was out a lot during her run as well because of sickness. So I'm guessing it's a tough part to tour.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:48 AM

#23

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:07am

I'm not usually one to post a negative post, but this thread is just ridiculous. I talked to Julia after one of the shows in Atlanta (that she was out of), and we were talking about her illness. It was on a Sunday, and she had stayed in that whole week even though she had laryngitis. Also, they went Boston, Altanta, Detroit, etc. Talk about your change in climates. We also talked about how hard touring around like that really is, with all the climate changes, hotels, new doctors in every city, etc. In addition, that role is extremely taxing. So don't judge because someone is ill. It's not like people want to miss those shows. In fact, she said she hates missing them.

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"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#24

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:38am

Alma Cuervo is AMAZING!!!! I like her more than Carol. But she has tough competition with the woman in Chicago. Is the Broadway Madam slot opening soon?

#25

re: Is Julia the standby Elphaba now?

Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:51am

I hope Julia goes off of the tour. There is rumor that Sho might be Elphaba later on in the year. Julia is brilliant, but just not my fav.