Katie Rose Clarke is back at "Wicked."

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 8:53pm

Katie Rose Clarke, who plays Glinda in the Broadway production of "Wicked," has returned to the production after being ill. The undertudy board at the Gershwin Theatredoes not mention the standby Laura Woyasz being on. I am glad to know that she is better and has returned to the show.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:00pm

I give it a month.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:03pm

Good old (un)reliable Call Out Katie...

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:11pm

What is it with this show? Out of the few times I have seen it, there has ALWAYS been at least three standbys and/or understudies going on. I have never seen an Elphaba that is not a standby. When Katie Roe Clarke was on tour with the show, she was out to the show I went to. It's ridiculous that the cast members of this show are out so much.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:13pm

Well like the show or hate the show, both leading parts are very difficult vocally. Glinda not nearly as much as elphaba, but still hard. Look at the girls who have played her and how many have later said that it was one of the most difficult roles they have played. So I can see why they have standby's for Elphaba and Glinda.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:17pm

I saw the elusive Kerry Ellis and the entire company. :)

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:23pm

^ You should feel honored TheatreFan4... Do you know how rare it is to see that show with a full cast?!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:30pm

I saw Kerry Ellis twice- on her first night and her last night.

Every other time I tried to see her it was (the outstanding) Julie Reiber.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 9:33pm

I saw Katie on tour. I didn't realize it was so rare.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 10:59pm

I've seen the show 4 times on broadway and have had an understudy or stand by every single time. Keep in mind that all 4 times were about 1-2 years apart give or take.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:03pm

I know that Idina didn't call out until the end of March 2004. That's a good 5 and a half months of never missing a performance. Sooo... it wasn't always that way.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:06pm

I honestly dont see why they do not have an alternate system for Elphaba in the English productions. Almost all of the principle Elphabas (with the exception for a few) either sustained vocal injury and had to leave for a break or left all together, or their voices become quite different from when they began their run. In Germany tho, the former leading Elphaba played her from 2007 till January of 2011, and her voice, if anything, became stronger. And I believe its because they have an alternate system for that production.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:06pm

I just don't get it. Yes the roles are vocally demanding, but there are roles out there that are more demanding that don't use standbys, or just use them for the matinees. Just because the show has difficult roles does NOT mean there should be understudies and standbys at pretty much EVERY performance.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:07pm

I agree, I'm just saying that I think for roles like this, standby's should be required. However, they should not be doing about half of the shows hahaha

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:11pm

I've seen "full cast" shows many times. The most frequent understudies, for me, are the Midwife and Witch's Father.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:11pm

I have seen the show 5 times and never had a understudy/standby on for any of the roles except once for Nessarose.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:20pm

I've only seen the tour, and every time I have seen it I have had at least two understudies for the leads. I saw Victoria Matlock and Merideth Kaye Clark and they were both pretty good. At least the standbys are decent.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:21am

^ Who did the standbys go on for the nights you saw the show.

ETA: I was never crazy about Matlcok's portrayal, but Clark (not to be confused with Katie Rose Clarke) was great.

[EvelynOakleigh]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:21am

I've seen the show three times, the first was the tour, with Stephanie J. Block, and Kendra Kassebaum, Kendra was out. The second time I saw the tour it was with Kendra and Julia Munrey (spelling?), but she was out. The third time it was at the Pantages with Eden Espinoza and Megan Hilty and it was the full cast and might I add they were both exellent

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:07am

Beautywickedlover - Victoria Matlock was on for Julia Murney and Merideth Kaye Clarke was on for Donna Vivino. I had friends who saw the show at different time times and dates throughout the run, and Clarke went on for Vivino pretty much every time. I don't know what the deal with Vivino is, but I don't think she ever shows up.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 2:14am

Donna Vivino? From what I heard she had a good attendance record. Not spectacular but wasnt bad or anything. Again, I think she missed on average one or two out of the week which is alot, but again, I think its almost like an unofficial alternate system.

[defygravity24]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 8:38am

I've seen the show three times and I've think it has always been the full cast.

[defygravity24]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 8:38am

I've seen the show three times and I've think it has always been the full cast.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 10:00am

unofficial alternate system.

This is the problem, there is no set schedule for the standbys like there are with most other shows. Most standbys will do matinees, but for Wicked they just do random performances. The whole "vocally demanding" thing is not an excuse, because, as I said, there are plenty of roles out there that are just as, or more, vocally demanding. I just don't get why Wicked feels it can put standbys in whenever, and it appears, quite frequently.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:47am

Part of the reason the producers don't care about when alternates are in is because they know names aren't selling the show its the show itself. Most of the general public do not care which Elephaba or Galinda they are seeing.