Katie Rose Clarke is back at "Wicked."- Page 2

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:49am

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.

Wicked has proven time & time again that they need an alternate Elphaba.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:02pm

^ I have no problem with them using an alternate, but by god could they have a set schedule like all the other shows that need to use alternates and standbys on a regular basis?

[landryjames2]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 3:54pm

I saw Wicked three times with the original cast (a few months between each performance) and the full cast was in each time I saw it.

That being said I like the idea above--why don't they have a matinee Glinda and Elphaba (like Frankie in Jersey Boys, etc.)

[bwayrose7]

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

I saw Wicked 4 times on tour- all Sunday matinees- and every time I saw the standby, Merideth Kaye Clark.

[bwayrose7]

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

I saw Wicked 4 times on tour- all Sunday matinees- and every time I saw the standby, Merideth Kaye Clark.

[Nick]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:05pm

I have seen the show 10 times:

April 2009 - Full Cast (tour)
October 2009 - Standby for Elphaba
December 2009 - Full Cast
June 2010 - Standby for Elphaba
January 2011 - Full Cast
January 2011 - Full Cast
February 2011 - Full Cast (tour)
March 2011 - Full Cast (tour)
March 2011 - Standby for Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke was on her leave of absence)
March 2011 - Standby for Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke was on her leave of absence)

[steven22]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:11pm

June 2010 when I specifically went to see Mandy as Elphaba, she was OUT. A 2 week vacation. I was pissed! But Stephanie Torns did an excellent job!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:13pm

"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."

I think you have gotten them mixed up. I thought Donna always had great attendence. She was terrrific when I saw her and it was a month before she left. I thought Julia didn't have the best attendence on tour because her voice got a little damaged and that's why she did a six month contract. She needed a little break before doing it on Broadway.
Updated On: 4/27/11 at 11:13 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:16pm

No, I don't have them mixed up. They both had bad attendance when the show stopped in my city. When the show did its first run in my city, Murney was Elphaba and was out, and when the show did its second run, Vivino was Elphaba and was out for a ton shows. Wow, there are too many Elphabas to keep straight here.

[Nick]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:19pm

Funny! I went in June 2010 specifically to see Jenny, as I knew Mandy would be on vacation!

That 2 weeks was pretty hard on Jenny I guess, Stephanie Torns went on a few times.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:30pm

^
When an Elphaba (or Glinda) goes on break, the understudy always has a few performances. It doesn't just mean it's the "stand-by's" time to shine.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:30am

Stephanie Torns should be getting more Elphaba time. As should Jenny. In fact, she should have been full time Elphaba years ago.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:35am

Out of the videos I have seen, the only Elphabas that really blow me away are Stephanie Torns and Saycon Sengblough (sp?). I am not a fan of the show at all, as pretty much everyone probably knows on here, but those two are just incredible and powerful beyond belief.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:47am

Saycon Sengbloh. She was an Elphaba standy by for well over 2 years I believe (on broadway). I CANNOT believe that she was never bumped up. With those pipes. I heard different things. First that she never got offered and then again that she did but denied.

[HBP]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:52am

Saycon probably didn't get the part because she's a pretty terrible actress. Nice lady and great voice... but an actress she is not.

Julie Reiber was alright, but I don't understand her reasoning for turning every sung vowel into a triphthong.

[FleurDeLiz]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 3:03am

"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."

When Wicked came to my city back in April 2010, Vivino was a no show too! However, I am glad to have seen the understudy, Carla Stickler. She was far more than phenomenal and it was her first performance as Elphaba.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 5:13am

I've seen Wicked 15 times and eight of them were full cast. I saw KRC four out of the five times I was supposed to. Guess I've been lucky, though I've also seen some good standbys/understudies.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 7:42am

Well, it didn't last very long. Call Out Katie called out last night and Laura Woyasz went on.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 7:50am

HBP, I don't get the obsession people have for Julie Reiber at all. I didn't find her that great though she wasn't bad.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 9:42am

I don't understand what is so complicated. Get rid of Katie (she's played the role almost a year a broadway and a really long time on the tour). Bump up Laura and then bump with Lindsay to s/b and then bring back Libby to understudy. Simple. Real simple.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 9:45am

Call Out Katie

I like that! Sure didn't take her long. I guess people in this show just don't think they have to work.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:13am

^You have no idea why she called out (neither do I, but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt). It could very well have been for health reasons. It's disgusting how quickly you (general you) jump to the conclusion that if someone misses a lot of shows, they think they "don't have to work." Look at what happened with Laura Benanti in Into the Woods and Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town. Both were trashed horribly and both had legitimate reasons for missing several shows, especially Benanti. Don't judge unless you know what the hell you're talking about. If KRC isn't healthy enough to continue with Wicked, so be it. I just hope Woyasz isn't promoted. Her performance was disappointing.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:23am

^ My frustration in general is with the attendance of the leads in this show in general. Katie Rose Clarke had bad attendance for the touring show, and now she is having the same problem on Broadway. She was touring with this show two years ago. It was a problem then, and it is a problem now. This is an ongoing thing with her. No, I do not know why she is out, but this is not the first or only time this has happened with her, or with this show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:01pm

Donna Murphy missed more than "several shows" when she was in Wonderful Town. Several is 3 or 4. Over a month is a lot more than that.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:22pm

^ Exactly. There's a difference between being out for a few how's when you are sick, but When it is reoccuring long periods of bad attendance, it gets old.