Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/05
I just read that Lea Salonga wants to play Elphaba... what's the general oppinion on this? I think she'd be really good but would be better suited to Glinda! I realise this is another dreaded wicked thread... but it's certainly an interesting thought if she truely wished to persue it!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
i think she's a great actress and could play both roles (if she dyed her hair blonde) but i think she is better suited towards elphaba. that being said, i don't think she'll ever do the show.
I'm pretty sure this has been discussed before, but...I'm one of the few on this board who doesn't think she can pull off Elphaba. She couldn't even belt the role of Eponine. I see no reason to believe she could beld the much higher, and more rock-oriented sound, of Elphaba.
I dont think she's very funny or has the upper range to play Glinda. I'm not sure she could really sing Elphaba either, but I'd be game to see her try.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
well in miss saigon she belted to an e nightly, so i think she could handle elphaba.
Darn. I was hoping you meant Lea DeLaria. She is about the only thing that would get me to see 'Wicked'
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
hahaha... Lea Delaria as Galinda... THAT I would pay to see...
Hush--I thought the same thing
Are we weird, or just very gay?
I've never seen her legit--she got some good press for "on The Town," I think.
She reminds me of a (louder?!)Rosie..
Understudy Joined: 2/23/04
"She couldn't even belt the role of Eponine."
really, cause I saw her as eponine and she was the best one I've ever seen.
she'd be good as elphaba, but there are better choices out there. Both for wicked and for lea.
Well, at first I couldn't see why many didn't think she could handle to role of Elphaba, now I understand and can see why.
However, I can't see any reason why she couldn't do the role of Glinda!
As Fas as Eponine goes, I though "Own my Own" was great and the only part that I can see critcism with the belting was the line "every word that he says is a dagger in me", but really everything else fine.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
I don't think she could pull off "Defying Gravity" with such vocal power that is needed in the song. Lea has a great voice, but I just don't think it is powerful enough to pull off Elphaba.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=765283#839044
can i add another vote for Lea DeLaria as Glinda?!
I don't think Lea could do the role, i mean, no doubt she is AMAZING, I mean I LOVE the dream cast and she is AMAZING at Eponine, but I can't really picture her voice as a role in Wicked,
It's sort of the whole..."type-of-voice" issue. The classic Idina vs. Sutton is a good one. Sutton could never pull off roles such as Maureen and/or Elphaba because her voice is a much more "classical" voice. Idina could never pull off Jo and/or Millie because her voice is a much more "rocky/poppy" voice. Comparing Lea's voice as Eponine and her might-be voice as Elphaba are like...comparing apples and oranges...You'd just have to see...I, for one, think that Lea's voice might be a little too...soft for Elphaba. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. I really do love Lea.
Idina Menzel was considered for Millie after Kristen bowed out of the workshop...
I LOVE Lea DeLaria!!!
Swing Joined: 1/27/05
Well, Lea could always sing Defying Gravity off-key like Idina did so she might be able to sing Elphaba. (Just kidding).
I didn't think of Lea for Glinda, but after hearing her sing some legit soprano stuff (I think she just did a concert in tribute to Bernstein opposite John Barrowman's Tony to her Maria in Germany), she just might be able to sing Glinda's songs (minus Chenoweth's optional coloratura notes).
I think Lea Delaria would be more interesting... a much more colorful character!
I'll teach you the proper ploys,
To become a boy!
Brand new ways to eat and flirt!
Oh! I'll show you what boots to wear,
We'll chop off your hair!
Throw away your mini-skirts to be a...
Lesbian!
I know about lesbi-ans!
And with an assist from me, to be who you'll be,
It's part of who I've always been (and am!),
There's nothing that can stop you from being a Lesbian!
The rewrites could go on and on... hahahahaha... I love Lea Delaria! Has anyone read her book, "Lea's Book of Rules for the World"? DEFINITELY worth the money...
Understudy Joined: 5/12/05
I think that Lea Salonga would be great as Elphaba. I think that she may be a little too old though. Elphaba isn't supposed to be in her 30's. 18-20's really. And while Lea doesn't look older, she would probably play her older.
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