Message from Stephanie J. Block about recent absences - welcome back, Steph- Page 7

[TheGuiltyOne2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 12:02am

Just saw Wicked tonight...
Steph was amazing as usual.
With her ankle wrap and everything (don't worry, you couldn't tell it matched her shoes)
and she forgot the words to Defying Gravity...
There was a moment of awkwardness. But she was amazing as usual.

[shh282]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 7:20pm

I saw Wicked on Annaleigh's last day -and I was sitting outside the Gershwin studying between Lotto and show time, and Stephanie walked by and I yelled out " Oh I'm seeing your show today - I'm really excited!" she said "thank you that's so sweet" and walked towards the stage door- as she walked by I inspected her feet, they looked normal, no cast, no whatever, her shoes were actually really cute.


and she was ON at the performance - I loved her like 2-3 months ago when I saw it, but DAMN the break from work did her good, she was like twice as good as the last time I saw her. even when she was crying she was brilliant.

[it'sjustshowbiz]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:31pm

Is she on vacation this week?

[ShiksaGoddess2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:41pm

Yes, she is.

[bardolator]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 10:56am

"With her ankle wrap and everything (don't worry, you couldn't tell it matched her shoes)"

Is the wrap over the boot, or do you mean that she was wearing only one shoe? (I can't imagine switching boots for the costume changes if you're wearing a wrap--how do they do that?)

[ken8631]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 11:09am

How long is Steph still in?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 11:11am

Stephanie will be in WICKED from Tuesday, May 20th through Sunday, June 15th. I will be at both of those performances.
Updated On: 5/14/08 at 11:11 AM

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 11:44am

I will also be at Steph's last show! So excited to see her last performance but sad to see her go...Im sure she will do amazing things with 9 to 5

[DAME]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 12:24pm

Megan Hilty leaves the LA company this week to.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 12:48pm

Hopefully this vacation will give Stephanie enough rest to finish up her run in Wicked with a big bang. I wish I could attend her last show. She's incredible. If you haven't seen her yet as Elphaba - go!

I was really happy she was there for Annaleigh's last. Definitely made the show even more memorable. HILARIOUS during Popular and then really emotional towards the end. It broke my heart to see them crying that much.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 1:10pm

I'm going to Steph's last show and I'm in second row this time and blockhead(WoO) is gonna be right in front of me. I was so happy that Steph was there for Annaleigh's last also. You have know idea how happy...LOL. I have never heard her sound better than she did Sunday and I've seen her 5 times before. Yeah that was a very emotional day that I don't think will be topped. Maybe Steph's own last day will top it. It really broke my heart to see them crying that much also. Especially in For Good. That conductor could have let them hug longer though.

[TheGuiltyOne2]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 8:35pm

the wrap was under her shoe but the top poked out. but you coudlt tell. it was the same color as the boot. i wont the lotto so i was crazy close.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 9:03pm

i love megan...but its about time she leaves wicked...and kendra too oyy

[IssaMe]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 2:03pm

If you are going to be in the second row for Stephanie's final performance on June 15th, how can you know in advance who will be in front of you in the front row since that is the lottery row for which tickets are drawn on the day-of-performance. Or am I missing something here? Are there non-lottery front row seats? Never heard of any...

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 2:06pm

BB5 and 6 are sold on ticketmaster--the rest of that row are lottery seats

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 8:19am

Only the last one seat at the end of the first row is on ticketmaster but I think that obsessedjb said that already...LOL

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:39pm

Saw Stephanie and Kendra's first performance back together since March 2006 (on tour) and it was absolutely stunning. Let me preface this by saying that the last time I saw WICKED in New York was October 9, 2007, Stephanie and Annaleigh's first performance. I despised Annaleigh so much in the role that I vowed not to visit WICKED again until after Annaleigh had left. I had a ticket for last Tuesday, but since Stephanie was on vacation last week, I exchanged it for tonight.

I had seen Lenny Wolpe a few times and he was fine...not my favorite wizard, but good. Cristy Candler was a decent Nessarose. I greatly enjoyed Ben Liebert's performance as Boq. Also, despite her not singing a note, I loved Miriam Margolyes as Morrible. Her acting was perfect for the role and I was very impressed. I particularly liked her line delivery of (addressed to the wizard) "if you do something for him, he'll do much for you." She motioned to kiss him during that line. I've always felt that line was sexual, but she is the first morrible i've seen to actually do that, which I enjoyed.

In my opinion, David Burnham was a dreadful Fiyero. I didn't like his line deliveries, the way he sang "Dancing Through Life," his mannerisms, and the way he looked on stage. I'm sorry, but it just didn't work for me. and i loved him as the lead in PIAZZA, so I'm not biased against him as an actor. It really would have been more fitting if he had run off with Boq instead of Elphaba. Sebastian Arcelus still remains the best Fiyero I have ever seen.

Kendra Kassebaum. Oh, Kendra. Thank god you are back in this show. At last Galinda is being played by a true actor again. She has been in and out of this show since March 2005 and there was absolutely no sign of walking through, which is remarkable. Her acting, singing and stage presence as Galinda is still top notch. Her "Popular" never ceases to amaze me. Just incredible.

I have seen Stephanie Block as Elphaba three times now, and seeing her tonight confirmed my belief that she is the best Elphaba to ever play the role. Her acting is perfect. Her vocals are top notch. I noticed her inflections changed from previous performances since she was playing opposite different actors (Burnham, Margolyes). She did her absolute best to conjure up chemistry with David Burnham during "As Long As You're Mine," while he just stared into space. Her "Wizard and I" made me cry, and her "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed" were spectacular. I feel privileged to have seen Stephanie in this role three times and look forward to my fourth and final time seeing her on June 15th, her final Broadway performance. Congrats to Stephanie and I hope she gets some great songs to belt out in 9 to 5.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:45pm

You've seen every single Elphaba, WithoutATrace? Including tour, LA, and Chicago? Standbys and understudies?

I'm impressed and envious!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:48pm

I've seen every Elphaba and Galinda in NY and one standby (Lisa Brescia). I saw it in Chicago with the girl who is currently on tour I think and I saw it in LA with Eden and Megan. Plus, I saw it in Washington DC with Stephanie and Kendra (January 2006) and Philadelphia with Julia and Annaleigh (March 2006). I think tonight was my 19th time seeing WICKED overall...

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:50pm

So you haven't seen every Elphie, but you're definitely officially obsessed! Wow, I thought I was bad.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:50pm

WAT - thanks for taking the time to write all that! :) glad you enjoyed.

PS - you don't need to justify LOL

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:53pm

I've seen all the Broadway leads as well as Victoria Matlock on tour. I agree with WAT that Stephanie is the BEST.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:58pm

I loved Stephanie for sure! But I liked Donna Vivino (tour standby) the best. I wasn't sure I didn't want to reschedule when I found out Carmen Cusack was out, but I stayed. And then bought another ticket to see Carmen later that week. But I found Donna Vivino a better actress than Carmen, and in fact the best actor/singer I've seen play Elphaba. I've never seen her in any other shows though.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:05am

Carmen Cusack was the Elphaba I saw in Chicago.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:10am

I didn't think Carmen was a great actress. Did you?