Michelle Federer staying in Wicked?

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:07pm

I just found this article http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/7185 that said she's staying. But it is from a month ago... Anyone know what's going on?
Updated On: 12/31/05 at 10:07 PM

[StageWhore]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:09pm

I hope she doesn't stay. She's too good to remain hidden in a role that boring.

[little_sally]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:18pm

I hope not. I want to see someone else in that role.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:30pm

well i do see why she'd stay, after all it must be nice to have a supporting role on broadway that involves sitting on one's ass for the bulk of you character's appearances and only really singing for 30 seconds a night

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:15pm

January 8 is her last day. Her next job is understudying Julia Roberts in Three Days of Rain.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:21pm

as great of a job it is, it's going to be an awful day the first time the announcement is made, "tonight, the role of nan will be played by michelle federer."

think of all the booing she will have to hear, let alone all the people who will demand ticket returns and refunds and will just walk out. and those who remain just really not wanting to see her. that is going to be one uphill battle.
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 11:21 PM

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:09am

Now I love Michelle but I doubt people will walk out if shes not there. I rather see her in bigger and better things.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:10am

No darling, I think they mean walk-out when she goes on as the u/s for Julia Roberts.

[tmz814]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:25am

Maybe they'll do what they did with Hugh Jackman and just close the show down when Julia is out. I do think it would be horrible to have to be in that position, to understudy for someone as big as Julia Roberts, etc. The audience's reactions can be vicious!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:35am

It will close when Julia is out, because it is a limited run!

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:35am

I love Michelle.. and.. well I love her, but I love Stacie more, I hope stacie gets the part and they find a new standby for G(a)linda.

[wicked_mimi]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:47am

She is done for sure on the 8th... I heard her say it at an event I was at, right from her mouth.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:50am

Hasnt she been in there the longest out of the whole show?

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:52am

Stacie left (in early December, the 11th I think) to play Glinda in Chicago when Kate Reinders (sp?) leaves.

[wicked_mimi]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:54am

Michelle isn't the only OBC left... there are some ensemble and Sean McCourt has stepped into the role of Dr. Dillamond. But other than a small handful she is one of the few left.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:58am

OMG stacie left?? I can finally go see her now.. wait.. whos the G(a)linda standby then?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 1:00am

Neddyfrank, I doubt it will close when Julia is out, otherwise, they probably wouldn't have even hired an understudy. Look at "See What I Wanna See." That was a limited run, and they didn't hire ANY understudies until the last week of performances when Marc Kudisch left. If someone had been out that week, the show would have gone on, so I think if Julia is out, Michelle's going on.

And as someone said, there are a few OBC ensemble members left, and Sean as Dillamond since he stepped in. However, Michelle is the last original priniciple cast member.

PS Broadway_Bound, the temporary new Standby is Katie Adams, an understudy from the tour who performed the role quite a few times on tour. She is only contracted for a month, however, and after a month's time they are getting someone else. Don't know why but.. I guess they were in a bind and needed someone quickly, with Stacie having to go into rehearsels with the Chicago company. Maria Eberline told people recently that all standbys are contracted to perform at least once, so Katie will be going on one time for sure before her limited time with the show is over.

Updated On: 1/1/06 at 01:00 AM

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 9:28am

Neddyfrank, I doubt it will close when Julia is out, otherwise, they probably wouldn't have even hired an understudy. Look at "See What I Wanna See."

Well, Hugh Jackman had a standby, but the standby never went on even when Hugh was on vacation. The producers shut down the show. The question is whether the producers of Julia Roberts' play will do the same thing.

Comparing Three Days of Rain to See What I Wanna See is comparing apples to oranges. Julia Roberts is a movie star. No one in SWIWS comes even close. And please don't mention Idina as an example.
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 09:28 AM

[jerseygurl]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 9:36am

Producers MUST hire an understudy whether there is any intention of using him/her at all when a star in out. It's an Equity requirement. It's interesting b/c I know Michelle has had other Bway offers while in WICKED but she was waiting for a great serious dramatic or Shakespearean role to "how the full range of her great talents" so she wouldn't even entertain the thought of doing another musical...

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 9:52am

great serious dramatic or Shakespearean role to "how the full range of her great talents" so she wouldn't even entertain the thought of doing another musical...

Are you serious? That was her goal?

Wow! So being the understudy to Julia Roberts is what she ended up choosing?

You gotta wonder at her thought process.

If I were her, I would have budget carefully and save as money as I can while working in Wicked, and then take a job off-Broadway or in regional theater doing "serious" work.


Updated On: 1/1/06 at 09:52 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 10:28am

3 Days of Rain is a brilliant piece, some say Richard Greenberg's best....anyone with half a brain should have taken it, whether they go on or not.
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 10:28 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 10:53am

Musicalsfan, it's not like comparing apples to oranges at all. I am not comparing the shows. I am comparing the situations in regards to understudies. And, within the situation, I am not comparing the actors either.

"See What I Wanna See" was a show with a small cast. The producers made the pre-concious decision that they weren't going to hire understudies, and that if any of the cast were out, the performance would be canceled. I didn't say ANYTHING about Idina. Then, when Marc Kudisch left, and ONLY then, did they bring in understudies for the last week of shows. If someone had been out that week, the show would have gone on. Obviously it isn't an Equity rule that they have to have them, because SWIWS didn't for the majority of it's run. "Three Days of Rain" is in a similar situation, with an even smaller cast. THAT'S why I used it as an example.

And with "The Boy From Oz," the decision to close the show when Hugh was out was not a premeditated one. The producers of the show only decided that after the show had opened and the response was bigger to Hugh than it was to the show in general. Even going in, with it built as a star vehicle for him, they had no clue it would become as big in regards to him as it was. If they would have known that, they probably wouldn't have hired a Standby and would have just had an understudy in the Ensemble.

I understand Julia is a huge star. And I also understand if she is out, they'll be riots. I actually said something along those lines in the thread announcing Michelle would be her understudy. In fact, I am not even doubting they may close the show when Julia is out. I'm just saying if they already knew they were going to do that, they would not have hired an understudy for her, so it shouldn't be percieved as ludicrous to think they'de do otherwise.

Updated On: 1/1/06 at 10:53 AM

[little sister]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 10:58am

Can someone comment on which other roles has she been offered while doing Wicked?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 11:20am

I personally haven't heard alot in particular (although I consistently hear she is offered things,) but I do remember hearing one particular show she was offered.

Around the time "All Shook Up" was open, I remember being told by someone in the ensemble that Jenn Gambatese was leaving the show in November and that Michelle was offered the oppertunity to replace her.

That's the only specific show I know of.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 11:36am

Did Kidman's understudy ever go on in Blue Room?