Nicole Parker is Officially Announced for Wicked- Page 2

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:30pm

I think this is great news! As of January 2009 I will have seen the show 10 times, but never on Broadway. Parker's casting might make me include "Wicked" on my spring 2009 trip.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:32pm

Why is this a slap in the face to Carmen? By god they let someone NEW have the role.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:35pm

This is SO not stunt casting. I honestly had never heard her name before, don't recognize her face, and really have no clue what she has done (before reading this thread I didn't know she was in MADTV or FAME BECOMES ME).
This is the WICKED producers actually caring to bring in someone completely new to the Broadway production which I think is pretty fantastic. Good for them. The whole recycling and bumping up of understudies/tour/LA/Chicago people was getting old.
Now if only they got Mandy Gonzales to replace Parker whenever she decides to leave, that would definitely get me to pay full price to see the show on Broadway. I think Mandy would be perfection in the role.

[Nicholas Clar]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:36pm

and Julie Reiber!!!!

[NGD2225]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:37pm

Forget Julie. She's the new Saycon Sengbloh/Katie Adams.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:44pm

FINALLY!! Someone NEW!!

[Phantour]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 7:55pm

My favorite skit of her on MadTV was when she played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz alternate ending, she's amazing!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6exm2Hi28Xw

I was going to mention this since I find it funny she played Dorothy and now is going to play Elphaba. I think that skit is hilarious.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:19pm

I know! She has Dorothy's voice and mannerisms down so well. I can't wait to see what she does with Elphaba.

[it'sjustshowbiz]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:37pm

I never saw Ana in the role. What were the parts she made comic?

I'm looking forward to seeing Nicole's interpretation.

[BroomstickBoy]

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

Wow. I watched the Merry Xmas song clip. She really can sing! And very well I might add. She sounded a bit like Jenna Leigh Green in some spots.

I love her voice.

[Kev]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 12:12am

Awww, I was hoping for Julie Reiber to finally take over....

Julie Reiber was passed over in L.A. when the time came for replacement casting, and there was no promotion. I'm not sure why folks thought it would be any different here.

Is this the beginning of stunt casting for Wicked?

Wicked has not resorted to stunt casting. Not even Ana Gasteyer and Rue McClanahan can be considered stunting; the show is the draw, the show is the star.

Would this be considered a slap in the face to Carmen Cusack?

Nope (supposedly Carmen wants time off, anyway.) There's no Wicked law that says after one does the tour, he/she has to come to Broadway

And Nicole Parker actually had an Elphaba/Defying Gravity bit in Fame Becomes Me. She sounded fantastic, and I look forward to her arrival.

[Den1226]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 9:14am

Finally a new Elphie! I really am not a big fan of Kerry or Carmen. Not a big Julie fan either. Not surprising she got passed over again. Is she going to quit B'way now like she did in LA? Updated On: 11/10/08 at 09:14 AM

[Celra]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 1:13pm

I'm so excited for Nicole! I loved her voice ever since I saw her on MAD TV.

I'm going to make a special trip to NY to see her now <3

Good luck Nicole!

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 4:53pm

are you gonna SCREAM at this show?

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:20pm

Be nice to Celra...remember, she's 18 year's old, and just wants to get the most out of her show because "she paid for the ticket just like everyone else" :)

[Celra]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:11pm

Oh god no! I would never do that!

I only express my die hard screaming to RENT

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:14pm

Shut up.

[Celra]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:20pm

I never said anything. I typed it.

How are you going to tell someone who never said anything to shut up? Woulden't you have to say stop typing or something?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:22pm

[Celra]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:31pm

Whatever you just tried to do it failed. It came up on my computer as an X. if your going to insult me please try again.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:44pm

Facepalm: Because expressing how dumb that was in words just doesn't work.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 5:46pm

Looks like Nicole won't be making her Elphaba debut until Friday the 16th.

Julie is going on the 13th-15th.

Ok TimesSquare3 I'm ready for one of your smartassed remarks.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 6:35pm

You would know.

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 7:25pm

I know this is a bit OT but why is it that whenever a standby or understudy is not automatically cast as the lead when the lead departs the show, some people think that they person got "passed over" or slapped in the face?

Unless you have some insider info then share it with us. There are some people who are comfortable being standby or understudy. Yes it's less pay but come on, its also less pressure and in the case of a standby, less work, and I am sure they still get paid on days they do not go on. and if you are a "standby" you can still credit yourself in your resume (and to people on the street) that you are staring in "show X" as the lead because technically you are. (just dont say that to a die hard broadway fan because he or she wuld know better)

Also there are people who love to tour, just because you are touring does not mean that you were so bad that you were cast out of the Emerald City and Exiled in a Red State somewhere.

end of rant.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 7:28pm

Well, Julie Reiber has been very public about wanting to play the role full-time. At an understudy concert she lamented (along with Katie Adams) that she was passed over for the lead before.

So, while I agree with your general point, that some people enjoy being a standby (Lisa Brescia said she loved it), in the case of Reiber, it isn't true, based on her public statements.

I'm sure Val will regale us with her "inside" info about Julie shortly.