Stephanie J. Block out of the tour- Page 3

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:09pm

It always baffles me when someone doesn't like Stephanie..I think they're weird :)

I just have seen very few people more talented than her. Sutton and Norbert are the only two that I would say are...other than that...she's tops!

[Diva Doll]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:17pm

Stephanie, I couldn't agree more. She has amazing vocal talent, and I hope and pray that all is well with her. This role is SO close to her heart. Most people know that Stephanie J. Block was originally supposed to play Elphaba on Broadway, so she was very excited about it. Wonderwall, I'm not questioning the validity of your source, I just choose to wait before I "completely believe" something until I read official confirmation from the press or from the person. I certainly won't be upset to see Eden, but I would also like to see Stephanie. Of course, none of us wants to see her push herself to the point that irreparable damage is done. Whatever comes of this, I send prayers her way and hope she has a quick recovery.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 12:09am

Oh goodness, here we go again. So, basically, I'm weird because I don't care for what I saw of her? Well, so be it. People, not everyone is going to like the same things all the time, and you know what...that's okay! I saw Sutton Foster in "Little Women" and she wasn't that great the night I saw her either. So, I don't know what to say other than...it's okay. Please don't hate me because my taste may be different, that doesn't make me odd or strange or weird...it makes me a human with my own likes and dislikes.

-Vincent

[Popular]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 11:16am

Gosh, you would've thought SOMEONE would cut and paste that column by now. I'm sticking with the only out in SF story for now.

[dancersmom2]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:05pm

I just subscribed to the column (because I have tickets for Dallas and wanted to see it straight from the source- ). I haven't been through all the back issues, but I didn't see any reference to the Wicked tour in yesterday's issue, just a blurb about some tech problems with the LA production. I could have missed it. Contrary to what I tell my children, I am not infallible!

In the Friday July 15 column Mr. Garcia writes:

....Eden Espinosa, the original Broadway standby for the role of
Elphaba in Wicked, will defy gravity as the green-skinned witch again
for the national tour's San Francisco stop at the Orpheum Theatre
while Stephanie J. Block recovers from an injury.

San Francisco gets Wicked Aug. 5-Sept. 11, marking the musical's
return to its pre-Broadway home. It premiered there in the summer of
2003.

"Stephanie J. Block suffered a back and neck injury just as
performances were about to begin in Toronto for the start of the
national tour of Wicked," stated producer David Stone. "She has been
slowly recovering as she has continued to perform — magnificently, I
might add — but her doctors feel that the only way for her to
completely heal the soft-tissue damage is to take a few weeks for
substantial rest and physical therapy. We look forward to her
rejoining us in Denver."

Block, who stars as Elphaba in the national tour, will finish the run
at Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre through July 31 and rejoin the tour
in Denver (beginning Sept. 16) after San Francisco.

"We are so pleased that Eden Espinosa, who was our thrilling Elphaba
standby in the original Broadway cast, has agreed to join us in San
Francisco — the city where Wicked was born," said Stone.

**JOHN'S COMMENTS: Not to be rude, but I hope we (the Dallas stop)
get Eden! I saw & met afterwards Eden after her beautiful performance
in BROOKLYN on Broadway. We had a nice chat about Latins in theater
and her work in the show. This girl has an AMAZING voice!!


Updated On: 7/19/05 at 01:05 PM

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:11pm

Does anyone else think it's kinda sucky that, now that Block needs to hop out to recoop for real physically, that they've offerred the role to Eden as opposed to Kristy or someone else who actually AUDITIONED for this tour? It's like, I'm sure they had tons and tons of people come out for the first Wicked tour, but then when they need to use someone besides their first choice they just offer it to someone whose show just closed instead of one of the many who was seen for the part...just feels like way special treatment - I'd rather see an unknown who hasn't had a chance to do it yet and who showed up and waited in line, etc...Eden doesn't need the opportunity

[Kungaloosh1937]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:32pm

<>

Sorry, that's how the business works.

Not to mention that had preferential treatment of "names" not been taken into account originally, Idina Menzel never would have been the green girl in the first place. Stephanie Block would have, and most likely would have a Tony to boot.

Besides, Kristy just got a job in the Chicago production. They're not about to pull someone who isn't a name and has recieved mixed reviews in her performance over someone who has performed the role before as well, just headlined a Broadway show (no matter how horrible it was) and has nothing better to do.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:33pm

Kristy Cates didn't audition for the tour--she was pulled from the Broadway Production, well apparently the whole Eden doing Denver thing was just a slight misinterpretation of the column. Well--I dont think its "sucky" because they wanted to get someone in the role that is already familiar with the role (who has already performed it) and Eden was avaliable to do it

[bwayfan4]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:35pm

I hate rumors! Glad that Stephanie is taking the time to heal and that she will rejoin the tour as previously stated. Saw her in LA and thought she was wonderful!
Updated On: 7/19/05 at 01:35 PM

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 1:58pm

Vincent! I was totally joking! I don't think you're weird..I was just making a joke about people who don't hold my same opinion--which is half the world :)

Just being goofy, try not to take much of what I say too seriously :)
-Steph

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 2:00pm

haha stephanie! you rock my socks!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 2:55pm

hehe...I'm sorry then since you were joking...this board, I'm sure you know, can be so strange...some people take your opinions so personally, then attack other people...it's crazy...i've heard some very hurtful things simply because my opinion was 100% in line with theirs...so, moving right along then...hehe

-vincent

[liz328]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 3:20pm

Aww...I want Eden AND Stephanie to come to Dallas and tag team.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 3:54pm

bwayfan4- I didn't start a "rumor." I was just relaying what I had read in an article. I never said it was 100% true, I just asked if anyone else knew anything about it and that John Garcia tends to be a very reliable source. I love Stephanie and she is one of my dear friends from way back when. I would never want to see her name, talent, reputation being talked about in a negative way on the boards. It's sad that she has waited so long to play this role and all of these problems keep occurring. I did OLIVER with her almost 8 years ago and she was talking about WICKED then...EIGHT years ago, so I know how dear it is to her heart.

Sorry if I upset people with this thread, but I just wanted to know if anyone else had heard anything.

I wish Stephanie the best.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 4:00pm

If she's such a dear friend, why don't you call her and find out instead of asking people on this board?

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, it's just that I'm sure we'd all love to know!
Updated On: 7/19/05 at 04:00 PM

[bwayfan4]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 4:44pm

According to dancersmom2 who actually quoted the article,(Thank you btw)it said nothing about Stephanie leaving the tour for good but only that she would be out for the SF run.

"Block, who stars as Elphaba in the national tour, will finish the run at Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre through July 31 and rejoin the tour in Denver (beginning Sept. 16) after San Francisco."

I don't mean to be rude but you stated that you had "read" the article, it contained "brand new information" and that it stated she was "leaving the tour." A more careful reading on your part could have avoided all this speculation....It was well known that she was not going to be in the SF run already.
Updated On: 7/19/05 at 04:44 PM

[Diva Doll]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 4:53pm

Wonderwall, I also don't want to sound like a smart ass, but with all due respect, several of your posts did imply that you "knew" this was true...

"Eden is scheduled to come to Dallas and Houston, I know that much."

Where did you read or hear that?

"I know you all are thinking this is just a rumor and yada yada...but John Garcia is a very reliable source."

Doesn't mean he is infallible. Unless he is part of Stephanie's or Eden's representation or a spokesperson for David Stone, I'm not convinced.

"Well, John Garcia posted this information yesterday as brand new information."

"Brand new" information does not disqualify it as a rumor.

I am going to say what I need to say and hope that all of you will lay this to rest before people see it and become more angry. Wonderwall, you probably had NO CLUE that you a had opened such a huge can of worms. I certainly mean no disrespect toward you. That being said, these types of threads(Especially with "Stephanie J. Block out of the tour" as the title), are exactly how rumors get started, regardless if that was the intent. I don't even need to mention Wicked's IMMENSE fanbase. There are many people waiting to pounce on any bit of new information that has anything to do with Wicked and spread it to the 112765675 Wicked/Idina/Steph Block/Eden message boards, live journals, and fan sites out there. Also, the fact that 24 hours have passed since I first read this thread, and no information appears to have been "cut and pasted", leads me to believe that someone, somewhere(no accusations here)got a bit of incorrect/misinterpreted information. If you have read my rantings and are to this point, thank you very much. End of rant.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 11:20pm

well put!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 11:24pm

agreed... I just still hope that Stephanie J. Block isn't out completely and that she is doing okay. I hope she can still come to Philadelphia, it's not for a while but I still want to see her again after TBFO

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:16am

Thanks for checking it out, dancersmom.
Wonderwa11, can we assume that you misread? Or is it a different article that you found? Anyone heard anything from other sources?
Right now I'm assuming that Stephanie is scheduled to be back for Denver; whatever the case, I hope she recovers quickly and enjoys whatever time off she gets!

[Popular]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 4:40pm

just bumping this up in case mywonderwall has any more updates...

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 4:47pm

YEAh, I'm glad Eden gets a chance with this part again!

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:10pm

In defense of John Garcia: his information generally comes from other well-read sources. I do not know where this piece of information came from, but I do know that he would not fabricate such a story.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:23pm

I'm on John Garcia's column list also and I didn't see anything about this either. I think it's just a misinterpretation of John's blurb about Stephanie Block's temporary exit from the show in SF.

[dancersmom2]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:54pm

Thanks, MB. I'm glad to know I am not just old, blind, and missing something!