Teal Wicks is Broadway's Next Elphaba; Kyle Dean Massey to Return as Fiyero- Page 3

[EarthLuau]

Posted: 12/20/10 at 10:34pm

Why don't they just let Jennifer DiNoia do the role? She has been s/b or u/s for quite some time now. I saw her October last year when Dee was out and she was great. They should just give it to those s/b who are performing well.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 12/20/10 at 11:01pm

Maybe Teal has finally received voice lessons and has learned some technique... she's gone on record saying that she has "only ever had one voice lesson" while boasting about her being cast as Elphaba.

None the less, I wish her the best... extremely surprised though. Extremely.

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 12:01am

fls,
I could write a lenghty post, but instead I'd like to address a few of your comments:

1) ...she had to leave for several months
- Not true. She was out from 3/19-5/2, 6 weeks.

2) ...putting the entire production into a crisis with having to fly several girls out to standby
- Guess what, that's part of the cost of doing business and you can bet it's factored into the business plan (or, at least, it should be!).

3) ...while Vicki Noon basically got a uncredited promotion for that time.
- That is not Teal's fault.

4) Will she prove us wrong when she comes to Broadway? Maybe...do we have a reason to be a little skeptical...hell yes.
- I really do not have a problem with skepticism; but it is not necessary to trash the girl.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 12:15am

1) That is still 2.5 months. A good chunk of her contract.

2) No, flying in standbys from all over the country shouldn't have to be factored into the plan.

3) Yes it is. This was her second time at the role after already having issues the first time.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 12:47am

Ummm your post as a lot of misinformation...all of which theaterfan pointed out (thanks
But we are not trashing the girl...I (nor most of the people here) have said anything outside of the fact that she missed a lot of performances (more then just six weeks worth...she was officially gone for 2.5 months...but with all her missed performances put together...the total is much higher)

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 1:37am

I have to say, I just listened to some clips of her on youtube and she sounds phenomenal. Elphaba is supposed to have a sort of rough edge to her voice. Hopefully her voice lessons built up stamina so she can safely get through eight shows a week every week. Though, I don't understand why Christine in Phantom gets an alternate but not Elphaba. Elphaba is a tough sing for even the most trained singers, while Christine should be a breeze with all the prerecorded passages.

[shob]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 3:20am

I've always pulled for the girl. I just wish she got it together. Question: is this her Broadway debut?

[kate86]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 4:31am

yes this is her broadway debut!

and i am so excited for kyle dean massey!!!

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 9:53am

bls,
Edge - exactly why I was not fond of VN in the part. She has a very powerful voice, but it is much too "sweet" for Elphaba, imo.

fls,
My posts are misinformed? No more so than many others on this board. Things that are stated as fact are, in fact, assumption. The fact is, we don't know what contract terms were, so we really don't know how many shows were "missed."

Theatrefan clearly has no experience in the world of business or finance. The 1.5 months may have been a good chunk of her first contract, but it had nothing to do with her second or third contracts - I can't recall, she may have even had a fourth. And, no, it is not Teal's fault if VN was not promoted as TF thinks she should have been. That's like saying it's my fault that your boyfriend dumped you.

Someone mentioned a couple of days ago about NY actresses killing to get the part. Thought it was interesting that out of the 12 Broadway Elphies, only 1 has been NY born (IM). Six are CA born (EE, SJB, MD, NP, MG, TW), 2 PA (JM, DR - I think, not quite sure about JM), 1 WA (SB), 1 DC (AG), and 1 GB (KE).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 10:29am

Someone mentioned a couple of days ago about NY actresses killing to get the part. Thought it was interesting that out of the 12 Broadway Elphies, only 1 has been NY born (IM). Six are CA born (EE, SJB, MD, NP, MG, TW), 2 PA (JM, DR - I think, not quite sure about JM), 1 WA (SB), 1 DC (AG), and 1 GB (KE).

I can almost guarantee that by "NY actresses" ljay meant performers who work on Broadway regularly and/or are NY based- besides Menzel, Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Stephanie J. Block, Julia Murney, and Mandy Gonzalez are all fairly significant in the NY theater scene. Menzel won a Tony (and was a previous nominee prior to taking the role), and Espinosa, SJB, and, Gonzalez, and Murney had all originated leading roles prior to taking the role on Broadway. Teal Wicks is like getting Dee Ravioli all over again.

No more so than many others on this board. Things that are stated as fact are, in fact, assumption.

Honey, I can assure you there are a whole number of things in this thread that are complete fact. You are just pretending they aren't.

[iloveidinamenzel]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 11:18am

"Why don't they just let Jennifer DiNoia do the role? She has been s/b or u/s for quite some time now. I saw her October last year when Dee was out and she was great. They should just give it to those s/b who are performing well."

Because Jennifer DiNoia is a good STANDBY. I really don't think she could handle the show 8 times a week. CLEARLY Wicked went with a cheap casting move by bringing Teal to Broadway - they could have been even cheaper and given Jennifer the role full-time. But they didn't.

[TheatreFan27]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 12:13pm

I hope the best for Teal, and I honestly think she would not have been offered the Broadway role if she hadn't taken the time to improve her vocal technique. With that being said, I was sort of hoping they would bring in somebody entirely new (like they did with Mandy) because it's always exciting hearing someone belt out "Defying Gravity" for the first time, not knowing what to expect. Here's hoping Stephanie J. Block will return to the role someday because I'm still kicking myself I never made it out to Broadway to see her perform in the role! She is by far the best Elphaba to ever grace the Gershwin stage.

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 12:18pm

ag-Don't forget, honey, I was the one that led you to the fact that TW will be the next Elphaba.

Tell you what: if her Broadway run is a disaster, I will be the first one to come here and say you all were right. Will you afford me the same courtesy if Teal is a hit? Would you be able to put your prejudice aside?

[wrightstateboy45]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 2:07pm

I think they should have gone with Donna Vivino...just my opinion. Teal has a great voice, but uses it incorrectly ALOT. She's only going to further damage her voice by doing this show...again my opinion.

Posted: 12/21/10 at 2:48pm

"I think they should have gone with Donna Vivino"

I completely agree. Donna was on tour for over a year as a standby, and then almost 2 years playing the role full-time. Her voice seemed to only get stronger further into her run, and her attendance was stellar from what I hear. I would have thought they'd offer her the role before Teal.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 4:14pm

"Because Jennifer DiNoia is a good STANDBY. I really don't think she could handle the show 8 times a week. ."

Only one of those statements are true. Jennifer's a great standby, but she definitely could handle the role 8 times a week. She has said that the stage door that she regularly takes voice lessons, and she's overall fierce. At least she'll have more time to be on with Teal as lead.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 5:09pm

And, no, it is not Teal's fault if VN was not promoted as TF thinks she should have been. That's like saying it's my fault that your boyfriend dumped you.

Except my boyfriend would have nothing to do with you. Vicki Noon & Teal Wicks (Yes, full names. Lets try to avoid stupid childlike abbreviations please.) are employed to do the show. Teal Wicks failing to perform the role is the reason why Vicki had to.

ag-Don't forget, honey, I was the one that led you to the fact that TW will be the next Elphaba

Honey, AG has better sources than the stage door unlike you. Updated On: 12/21/10 at 05:09 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 6:01pm

If people want some lulz then I suggest checking out this thread on Witches of Oz.
http://www.witchesofoz.com/wicked_boards/index.php?showtopic=34895&st=0

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 7:03pm

ag-Don't forget, honey, I was the one that led you to the fact that TW will be the next Elphaba.

No, you weren't.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 7:16pm

Good for Teal Wicks. I saw her in Los Angeles and thought she was really wonderful. As far as vocal health...I think there's just something about San Francisco that messes with singers, because Teal, Eden, and Marcie all sounded AWFUL up there. I saw a video of Eden's last that was literally cringe-inducing, and then saw her sing in the Jawbreaker concert in LA 2 weeks later and she was flawless.

Teal had a pretty good attendance record in LA. As far as vocal health - I saw her during her first week as lead Elphaba and then about 6 months later, and she still sounded GREAT, so I don't think 9 months on Bway is going to kill her.

[californiasnow]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 7:43pm

I saw Teal at the end of her first week as principal Elphaba, which was also Megan Hilty's final performance (well, her first final performance) in the LA company. My biggest issue with Teal then was that her Elphaba was about as exciting as a bowl of oatmeal. She knew the lines, could carry a tune, and that's about it. When an Elphaba can't hold your attention during Defying Gravity, that's a big problem. While her attendance in LA was better than in the San Francisco company (where she missed the first preview), it was definitely less than stellar. Marcie Dodd went on multiple times during Teal's short LA run. At least Caissie Levy did the right thing and walked away from a role she could not sustain for 8 performances a week. It is clear Teal has not learned that lesson.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 7:48pm

I just bought my ticket for Mandy's final performance and I'll be seeing Kyle Dean as Fiyero. I can't wait! :)

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 12/21/10 at 11:06pm

LOL..

[iloveidinamenzel]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 12:44am

"Only one of those statements are true. Jennifer's a great standby, but she definitely could handle the role 8 times a week. She has said that the stage door that she regularly takes voice lessons, and she's overall fierce. At least she'll have more time to be on with Teal as lead."

I have to disagree. I don't think she has the power to do it full time. Clearly others feel the same. They transferred her from Chicago to Broadway, flew her to Australia to cover, and overall have kept her on Broadway for almost two years. She's put in enough time to deserve a promotion.. but hasn't gotten the offer

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 2:29am

This message goes out to adamg and all the regulars who have expressed an opinion on this topic:

How many times have you seen this musical? I suppose my next question is, if it's more than say, two, why?

I mean no disrespect, it just seems odd to me that people who see legitimate theater would frequent this musical with any amount of, well, frequency.