Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Are there some Elphaba's that might be underrated? If you think their are post below! Merry Christmas!
I saw Hayley Gallivan when I went to visit London in August (the understudy for Louise Dearman), and although she didn't have Louise's acting abilities, her voice was pure bliss.
Dan'yelle Williamson:
No Good Deed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJi5f6I6DDk
Coleen Sexton:
Wizard and I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoKiCrQFTKQ
They were both understudies, I am not sure why.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/17/10
Idin@ M3n23L.
Christine Dawyer. she was fantastic on the 2nd National Tour!! Her and Jeanna de Waal together was magical!
found Williamson's Defying Gravity, it's one of the best I've ever heard. Hopefully one day she'll get to play Elphaba on Broadway(she's headed to Rocky this spring).
Dan'yelle Williamson - Defying Gravity
I'm not a Wicked fanboy, I don't follow the show. But from what I have seen (my best friend in college was a Wicked queen, and obsessively compared every cast change via a massive bootleg collection that solely consisted of Wicked), Ana Gasteyer is both one of the best and one of the least praised, despite being probably the most famous actress to play the role.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Does Kristy Cates count as underrated?
Dee Roscioli.
Christine Dwyer is not underrated at all. She's standby for the role now on Broadway...
I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure it was Dan'Yelle who spoke pretty negatively of her Wicked experience. I believe it was something to do with her being told she would be the new standby then told last minute they got someone else. So, unfortunately I don't see her returning which is a shame because the girl can sing! I'll try find where I read that now
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
I know her Mom said that they did her wrong in Chicago.
Swing Joined: 10/27/12
I'm obsessed with Caroline Bowman's Wizard and I.
I woudn't say either of them are underrated, but my favorite Elphabas are Danna Paola, Rachel Tucker, and Julie Reibler. I've seen Julie, Dee Roscioli, Stephanie J. Block, and a young Eden Espinosa. I think Caroline Bowman's Elphaba was too shrieky, but her Eva was fabulous (saw Evita twice!).
The first Elphaba I ever saw was Merideth Kaye Clark; she was Donna Vivino's standby on the 1NT a few years back and she was just phenomenal.
This isn't the best clip of her, but it's the only one I could find.
Defying Gravity
Mamie Parris was by far the only Elphaba I have seen that made the show worth sitting through.
@Brave Producers have asked Danna to play the role on Broadway. I'm not sure if she accepted the offer or not, but it would be nice if she replaces Lindsay.
Ana Gasteyer is the only Elphaba that made that really horrible, awkwardly directed, solo dance in the Oz Dust Ballroom work.
Videos