Vanessa Williams in Wicked??? — Page 2

I believe she went to college in Syracuse? (Not positive about that.) But she was Miss New York at the pageant.

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She was going to be the original Queenie in THE WILD PARTY...good thing for Toni Colette!

I think Idina went in with just green eyeliner, not full green makeup.

I didn't know Sara Ramirez had auditioned for Elphaba, funny. Muscle23, you know you're one of my fav. posters and I know you love Vanessa Williams but I'm still upset over the fact she got a Tony nod. as the Witch, a role originated by Bernadette Peters without any Tony nod. so I'm not too fond of Vanessa Williams.

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ray-andallthatjazz,

ms. peters did not receive a tony nod for into the woods because her appearance in the show was considered within the theatrical community to be favor she was doing her friend, sondheim, when they had to replace the witch.

Indeed, Joanna Gleason was presented as the relevatory performance to be seen in the show.

In addition, Ms. Peters' contract in the show was a brief one, having her out even by Tony time. (Phylicia Rashad performed on the Tony telecast.)

Personally, I have been fond of some of Vanessa Williams' stage work. While I thought her performance as The Witch was glamourous and charming, I felt that it certainly wouldn't have been given a nod if she was not Vanessa Williams: specifically, she had turned in two wonderfully received (and rightfully so) performances in Encores' "St. Louis Woman" and as Chita Rivera's replacement in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and the Tony nominators were giving her a nod the first chance in which they were able. (Likewise, expect Reba McEntire to receive a nod when she returns to Broadway in however many years.)

And the score to Wild Party would certainly flatter Ms. Williams sultry low register and reedy belt.

And Ms. Peters did fine without the nod. If there is a grudge to be held, dislike Maris Janet Winokur for taking Ms. Peters much-deserved Tony for her turn as Rose.

sfboy20, thanks so much for the trivia, I knew the role of the Witch was written with Betty Buckley in mind but I thought Peters had asked Sondheim to be in the show when Buckley dropped out so it was more of a favor they did to her; I know Sondheim has said he had never thought of her for the role until they met and she asked about it. I had no clue her performance as the Witch was considered by the theater community as a favor to Sondheim, thanks I love learning new things!
Regarding Williams, I didn't really mean the whole thing, I was just being infantile on purpose. But honestly speaking though I have never seen her on stage, I really dislike her rendition of the title song of the show Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Oh, and I would dislike Marissa Jaret Winokur if it wasn't for the fact that I believe the Tony committee would have given the Tony to anyone but Peters, I don't think they were ok with her playing the role; as I have said before, no performance has impacted me so much as Peters' Momma Rose...so off-topic, sorry.

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