WICKED Welcomes Erin Mackey As New 'Glinda' 8/11, Michelle Federer Returns As 'Nessarose' 8/18- Page 2

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:18pm

Yes, indeed. I live in New York City, so with the benefit of Broadway, you often lose the benefit of the regional circuit. The PCLO staging appeals because a.) I love their 'Woods' set and b.) Hunter Foster, Beth Leavel, Stanley Bahorek and Kevin early are a draw.. to say nothing of the trainwrecked fiasco that is Jen Cody as Little (OLD) Red (Perhaps she has taken a page from Federer there..).

[GoodbyeLoveRENT]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:22pm

I'm obviously not surprised about Erin, but I am surprised about Michelle. However, I wish they would've promoted Briana Yacavone to Nessa. I saw her when she was full-time Nessa in LA and thought she was phenomenal.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:30pm

Don't even get me started on Cristy Candler. I'm glad she's moving on. Hopefully she'll take the attitude with her as well.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:33pm

Kalimba,
It clearly seems to be the common sentiment.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:36pm

And for no good reason either. It just makes me laugh. I'm like, "gurl, puhlease".

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:38pm

I actually was pleasantly surprised by Erin and kinda like her. Yet I still won't be seeing this show until the next cast change. Thanks for saving me more money, Wicked.

I really liked Cristy as Nessa, I think she is/was one of the strongest Nessas. And she was very, very sweet when I met her.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:44pm

You must have met her on a good day!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:45pm

Popular,
I do not mean to hint at anything about Candler as a person. It has nothing to do with my thoughts of her on stage and I wouldn't know her from squat aside from a "Oh, it's that one girl..", but on stage, she comes across as a very selfish, self important actress.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:15pm

Well said legally_popular, I will be saving money thanks to this casting. I normally see Wicked any chance I get but I've seen Erin and Dee in Chicago so I won't be seeing it on Broadway again until the next cast change. I don't understand...there are so many talented young actresses who would kill to play these parts...why not take a chance on an unknown. Thats where the Megan Hiltys of the world come from...giving a young actress a chance. Or there have to be plenty of understudies or standbyes who have paid their dues and deserve the role.

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:23pm

Well this actually Erin Mackey's Bway debut but I agree with backwoodsbarbie. There are lots of understudies and standbys that deserve to be promoted. Lindsay Northen is an amazing Glinda and has a beautiful voice! Hopefully the producers will start promoting people instead of recycling their leads soon

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:39pm

It's not like they need to recycle their leads because they need the fanbase. Almost none of the people seeing WICKED know who's playing who. The show sells on its name alone, not on the stars. Let some talented unknowns get their big break. The recycling was already sickening years ago. Now it's just pathetic.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 5:32pm

Michelle might be near the same age as Cristy but she looks A LOT older then Cristy(yes I have seen both). Also Cristy has never been nothing but nice to me and all the people I have seen her with. I have seen her onstage more than any other performer and never saw the same performance from her twice.

As for Erin I can't wait to see her.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 5:32pm

^Exactly right. They could have actors sleepwalking through their lines and motions (I could name a few Wicked performers who certainly seemed like it...), and audiences would still love the show. The only thing that really gets me back to Wicked is the casts, to see someone else's take on a character, but that can't happen with all the recycling.

edit to say I was agreeing with Colorthehours's post regarding the recycling. Updated On: 8/5/09 at 05:32 PM

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 5:34pm

They will continue to recycle as long as they can sing, walk, and stay thin. The Actresses can't say no if it's a gauranteed job.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 5:54pm

i find it funny that the complaint is the recycling of Erin mackey and the belief that someone 'deserving' should be "promoted" to the role. Mackey started in a regional sit down as the understudy, working her way up to the role, then moving on to a more prestigious production and now, finally, Broadway. It seems that she HAS worked her way up the ranks..

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 6:11pm

Michelle Federer as Nessarose:


Cristy Candler as Nessarose:


I fail to see how one looks any more youthful than the other.
Updated On: 8/5/09 at 06:11 PM

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 8:22pm

Ha...tripod.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 8:22pm

Well the arguement there is a bit apples and oranges.. or Carol Channing and Joan Rivers.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 2:17am

Dee has gotton so much better over the weeks. Alli will be missed.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 4:45pm

I was away so I missed all of this but I'm quite excited about Michelle but torn about Alli leaving. I'm seeing the show tomorrow and will be sure to report back.

[AlliMauzeyFan87]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 2:10pm

I wish I could be there today at Alli's last show. I can't believe it starts in under an hour Living in the UK sucks

[GoodMorningBWW]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 2:40pm

Mackey started in a regional sit down as the understudy, working her way up to the role,

I say nay nay. She was only understudy for less than 2 months before the producers bumped her up to Chicago. Unlike say Katie Adams who has stood by for a lot of the Broadway/tour runs & still has no principle role to show for it.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 2:41pm

Mackey spent a year on tour with WICKED as a swing without even understudying Glinda.

She then covered the role in Chicago for six months before she replaced Stacie Morgain Lewis there, and later took over for Megan Hilty in the Los Angeles company.

Updated On: 8/9/09 at 02:41 PM

[GoodMorningBWW]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 2:52pm

Ohh. The way she said it in an interview made it seem like she was only on tour for a short time before going to Chicago. Sorry...

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 9:53pm

Saw the show today and loved Dee, completely blew me away. As for Erin, she has some huge shoes to fill. I've never seen Alli give such a brilliant performance.