the tour NOW has a standby, but this has only been since Julia Murney came in (I believe so there are two covers, such as there were before)
Stand-by Joined: 5/5/05
who's the standby on the tour? I know they were getting one but Maria Eberline said they actually hadn't done it yet.
Sparklesss, Julia's standby on tour is Victoria Matlock. I believe she went on for the first time in Philadelphia. Someone posted something about her performance.
I'd like to place blame on WAT for making me a Wicked afficionado!
Chorus Member Joined: 4/25/06
My personal opinions:
I love them all by the way. There really isnt one I dont love.
No particular order
Best Actors: Idina Menzel, Stephanie J Block, Julia Murney, Kristy Cates, Maria Eberline, Ana Gasteyer
Best Singers: Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Saycon Sengbloh, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Jenna Leigh Green
Those are really all I've seen / heard. Thats basically all of them. They all bring great contributions to the part. In my opinion, the most well rounded Elphaba is probably Kristy Cates. But I'd pay the price of admission just to hear any of those talented women sing The Wizard and I, Defying Gravity and No Good Deed.
I really felt that Jenna Leigh Green left a lot to be desired as Elphaba, It is not that she was not talented, it was just that she was too young for the role.
Shoshana.
I saw her the most, and she's just amazing in my opinion.
I saw Idina in December of '04 and was extremely disappointed - having loved her voice on the CD, I thought her live performance wasn't that great - the gasps for air during her songs? Yea, major turn-off.
I know that was nearing the end of her run, and she may have been "tired" and whatnot, but I still paid $100 for my ticket, and I didn't want a "tired" performance.
To me, Shoshana is BY FAR the best Elphaba. Her voice is amazing. I saw Eden and didn't like her at all. I feel as though Eden cared more about showing off by doing really long vocal runs, which caused her to go flat/change the feel of many of the songs. Also, Idina is a powerhouse, but her pitch is never consistent. Shoshana is musically the best that I've seen. Also her comic timing is the best I've seen. Of the several times I have seen it, it was only the time with her that the entire audience laughed hysterically for a good 30 seconds at the line "Well, we can't all come and go by bubble." Basically, Shoshana's brilliant.
Featured Actor Joined: 2/23/04
Margaret Hamilton.
She defined the role while bringing a Joan Crawford "Mommie Dearest" sensibility to the tragic bad girl of Oz. I thought the lack of self-pity she brought to the role was a good choice.
Well, I've at least heard them all. And here's what I have to say.
Idina Menzel - good vocals, the original!
Eden Espinosa - Great vocals, regional theater acting ability.
Stephanie Block - too much sing speaking for my taste.
Ana Gasteyer - Good on high stuff, lacking in ballads.
Kristy Cates - Seems more like a Nessa to me, but good vocal nevertheless
Saycon Sengbloh - great singing
Jenna Leigh Green - Stick with Nessa, you are great on Wicked Witch of the East
And My Fav.
SHOSHANA BEAN! She rocks it. Plays a feisty lil Eplhaba and GIVES IT TO YOU vocally.
Idina - strongest acting during scenes and songs
Shoshana - replacement with most original take on the role
Eden - strong vocals and acting, although very similar to Idina
Kristy - i just love her!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/31/06
"Best Actors: Idina Menzel, Stephanie J Block, Julia Murney, Kristy Cates, Maria Eberline, Ana Gasteyer"
I believe they're called actresses...
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
Kristy, Eden, Julia (maybe? havent seen her). Idina DOES shout and gasp for air and she becomes flat. She was great in the beginning
Chorus Member Joined: 4/25/06
I've heard girls called actors before. im not sure anymore lol. ive heard it actors and actresses, but then people say everyone is just called actors...idk, it gets confusing lol. ur right tho, they are actresses. i just thought u could call them both :)
Chorus Member Joined: 12/31/69
2 way tie for first... it was almost a 3 way, so it was close.
K...
Idina and Shoshana and then coming in realllllllly close was Steph. I LOVE all three of them.
Idina: Well, you just gotta love Idina. lol
Sho: Her riffs are AMAZING. That's what got me hooked
Steph: I lost my Wicked virginity to her. lol. She's just great and plays the part sweet at the beginning and then you can tell she's very frustrated near the end. Definitely the best Elphaba acting wise.
Featured Actor Joined: 12/25/04
I'm changing my vote to Julia Murney!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/20/06
I have to say that General Tsao is my favorite Elphaba. In fact, I am eating him right now! Mmmmm. General Tsao's Chicken.
Singing : Eden
Acting : Idina
Featured Actor Joined: 12/31/69
singing my favorite is Eden. She can sing the hell out of elphaba.
acting is a tie between idina and ana.
now if you want to talk least favorites i absolutly can't bare to hear SJB. Defying Gravity is almost painful when she she sings it. I also don't care much for shoshanna. I almost feel like she shouts more than she sings.
I could not agree less Little_Miss_Elphie. SJB, is vocally so amazing!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
maybe she was a bit off when i saw her.
the only other time i've heard her sing was on the wicked trailer and she was a bit better, but she sounded like she was in pain.
i'll give her that much.
Did someone here actually say that Eden goes on these vocal runs too long to "show off" but then listed Shoshana as their favorite? Dear Goodness, it gets better every day. If anyone did NOTHING but vocal runs (and not a drop of acting) it was Shoshana
-Vincent
Idina Menzel.
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