Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
#1Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:40pmWhy did Jennifer Laura Thompson get the role of Glinda in Wicked instead of Kristin's understudy? And then after JLt left Wicked why wasn't she asked to go on tour or go to chicago? Just a thought
#1re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:42pmWhenever I think of Glinda, I never think of JLT. I don't know why. I still can't picture her in that role.
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#2re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:42pmWell, I'm not really sure but I think that since Taye Diggs was the very first replacement actor for this show, they briefly wanted to continue bringing in Broadway talent who hasn't done this show before. That's my hypothesis.
#3re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:44pm
Laura Bell Bundy couldn't come to terms with the producers. Jennifer Laura Thompson wanted to stay home with her kid.
I get all that from reading BWW on a regular basis. I've never even seen WICKED.
#4re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:49pmI didn't know she had a kid. lol.
#6re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:01pmJLT was fabulous. My favorite Glinda.
#7re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:07pmYeah, from what I remember JLT is taking a break from acting to raise her kid. Although I didn't see her, I bet she was a great Glinda.
#9re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:13pm**oops** Updated On: 12/15/06 at 04:13 PM
#10re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:33pmI remember reading an interview on playbill.com when she got the part. She was talking about how she wanted to do the role but would only do it if she could get the shortest contract she possibly could. As a result, she did the role for 9 months
#11re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:41pm
GORGEOUS pictures, BrodyFosse123. Thank you for sharing
I saaw her the second time I saw the show. I saw it with Idina and Kristin. When I saw it with JLT, I wanted to dislike her because... well... simply because she wasn't Kristin. It didn't work like that
She was GREAT!
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#12re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:47pm
She had dignity and wasn't going to be known as a recycled Wicked actress
Parks
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/04
#13re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:54pm
I'm so upset that I missed her in Wicked in March 2005. Instead, I had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Stacie Morgain Lewis' first performance as Glinda.
...still wish I had gotten to see JLT. She's so funny.
#14re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:59pmShe was <3.
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#15re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:12pm
JLT was wonderful as Glinda, so human and so real. And, what a voice.
She's taking time away to be with her son- I've heard until he gets school age. And she's flat out said she's not interested in returning to Wicked.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#16re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:24pmEasy. She did her time, took the cash, and ran for life.
#17re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:26pm
As others have said, Thompson is taking an extended break from performing to raise her son.
She has been offered numerous roles since leaving Wicked (including Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Little Edie in Grey Gardens, and an invited audition for the title role in Mary Poppins,) as well as several chances to return to the role of Glinda, but she is very set on focusing on being a mom, and I applaud her for making that choice.
Let's hope she DOES return in the future. She surely is fantastic, and Broadway misses her for sure.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
thevolleyballer
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#18re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:39pmAh, I love this woman. She took me backstage to Wicked in October of... 2004, I think? She was just perfect in every way -- wonderful personality, warm, friendly, funny. And she definitely is in mother mode. As she gave me the tour, she kept talking about her son Tommy and how much she loved him. Fantastic actress, and I can't wait to see her come back to Broadway!
#19re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:46pmI wasn't impressed with her in the role, perhaps because she has zero to play against in the form of Shoshana Bean. Ugh.
#20re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:54pmdisagree, I saw her in the role and thought she was fantastic.
#21re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 6:01pm
yeah, I asked her when I talked to her backstage in July. She wanted to raise her child. I can't believe she could have been Christine or Mary Poppins. That makes me happy. I would have loved to see her sing "Here I Am".
#23re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 6:06pm
jennifer laura thompson was FABULOUS as glinda. i saw her with idina menzel and couldn't have had a better theatre experience. she is definitely missed, and if she ever does happen to come back to wicked, i'll be the first in line for tickets
#24re: Why wasn't JLT recycled in wicked?
Posted: 12/15/06 at 6:08pmI think I"m one of the few who disliked her in the role. SHe must have had an off day, because I've heard nothing but praise. I found her bland-but I normally love her work.
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