Wicked Australia has been cast

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:22pm

From Aussietheatre.com

"More Wicked casting announced
Tuesday, February 12, 1:01pm AEDST.

Rob Guest, Anthony Callea, Rob Mills and Maggie Kirkpatrick will star in the Australian production of Wicked that opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in July.

Guest will play the Wizard, Callea (pictured) is Boq, Mills is Fiyero and Kirkpatrick will play Madame Morrible.

They join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as well as Penny McNamee, who will play Nessa.

Also announced today was a $1 million sponsorship with ANZ, the biggest “presenting sponsor” deal in Australian theatre history.

“This is a terrific day in what will be, I’m sure, the very, very long history of Wicked in Australia,” said producer John Frost.

“I’m thrilled that the New York creative team who conducted the auditions with me have chosen Australian Idol’s standout stars – Rob Mills and Anthony Callea – both now firmly in the front ranks of our entertainers.

“Rob Guest is one of Australian music theatre’s most popular and enduring performers – he played the Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera for a record seven years in Australia and New Zealand.

“And Maggie Kirkpatrick is one of our best loved stars. As The Freak in Prisoner, she remains a legendary, cult figure to television audiences internationally, but Maggie is also a renowned stage performer.”

Frost confirmed that rehearsals for the Australia production will begin on May 12 ahead of July 12 opening night."

I'm exciting for Rob Guest but I haven't heard the rest.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:38am

I'm worried. Rob Mills AND Anthony Callea. Jesus wept.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:21am

Um. We know?

[Urban]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 5:42am

A search engine is your friend.

Good lord, I have turned into Foster. :)

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 6:04am

Both are Australian Idol graduates, with, as far as I know, no previous musical theatre experience.

Updated On: 2/15/08 at 06:04 AM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 7:14am

I just threw up a little, i made it three and half years without seeing a photo of the little wanker...

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 10:16am

Seems like a great cast! Thanks for posting!

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:34pm

Rosscoe, If you threw up at Callea, here's a pic of your Australian Fiyero...just to refresh your memory.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 5:39pm

I was hoping never to see a photo of that loser either, gee thanks Mrs Mangel, you are living up to your name!!!

:)

[Johnny2]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 7:07pm

I was hoping after he was booted off Australian Idol we would never have to see Rob Mills again. Why won't he just disappear? It's funny how the same producers can make such a great casting decision with Amanda and Lucy as the 2 leads but at the same time make the WORST CASTING DECISION EVER with Rob 'Millsy' Mills!

[alterego]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 8:07pm

I think he may just turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

[Urban]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 9:28pm

Didn't both Idina Menzel and Anthony Callea start out as Wedding Singers?

[brettystar]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 11:29pm

Rosscoe, I don't quite understand why you detest Anthony Callea so much? I would be interested to know the reasons. I am not a huge fan myself, but the show doesn't rely on a brilliant performance from the actor playing Boq ( or too heavily on the actor playing Fiyero for that matter). It would be different if someone like Delta Goodrem had been cast as one of the two leads. Out of curiosity, who would you like to have seen cast in the role of Boq? Or Fiyero for that matter?

[Urban]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 11:46pm

I wouldn't of mind Adam Garcia as Fiyero (but a different part of my body wanted him cast) heh.

[alterego]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 1:52am

Sometimes "wedding singing" is a more interesting way to make a living than working in retail or a call centre Urban. Not everyone is chasing a musical theatre career, some individuals are just happy to make a living from singing.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 3:03am

He annoyed the **** out of me when he was on idol, i don't think i have ever come across someone so fake and plastic in my life. The voice awful, the person horrible, just the moment i hear his voice, i want to slap the little turd into the middle of next week.

He is just one of those people who rubs me up the wrong way!

All happy for people who like/love him, i am just not one of those.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 3:50am

...and in answer to "who could've been cast?", well, for a start, Australia has David Harris, Kane Alexander and Mitchell Butel, and they are just three off the top of my head.

[Urban]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 4:25am

alterego - I wasn't actually knocking him - if you have read past threads you might see I am in the minority in not wanting to lynch certain cast members due to their AI credientals.

I was just trying to point out he and a Tony Award winning actress related to the musical had a similar background.

And just to note, I have no problems with anybodies choices in life, whether it be work, rest or play (and of course, not harming others et cetera). I basically couldn't give a flying toss as long as it made them happy.

[brettystar]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 10:09pm

I personally would have liked to have seen David Harris or Kane Alexander as Fiyero. I think AC is fine for BOQ - he is the perfect height at least.

[alterego]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 7:41am

Well maybe they'll be around to take over after 6 months or so, after all someone like Callea isn't going to stay in this show for years.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 3:14pm

You have a point- Callea's not the one I'm worried about. I doubt if Millsy has a hellava lot else going on professionally.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:32pm

Whatever happened to Kane McErvale (erm, Alexander...) anyway?

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:49pm

Wasn't he trying to crack the crossover pop-opera market with his c.d.?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:54pm

He was and i don't think it worked the way he wanted it to. He was amazing in the last tour of Les Mis. Then again musical theatre in this country has been a bit lite on the ground.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:58pm

Rosscoe, what happened to Spencer McLaren? He had a telly profile and then sweet f.a.