Wicked Contracts Question

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 9/24/16 at 7:42pm

I'm not a super fan of Wicked, but I'll admit that it's a guilty pleasure of mine, and whenever I have family or friends in town, it's always the show they want to see (aside from Hamilton, now), so I've seen the Broadway production a handful of times. I notice that most of the time the principal characters such as Elphaba, Glinda, Boq, etc. have generally played the role on the tour, or at least thats the current trend. My first question is, are there any recent instances of someone being hired on for the Broadway production without touring their track previously? My second question is, most of the principles seem to leave the show after their nine month to a year contract is up, which is understandable for the more vocally demanding roles. But do any of them ever extend beyond that? Or is that just not an option given by the production? And if so, does anyone have any insight on why that might be?

Updated On: 9/24/16 at 07:42 PM

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/24/16 at 8:03pm

While, yes the recent trend is to be hired from the tours (or other productions), there are a few instances where that is not the case. Lindsay Mendez's first Wicked contract was Elphaba on Broadway. I'm not sure about Caroline Bowman. Robin DeJesus, Jonah Platt, and the current Fiyero Michael Campayno were all hired directly for Broadway. 

 

As for extensions, it is a case by case basis. Some are offered extensions - such as Alex Brightman. Some are not. It is up to the producers. However, it seems to me that Wicked likes to continue shuffling around their cast members - even if it is just within the productions - to keep the leads fresh and frequent visitors coming back "to see the new cast member(s)".

[Bell0708]

Posted: 9/24/16 at 8:57pm

Caroline Bowman was an understudy on Broadway for maybe about a year, I'm guessing?  I think she only performed 3 times.  The longest run an Elphaba had was Jackie Burns, it was almost a year and a half, I believe, but towards the end of the run she got very sick and couldn't perform her last show.  I think they try to keep Elphabas for about 9 months to a year, their Glindas could go a year and a half, maybe longer.  The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond roles were recycled by the same actors quite a bit, they seem to have newer people playing those roles now.

[kristinj1]

Posted: 9/24/16 at 10:13pm

beltingbaritone said: "...My first question is, are there any recent instances of someone being hired on for the Broadway production without touring their track previously?"

The current Boq (Zach Piser) had also never toured the track prior to his Broadway contract.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/24/16 at 11:47pm

Rachel Tucker was never on one of the tour, but she was previously with the west end company which she just recently rejoined?

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/25/16 at 2:13am

Bell0708 said: "Caroline Bowman was an understudy on Broadway for maybe about a year, I'm guessing?  I think she only performed 3 times."

Thanks. I thought she was in it, but I couldn't remember if it was her or someone else. My hasty google search didn't confirm either way (though why I didn't just look on IBDB or something is lost on me now).

[Bell0708]

Posted: 9/25/16 at 12:42pm

You can just google "Wicked Cast Lists-Oz Wikia", they have the full cast list on their, including dates for when certain actors started and ended their run.  I've had no problem with the site, but it's not a secure site, so use at your own risk, if you're afraid of viruses.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/26/16 at 9:02am

Ginna Claire Mason and Tess Soltau had never been in Wicked before standing by for Glinda on Broadway.

Derek Klena had never been in Wicked before playing Fiyero on Broadway.
Updated On: 9/26/16 at 09:02 AM

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 9/27/16 at 1:53pm

Thanks guys! This was informative! I had no idea that Michael Campayno and Zach Piser were brand new to the show (meaning hadn't done their roles in another company).

[sorano916]

Posted: 10/1/16 at 4:49am

According to Carrie St. Louis' Twitter, she'll be leaving on October 30th. I wonder if they'll bring in a new-to-the-show actress or bump up anyone from the current Bway or tour.

 

My guess is that they'll bump up Ginna Claire Mason, the current Glinda standby, who was new to the show when she began last November.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/1/16 at 10:00am

Or Amanda from the tour. That seems like the trend they have been following. Bumping the tour Glinda.

[5377brian]

Posted: 10/2/16 at 3:18pm

I hope it's Amanda, I saw her earlier this year on the tour and she was wonderful.   And so sweet at the stage door as well, I hope she gets a chance at the Broadway production