Wicked Readies for London...

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 12:52pm

On an English Message (WOS) someone reports that Producers of WICKED have been spotted at The Apollo Victoria and are about to announce an opening for Apollo Victoria for May 2006. Lets hope its true.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 12:56pm

Starring who...any guesses?

Laura Michelle Kelly is supposedly the front runner for Elphaba, if rumor is true.

Doubt Chenoweth will repeat. Maybe Menzel?

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 12:59pm

If Laura Michelle Kelly does i'll be forced to boycott the show forever! She doesn't do a bad job as Mary but i don't rate her that highly and she can't do that role justice! Glinda.. maybe but not Elphaba! I would like to see Joanna Riding as Glinda although she may be a little old now (she don't look it though).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:01pm

They could always do Joanna Riding and Maria Friedman, who are of compatible age. WICKED spans about twenty years (at least the book does) -- the two leads don't have to be 25, they just have to be more or less the same age.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:04pm

Friedman as Glinda?
Riding as Elphaba?

not sure if that would work... i'd pay to hear riding sing the phone book and she'd rule as Glinda! Maria Friedman could play Morrible and i think i'll throw Ruthie in for Elphaba... she's got the personality and the different singing style would be interesting!

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:05pm

Okay, it's nice that more people are going to get to see Wicked, but I mean, COME ON. There are 3 productions going on in the US already. A bit of an overkill.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:08pm

Yeah in the US. This in the UK...

There will also be productions in Germany, Japan, Australia, Mexico...that's what happens when you have a hit musical. Updated On: 7/4/05 at 01:08 PM

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:24pm

But let's be grateful it came to the good old U.S.A. first, eh?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:25pm

The problem this show is going to run into is finding enough leads...those aren't easy shoes to fill.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:30pm

Oh come on Pinguin. All these countries have their own musical theatre stars who have headlined in their productions of CHICAGO, PHANTOM, LES MIZ, etc. There is plenty of talent out there!

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:31pm

Perhaps Originals will reprise?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:32pm

Chenoweth is "booked" solid through 2006. I think she's unlikely unless she did a six week run or something incredibly brief.

[Mythus]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:33pm

Maybe Nathan Lane will open as Elphaba.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:37pm

I'll be in London from January to around late april or early may! I don't think I'll get a chance to see it though! unless I stay longer, which..by then I'll have put myself in debt for the rest of my life so...:)

[Urban]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 2:10pm

Just to sound completely stupid, will there ever be a London Cast Recording?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 2:12pm

Maybe, maybe not. The last few London productions of Broadway shows == MILLIE, THE PRODUCERS, etc. didn't get London cast recordings.
Updated On: 7/4/05 at 02:12 PM

[thespian geek]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:33pm

I doubt it will get a London cast recording since the US cast recording is really current. But I could be wrong.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:41pm

There would probably be a pretty huge market for a London Cast Recording, even in the U.S, a much bigger market than there would would have been for say Millie...

[Justice]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:52pm

Please keep Ruthie Henshall out of it. Personally, I am not a fan of her voice, and think her elphie would sound old. They'd probably have to change the key for her, as well.
Why not revive Linzi Hately's career by putting her as Elphaba. either her or Frances Ruffelle.
As for a recording - if they add new music, or make some changes, most likely there will be a recording. If it remains the same as B'way, it probably won't get recorded.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:59pm

Frances? Please god no. How about Rachel Barrell as Nessa?

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:27pm

That's what I was thinking - Frances Ruffelle could make her "comeback"...

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:36pm

Francess Rufelle and Linzi Hately wouldn't be top of my list if i were casting... they wouldn't even be on it!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 6:05pm

Millie was in London? Must have been a brief run cause I never heard about that.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 6:26pm

About 8 months... Amanda Holden played Millie!

[zoran912]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 6:45pm

She was . . . okay. I really wasn't impressed by the production.