Wicked sit-down in L.A. : It's OFFICIAL!- Page 3

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 7:58pm

Yero,

Yes, indeed, Rachel can belt. She's pretty much known for it. I'm surprised you say you haven't heard her belt, especially since you used to have a picture of her as your avatar. What have you seen her in?

Just look at her credits: City of Angels; Les Miz (Fantine); Scarlet Pimpernel; Kiss Me, Kate; Ragtime; DRS. She also got rave reviews for her version of "Maybe This Time" at the Cabaret Festival last year. Variety and the Times both called her the evening's showstopper. The girl has pipes!

Check out the juke box on her Website to hear how versatile she is. There are a couple of songs there that give you an idea of her belt: Tomorrow Is Another Day and Goddess, a pop/rock number that she wrote.

What I love about her voice is that, even when she belts, she doesn't seem to strain like some of the American Idol types of singers. It's not just about volume for her. It's also about character, interpretation and feeling.

I think she'd act the heck out of the role, too. I can just picture how imposing she'd be singing Defying Gravity. Her height would work in her favor there, too.

lc
Rachel York Website

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:46pm

My question is, are they going to copy the tour's production sans the staircase on the side and with the smaller, rope-less dragon, and no big witch hat? I know the show isn't scaled down much for the road, but it seems with the amount of planning time they have for this one they can make the show full size. I do however, prefer the tour's orchestrations to the broadway orchestrations.

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:01pm

Originally posted by BroadwayBaby6:
"Unlike most of you, I am also po'd that the Pantages will not be open for touring shows. The Wilshire theatre, which has terrible accoustics and sightlines), will now host touring productions which would otherwise go to the Pantages. On the positive side, it may persuade the Ahmanson to go back to being a house for touring shows (or pre-broadway shows) rather than producing such dreck as "Dead End" and "Black Rider"."

I totally agree. I am so disappointed with the Ahmanson's 06-07 season and the direction Michael Ritchie is taking it. Bring back the entertaining Broadway musicals!

Back to Wicked--does anyone know if they'll continue the lottery?
Updated On: 7/17/06 at 09:01 PM

[karatekid1]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:33pm

i also would like to know if they will create the broadway set or will they just use the touring set?

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:41pm

Glad it's official It's good for the show and LA.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:34pm

My guess is that LA will look just like Chicago, which means no giant hat, one staircase, etc.

I could be completely wrong, though.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:28pm

lovesclassics:
I've only heard her sing two songs from The Scarlet Pimpernel, but they don't really seem belty to me, probably because I never saw it live.
I haven't heard her do anything from Ragtime Les Mis, or Kiss Me, Kate, so I can't say anything about that.
I absolutely loooooooooooove Rachel York, she is veeeeeery talented and beautiful, I just never really thought of her as a belter. I've scene her live in DRS, and the only time I actually felt she was "belting" was during the last note of "Here I Am".
Maybe my definition of belting is different, I don't know. I certainly am not doubting her abilities, I'm sorry if you thought that way.

P.S.- I don't think the above came out as I would have liked.. I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 11:28 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:46pm

I adore Rachel York. She can do no wrong in my book. She can definitely belt. She can not, however, belt as high as what is required vocally for Elphaba. If she played the role, people on this board would complain that her voice is too legit.

Vocally, she would actually be better as Glinda, believe it or not.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:47pm

I believe she is a Soprano, correct?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:53pm

I agree, Rachel York would be a good addition to the LA company. I hope she auditions. I actually wouldn't mind Kristin to open as Glinda. But, why Pantages? The seats are terribly uncomfortable and the sightline is awful. When they renovated this beautiful historical building, they should have redesigned the seating just like what they did to the Ahmanson. The Ahmanson would have been perfect.
Additional official news on production.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:55pm

She has a great soprano and a killer mix; she's just not the crazy high belter Idina, Eden, Shoshana and even Ana Gasteyer are. She just doesn't have that kind of voice; not for eight performances a week.

Truth be told as spectacular as Julia Murney is, she's having a lot of vocal difficulty with the role; and I think she would be even if she weren't sick (though sickness and vocal strain go hand in hand): I think what producers are finding is that it's one thing to be able to nail Elphaba in the audition room, but another to be able to sing it eight times a week for months on end. I think that is one reason why Eden is so popular with the producers: whatever you think of her voice, she has no problem singing that role.

Updated On: 7/18/06 at 11:55 PM

[Yero]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:55pm

I'd kill to hear Rachel do opera.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:28am

Michael Bennett,

Very interesting stuff. I don't understand the technical aspects of singing, so your insights are much appreciated. I only know what I like to hear, and I do love me some Rachel.

The only Elphabas I've seen are Idina and Victoria Matlock on tour. Sadly, Julia Murney was out the night I went. I really wanted to see her on stage, since I have never had the pleasure. Victoria was excellent, though, and I surprisingly found myself enjoying her performance more than Idina's. I liked her "lighter" voice more than Idina's "rocker" edge. It seemed more expressive while still being powerful. While listening to her I was actually thinking that her voice is similar to Rachel's. I liked her interpretation a lot.

Yero, if you'd like to hear Rachel sing opera, you MUST rent the DVD of Kiss Me, Kate. In the Act I closing title number she sings in an amazing soprano voice that hits the stratosphere. I've read where people describe it as coloratura. It's brilliant.

And don't worry. I know that you weren't doubting her abilities. I was just curious about the shows you've seen since you are such a fan. Feel free to PM me if you want further info on her many cast recordings.

Cheers,

lc

[Yero]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:35am

loveclassics, I'll check and see if I can Netflix it, I'll check if they have it! I'd love to see her in it, I already Netflixed Victor/Victoria and she was fabulous. She stole the show for me.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:39am

Would love to hear your comments after you see it! I'm pretty sure Netflix has it.

lc

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 1:15am

ideal casting (if they recycle to open at least a little)
glinda- cheno
elphaba- ana
morrible- bea arthur
wizard- any huge name of a certain age who can sing well

[got-a-light]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 2:47am

michael bennet... i agree with your earlier comments regarding the vocal demands of performing elphaba and do think that's why producers have looked to eden as their go to girl. i would not be at all surprised if she's the one soaring over the pantages stage come Feb 2007.

Updated On: 7/18/06 at 02:47 AM

[cyril]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 2:09pm

Re: speculation on casting

I'm not in the business but I would suppose you also have to consider the understudies currently working in the three companies: NY, Chicago, Tour, yes? Perhaps one that has particularly caught the attention of the production people or received good reviews. Anyway, it seems to me that they either re-cycle folks who've been in and left or they rotate the current leads, say from Chicago to LA. One of those two possibilities seems the likliest to this amateur. In any case, how'd you like to be financially affiliated with this organization. Between the three current operating companies you're probably seeing $3million+ a week, now add London and LA into the bargain and it's a $200-$250 million dollar a year business. Not bad.

[49th Street]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 3:56pm

Sounds like lovesclassics should be her manager, you would do well...or, are you?

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 4:57pm

Ha! 49th Street, what a compliment!

Nope, not her manager, just a huge, huge fan. Selfishly, I just want to see her in as many shows as I can. So the more popular she becomes, the better shot I have. I'll travel anywhere!



lc

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 6:54pm

It'd be interesting to see Lea Salonga as Elphaba. She is based in California anyway.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 7:14pm

I don't claim to have any "inside" info, but I'd be willing to bet money (for reasons others have already mentioned) that Eden will open this new company.

I also highly doubt that Chenoweth would come back.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:35pm

Looks like we all have heard different stories regarding Eden and "Les Mis." Here's what I was told from someone who works with the production manager for the show:

To make a long story short, Espinosa wanted Eponine but was only considered for Fantine. She auditioned, did well, and was called back a few times. Over the course of the call back process, she was offered "Wicked" in Los Angeles and accepted and removed herself from contention for "Les Mis," saying that she felt it was a wiser career move to re-create a role she's already done in a new company on the West Coast with tons of exposure than play a supporting role in a revival in NY. Only time will tell if she made the right decision...

In regards to the Glinda for Los Angeles, Megan Hilty told people at the tail end of her run that she would be playing the role in LA. It would make sense, considering she recently worked on the West Coast and has expressed interest in doing future projects in the California area.

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 11:35 PM

[anthony41090]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 11:03pm

OK SO i just recieved this email from ozmopolitan news, which is straight from the wicked fan site. It says:

The new production of WICKED is being mounted specifically for Southern California and will feature a new company with many principal roles being cast in Los Angeles. Casting details for the new Los Angeles company of WICKED will be announced at a later date.

So basically, I dont think Eden is going to open the show.

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 11:18pm

Anthony, it says "many principal roles". Not ALL principle roles. So, Glinda and Elphaba could very well be Megan and Eden, or any other performer who's done the role. The principal roles they're talking about could, and very possibly are, referring to Madame Morrible, the Wizard, Fiyero, Nessarose, etc.

Updated On: 7/21/06 at 11:18 PM