Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Happy 10th Anniversary WICKED!

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It opened to mixed reviews, and contrary to popular belief, it didn't start out is a blockbuster sell out show, either.  And it didn't win the Best Musical Tony.  But 10 years ago today, on October 30, 2003, Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre.  Broadway hasn't been the same since. 

It has done, arguably, what no American musical has done since A Chorus Line.  Wicked is ingrained into American popular culture.  Even people who have never seen it have heard of it.  And talk about rabid fans!  There are many people who have seen hundreds of performances.  Many who have seen every Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero who ever played Broadway, plus their understudies, swings and stand-bys.  And there are fans who have seen every major opening of every National Tour and foreign company.

As of tonight, Wicked has played 4,158 performances, and is the 11th longest-running show in Broadway history.

To celebrate 10 years of this cultural phenomenon, here are 10 each of the many fine people to have played Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero.  (And before you Oz-crazed fans write in, I know they didn't all play Broadway, and they aren't in any order.) I picked the originals, the ones I've seen on Broadway and on tour, and others that have gone on to make a name for themselves!


TEN GLINDAS, ELPHABAS AND FIYEROS



THE ORIGINALS
(KRISTIN CHENOWETH, IDINA MENZEL, NORBERT LEO BUTZ)

9 MORE GLINDAS

JENNIFER LAURA THOMPSON AND MEGAN HILTY

KENDRA KASSEBAUM AND ALLI MAUZY

KATIE ROSE CLARKE AND ANNALEIGH ASHFORD

KATE REINDERS

CHANDRA LEE SCHWARTZ

JENNIFER GAMBATESE

9 MORE ELPHABAS

STEPHANIE J. BLOCK AND MAMIE PARRIS

MANDY GONZALEZ AND JACKIE BURNS

EDEN ESPINOSA AND SHOSHANA BEAN

ANA GASTYER AND JULIA MURNEY

LINDSAY MENDEZ

9 MORE FIYEROS

SEBASTIAN ARCELUS AND KRISTOFFER CUSICK

ANDY KARL AND TAYE DIGGS

KYLE DEAN MASSEY

AARON TVEIT AND BILLY HARRIGAN TIGHE

COLIN DONNELL AND DEREK KLENA


Jeff
5.040 









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