Jesus Christ Superstar

Broadway

Neil Simon Theatre

March 31, 2012 matinee

Currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre is the 2012 revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock opera which depicts the final week of Jesus Christ’s life through the unique perspective of Judas Iscariot. Completely sung-through, Jesus Christ Superstar is a modern interpretation of the crucifixion boasting a powerful score with a 1970‘s “feel”. As rumors of a possible July 1st closing date surface, I’d like to briefly remind theatre-goers of all the wonderful aspects of this production, which opened on March 22, 2012. 

At the heart of this production is its powerful score, which demands the incredible vocal talent and range of Paul Nolan (Jesus) and Jeremy Kushnier (u/s Judas). If you want to be impressed by amazing vocals, look no further than these two talented men. 

Paul Nolan was perfectly cast as Jesus Christ. He portrayed Jesus with more intensity and uncertainty than I had expected, with a sense of calm and thoughtfulness that alternated with torture and conflict. When he was on stage, I temporarily believed that he was Jesus Christ. Why didn’t he receive a Tony nomination????

Jeremy Kushnier did a wonderful job of portraying the jealousy and conflict within Judas, and dare I say, made him more human to the audience. Between his stellar acting and insanely incredible vocals, I would have to say that Jeremy Kushnier is one of the best understudies I’ve ever seen perform. 

Chilina Kennedy was a quiet but strong presence on the stage as Mary Magdalene. Her sweet and simple voice was ideal for the 1970’s folk style songs, “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”. I thought there was great emotional chemistry between her character and Paul Nolan’s Jesus. 

And while the score is generally upbeat and even comical at times (most notably in “King Herod’s Song” sung by the very funny Bruce Dow), the production succeeds at portraying the emotional gravity of the story.  During the crucifixion scene, the sniffling of a tearful audience could be heard throughout the theatre. At the conclusion of the show, audience members leapt to their feet, cheering “Bravo”, and giving a standing ovation.  

Jesus Christ Superstar is a must-see for all theatre fans. Get your tickets now! 

Kristin Chenoweth on Tour

Boston Opera House

6/8/12

Last Friday night, I was very fortunate to see the incomparable Kristin Chenoweth perform at the Boston Opera House as part of her new 19-city concert tour, which will end on June 24th in her hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, this concert is more than a program of songs; rather, it is a two act show supported by the talents of three back-up singers: Chelsea Packard, Tyler Hanes, and Will Taylor. 

The Boston audience LOVED her from the minute she walked on stage with her Dunkin Donuts cup, truly in the spirit of New England. Instead of performing the expected roster of song choices, her song selection encompassed a broader range of musical styles and genres than the audience may have anticipated. In a sense, Kristin shared a different side of herself than simply that of her characters in Wicked and Glee. Don’t worry, she still sang Wicked and Glee... but she also sang a whole lot more including, opera, country, and Broadway, which showcased the broad range of talents she possesses. 

Kristin sang several songs previously unknown to me that I came to love after her performance. One such song was “My Coloring Book” for its clever and metaphorical lyrics. After some research, I discovered this was one of the first songs that Kander and Ebb wrote together.  


Here is a clip of Barbra Streisand's recording of "My Coloring Book". 

Kristin made her myriad of Wicked fans very happy by singing two selections from the popular musical (no pun intended). Kristin Chenoweth has probably sung “Popular” thousands of times by now, and as I sat in the Boston Opera House, I wondered if she is at all..... sick of it?  Well, one way to give the song some variety would be to sing it in a different language... which she did.  And she did it pretty impressively too.  All I can say is, Kristin’s performance of “Popular” on tour is my all time favorite performance of “Popular” ever. Hysterical. 

And if you know all the lyrics to “For Good”, you may get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to take the stage with Kristin Chenoweth and sing Elphaba’s part. 

Other favorite performances included: “I Will Always Love You” country style, “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret and Glee, and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from Phantom of the Opera. The end of the first act culminated with her rendition of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, which was beautiful. She also sang several great songs from her newest album, “Some Lessons Learned”.  


   

As I left the Boston Opera House last Friday night, it occurred to me that Kristin Chenoweth is not hugely successful solely because of her vocal talent and comedic timing, but also because she is true to her unique self both as a performer and a person. She is a one-of-a-kind talent. If you want to be entertained, check out her concert tour before June 24th! 


         

Tony Awards Highlights- Best Tony Moments 2012

1.) Best surprise win: Michael McGrath, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, for Nice Work If You Can Get It 
While most of the speculation in this category surrounded Michael Cerveris and the Porgy and Bess men, no one expected that the comedic butler/bootlegger from Nice Work If You Can Get It would bring a Tony Award home! With that said, McGrath’s comical performance alone is worth the ticket price and his Tony Award is well-deserved simply for his genius comedic timing. 


 2.) Best presenter(s): Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin 
Who didn’t say, “awwww”, when the former Evita co-stars took the stage to announce in song the best revival of a musical? Charming. 


 3.) Best Dress: Celia Keenan-Bolger 
What I love about Celia’s beautiful, gold Monique Lhuillier dress is that it’s true to the color theme of her show. The set of Peter and the Starcatcher boasts a unique gold proscenium decorated with numerous gold objects such as forks, potato mashers, and garden tools... just to name a few. While her dress luckily didn’t have common household items sewn to it, the colors and embellished gold fabric are reminiscent of the show’s creativity! I don’t know if Celia did this purposely... but I liked it! 

4.) Best Performance: Leap of Faith 
After closing prematurely on May 13th, you have to give the cast of Leap of Faith credit for performing at the Tony Awards and killing it. Led by Raul Esparza, this energetic, upbeat, feel-good show had a lot to offer on Broadway and deserved a longer run. Well, now America can see what they’re missing.... and maybe this performance will pave the way for a tour in the future. 


 5.) Best Tony Speech: Steve Kazee, Best Leading Actor in a Musical, Once 
As Steve tearfully remembered his late mother, there was not a dry eye at any Tony Party. Everything about his speech- from his acknowledgement of his cast-mates and leading lady to his Arthur O’Shaughnessy quote to his remembrance of his mother to his sense of gratitude- was heartfelt and authentic. And it helps that he is SO deserving of this Tony Award. And the perfect end to his speech was Cristin Milioti giving him a standing ovation... 

In a close second is Audra McDonald, who told her daughter that, while tonight is a very special night, the best night of her life would always be the night she was born.

Tips for Throwing a Tony Awards Party

Last year, I threw my first annual Tony Awards Party. It was a big hit among my theatre-loving friends, theatre-liking friends, and even my don’t-care-about-Broadway-but-came-to-support-me friends. As I write this blog, I am actively planning my second Tony Awards Party with the hope that it will be just as successful as last year’s event! 

This blog is directed at anyone who may be thinking about throwing a Tony-themed Party or anyone who is looking for new ideas to “spice up” their yearly Tony celebration.  Happy Planning! 

1.) GAMES

Because I have the guests arrive two hours before the Tony’s, there is plenty of time for games.  Last year, I compiled a list of “Tony trivia”, which included 25 questions about the Tony Awards, new or currently running musicals and plays, and Broadway “people” (actors, composer/lyricists, directors, choreographers, etc). I created most of the trivia questions myself, but the Tony Awards website offers many trivia questions specific to the history of the Tony Awards, so that is an excellent resource as well. 

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/history/facts/index.html

We also played a game of “Tony quotes”. I created a list of about 20-25 quotes from popular Broadway showtunes and the guests must determine which musical the quote originated from. The guest who achieves the most correct answers on trivia and quotes is given a prize (more on prizes below). 

Here is an example of a trivia question and a quote. 

Which actress has played Elphaba (Wicked) in more performances than any other actress? 

“I’m as corny as Kansas in August...” 

2.) DECORATIONS

Decorations are really a matter of preference. I like to keep the lights low and decorate my living room with white Christmas lights. I also like hanging black and silver balloons around my living room. This year, I’m going to frame Broadway and New York-related photos and playbills from the Tony-nominated shows and hang them around my living room to set the mood. 

3.) FOOD

I know some theatre fans like to serve Broadway-themed food. For example, serving French food for Les Miserables or corned beef and cabbage for Once or Southern food for Memphis. I have no culinary ability, so I do not do this. Plus, I know too many picky eaters. However, I do ensure that there is plenty of food to be enjoyed. I tend to stick with pizza, sandwiches, vegetables and dip, chips and dip, fresh fruit, and a punch bowl. This year, I will be serving Broadway-themed cupcakes that will be decorated with candies relevant to this year’s Tony-nominated shows. For example, some cupcakes will be decorated with a candy guitar to represent Once or a candy star for Peter and the Starcatcher, etc. 

4.) MUSIC

Until the Tony Awards begin, I have Broadway music playing in the background. I compile a playlist of songs in iTunes from ONLY the Tony-nominated shows and put it on shuffle, which usually gets everyone in Broadway mode (if they’re not already!). The only downfall to this is that some of the Tony-nominated shows have not yet recorded a cast recording by the time of the Tony Awards and so some shows are left out of my mix. 

5.) COSTUMES

Oh, did I forget to mention?  My Tony Awards Party is also a costume party!  My guests are required to dress up as a character from a Broadway musical or play (the show does not have to be running on Broadway currently). Last year, my guests included: the Phantom of the Opera, Elphaba from Wicked, Diana and Dan Goodman from Next to Normal, and Extraordinary Girl from American Idiot. During commercial break, I have the guests vote for best costume and the winner gets a prize! 

6.) RED CARPET

Last year, I was checking out decorations at iParty and I came across a mock “red carpet”. I loved the idea of the guests walking up the red carpet to get to the party and so I bought it. The red carpet was a lot of fun. I placed it in my front yard, making a path from the road to the front door, and everyone had the chance to walk on the red carpet in full costume while we took pictures. It also entertained my neighbors who drove by my house to see a green witch, a phantom, and a red carpet among other things.  Very fun. 

7.) BALLOTS

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/2012_Printable_Ballot.pdf

On the Tony Awards website, there is a printable ballot.  I print this out and take it to FedEx to have copies printed on cardstock. Cardstock makes it a little more durable in case some of the die-hard theatre fans want to save it.  Before the Tony Awards begin, everyone fills out the ballot based on who they think will win.  The guest who correctly guesses the most winners gets a prize.  

8.) PRIZES

Since a Tony Awards party can become expensive, I don’t go crazy with prizes. Between the two games, the costume contest, and the ballots, I need four prizes, but last year there was a tie for the costume contest and the trivia game, so it’s a good idea to have extra prizes on hand.  The cost per prize is usually less than $5. Some examples are: Times Square themed playing cards, Broadway-themed wall calendar, Broadway-themed bookmark, NYC-themed stationery, Broadway-themed key chains or magnets, home-made fudge, and hand soap. I try to have a couple of non-Broadway-themed items available since some guests are not die-hard Broadway fans. 

I hope this is helpful! What are your ideas???? 

GHOST

Broadway, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

May 18, 2012

Synopsis: Based on the 1990 movie, Ghost is the story of Sam and Molly, two star-crossed lovers who are mugged one night, leaving Sam murdered and caught between this world and the next. When he realizes that Molly is in danger, he enlists the help of the very unwilling Oda Mae Brown, a psychic of questionable abilities, to communicate with Molly. 

Sidenote: I have never seen the movie, Ghost. 

Comments: As the overture begins, the New York skyline is projected onto a large screen on the stage and the audience has the “3-Dimensional” experience of “flying” over NYC. Immediately, the audience feels as though they are about to witness something out-of-this-world. It’s magical.

I loved Ghost because of its relatability. But what could be relatable about a ghost caught between two worlds?? Well, one special thing about Ghost is that it’s a drama, a comedy, a romance, and a mystery- there is something in it for everyone to enjoy. The story takes the audience on an emotional journey as they laugh, smile, and cry over the course of two and a half hours. As most of us have lost a loved one suddenly, the audience undoubtedly identifies with Molly’s grief and sheds tears for her loss. Not all musical theatre characters are able to sustain this kind of connection with the audience. Lastly, Ghost gives us the universal messages of hope, living each day to the fullest, and doing the right thing, messages that we all need to hear from time to time. 

The heart of the show lies with Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman, who are reprising their roles from the West End production of Ghost. As Sam and Molly, the two actors have wonderful (emotional and romantic) chemistry together. I loved Caissie Levy as Molly. She has a beautiful, crystal-clear voice and her performance was very authentic and heartfelt. Aside from being easy on the eyes, Richard Fleeshman is endearing as Molly’s ill-fated boyfriend, Sam, and he too has a wonderful voice. 

The comedic relief of the show is provided by Tony nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Oda Mae Brown. After seeing her performance, I now understand the Tony nomination!  She was hysterical.  Let me put it this way- when she is on stage, there is very little time when the audience is NOT laughing.  

Three days after I saw the show, I bought the cast recording.  With music and lyrics written by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, the score captures the emotional gravity of the story while also lightening the burden with more upbeat, comical songs. 

Ghost received Tony nominations for Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design, which are well-deserved. The special effects and illusions were just amazing to see live on stage: objects moving in mid air, “ghosts” walking through doors, and the instant, seamless separation of spirit and body into two entities. The set gives the impression of being on another plane. The sets, lighting, and illusions were just magical.  This is not something that you will see on Broadway every day. 

The Verdict: I strongly recommend that everyone go see Ghost on Broadway. 

Buy the cast recording. 

Tony Snubs!

Tony Awards night is rapidly approaching!  Are there any shows or actors that you feel should have been nominated but were not?  Tony nominations would not be complete without a few “snubs”! 

1.) Melissa van der Schyff as Blanche Barrow in the ill-fated new musical, Bonnie and Clyde. Her strong, emotional portrayal of Clyde’s God-fearing sister-in-law should have earned her a nomination for best featured actress in a musical. While the Tony committee may have forgotten about her heartfelt, comedic performance, I have not, and I hope you haven’t either! 

2.) Bonnie and Clyde for best new musical. Please refer to my blog entry from 1/22/12. http://standingovationsbroadwayblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bonnie-clyde-broadway-schoenfeld.html 

Original, memorable, and witty, Bonnie and Clyde had everything you could want in a musical- beautiful music by Frank Wildhorn, a smart story-line, action-packed drama, and a talented group of Broadway actors- but this didn’t prevent the show from closing early due to poor ticket sales. 

I am happy that Bonnie and Clyde was not entirely forgotten- it did receive two nominations- one for best score (completely deserved) and another for best actress in a musical (Laura Osnes as Bonnie, also completely deserved). 

3.) Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar.  Come on, he rocks the Neil Simon Theatre eight times per week as Jesus Christ, the ULTIMATE mammoth role, AND he does it really well. A Tony-nomination for best leading actor in a musical would have been well-deserved. 

4.) Bernadette Peters as Sally Durant Plummer in Follies. She has seven Tony nominations, two Tony Awards, and she will be receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Award at this year’s Tony Awards ceremony, but it doesn’t make this snub any less sad.  Only Bernadette Peters can find the emotional depth of an unstable character and have a nervous breakdown while singing a song like “Losing My Mind”. That’s all I have to say about that.  

5.) Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightingale in Leap of Faith. This man did not stop dancing, singing, or preaching during this two and a half hour musical.  ENERGY. He’s got it.  But it didn’t earn him a Tony nod.  

6.) Adam Chanler-Berat as Boy in Peter and the Starcatcher.  We all loved Adam Chanler-Berat in Next to Normal and the off-Broadway revival of Rent, but he really shows off his acting chops as Boy in Peter and the Starcatcher. This may be his best performance yet!  

7.) Elena Roger as Eva Peron in Evita.  Born in Argentina, there is something very authentic about this actress’ performance as the powerful, though unfortunate, first lady of Argentina. This omission is just a shame. 

Bring It On: The Musical

National Tour

Providence Performing Arts Center

April 24, 2012

Background: Rounding up the season at the Providence Performing Arts Center is Bring It On: The Musical. Likely viewed as the underdog in a season that included Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, and The Addams Family, there were many preconceptions about the show that bypassed Broadway to become a national tour. Viewers have termed the show “predictable”, “cheesy”, “for teeny-boppers”, and “wasted talent”, despite a creative team that boasts credits which include the Tony award winning musical, In the Heights, and the Tony award winning and Pulitzer prize winning musical, Next to Normal. 

Synopsis: Campbell, a popular cheerleader, is about to start her senior year of high school, and as captain of her cheerleading squad, she dreams of taking the team to “Nationals”.  Her plans are destroyed when a seemingly sweet sophomore cheerleader named Eva overtakes the squad by having Campbell transferred to Jackson High School which, to Campbell’s dismay, does not have a cheerleading squad. At the multicultural Jackson High, Campbell finds herself in the minority for the first time, but sets out to start a new cheerleading squad and fulfill her dream of going to nationals. 

Comments: If you are planning to see Bring It On, I would recommend forgetting what you’ve heard or what you think you know about the show, and enter the theatre with a clean slate.  Bring It On was not at all what I expected. The rap-infused, R&B score screams Lin Manuel Miranda- this is not a bad thing- and leaves you humming some of the more memorable melodies as you leave the theatre. The choreography included three extensive cheer routines that were quite impressive and obviously very different from what you typically see in the theatre. Seeing the actors perform flips in mid-air does put you at the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the choreography the most. The story-line was predictable, but embellished with enjoyable songs and dance/cheer numbers.  What I liked about the story-line is that it didn’t copy the movies’. It was a new story that preserved the same themes as in the movies: high school rivalry, interracial friction, and teamwork to name a few. 

Taylor Louderman and Adrienne Warren played rivals Campbell and Danielle respectively and I thought they had great chemistry together.  I especially liked Adrienne Warren’s voice and I immediately thought that she would make a great Felicia in Memphis!  Ryann Redmond as Bridget, the unpopular, dorky, perpetual school mascot turned cheerleader, probably steals the show.  She nailed all of her lines and had the audience cracking up and rooting for her character. I really enjoyed her performance of “Ain’t No Thing” in particular. Kate Rockwell and Janet Krupin as Skylar and Kylar, Campbell’s shallow cheerleading friends, were also very funny. Elle McLemore as Eva played evil very well. Another strong voice was that of Jason Gotay who played Randall. 

The Verdict: while Bring It On isn’t likely to win any Tony Awards, it is a fun night at the theatre. If you want to see some great cheerleading stunts, listen to some catchy music by the very talented Lin Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, and have some laughs, check out Bring It On at PPAC through 4/28/12!  Or check out the recently released music sampler which contains three songs from the show- "It's All Happening", "Ain't No Thing", and "Enjoy the Trip". 

Chicago

Broadway, Ambassador Theatre

March 24, 2012, matinee performance

Background: I don’t know why it has taken me so long to see the 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago! It’s only been running for 16 years! Having seen and enjoyed the movie version (and knowing that the live show is almost always better than the movie), I have been meaning to see Chicago on Broadway for some time. My opportunity came this past December when my father asked for Chicago tickets for Christmas.  And so a father-daughter trip to NYC was planned for March 24th to see Chicago on Broadway.  

Synopsis: Chicago, the 4th longest running Broadway musical, chronicles the intertwined stories of Roxie Hart, an adulterous murderess, and Velma Kelly, a vaudeville performer turned murderess, as they await trial on death row. Both women become instant celebrities in the media due to their “crimes of passion”, and set out to use this newfound celebrity to their advantage. Set in 1920‘s Chicago, the show pokes fun at a corrupt criminal justice system that glamorizes murder and crime.  

Comments: After finally seeing the Broadway production of Chicago, I now understand why it’s the longest running Broadway revival! As the orchestra begins the familiar first notes of the opening number, “All That Jazz”,  the audience is immediately transported to 1920’s Chicago where crime, passion, and corruption abound.  The show is a triple threat in itself with great vaudeville music by Kander and Ebb, smart, sexy choreography, and a clever, entertaining storyline!  

While the entire cast was excellent, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma and Bianca Marroquin as Roxie gave standout performances and had great chemistry together as the two murderesses vying for the spotlight.  I remember not liking the character of Roxie when I saw the movie version a few years ago, but Bianca Marroquin’s portrayal of Roxie is actually quite charming, and I couldn’t dislike the character this time!  She did a lot of little things to make the character more funny- mannerisms, accents, facial expressions, etc. and brought out the more childish side of the character. I thought she was a great actress and I would see her again in any show. 

I think everyone who sees Chicago looks forward to Mama Morton’s number, “When You’re Good To Mama” and Carol Woods did not disappoint.  She can really SING. All I can say is WOW.  Another great performance was Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart. His performance of “Mister Cellophane” was heartbreaking. Poor Amos. 

I loved that the orchestra was on the stage and I thought the conductor’s involvement in the storyline was creative as well.  

Favorite numbers included: “All That Jazz” (it pulls you right into the story and sets the mood for the show), “Cell Block Tango” (very funny and very entertaining), “When You’re Good To Mama” (as already stated, Carol Woods can sing), “We Both Reached for the Gun” (love the “puppet”), “Roxie” (especially her long monologue leading up to the song), and “Mister Cellophane” (again, poor Amos). 

The Verdict (no pun intended): If you’re in NYC and can’t decide which show to see, Chicago is a sure thing. Check out Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre!  

Broadway Video, Spring 2012

GUEST BLOGGER- Wicked London

Apollo Victoria Theatre

1/27/12

My name is Heather, and I have been given the pleasure of being asked to write about a special vacation(that had theatre involved in it!) that I was able to go on recently.

My brother had given my mom a trip to London (and Paris!) for Christmas. They asked if I wanted to come along. Well, who would say no to that! I managed to get time off from work and off we went!

One of the things we planned was to take in one of the fabulous London West End theatre productions. We decided Wicked was the Winner!

We had looked into several deals and offers, including dinner and a ticket for 65 pounds, but nothing worked out. We left for London without tickets. On January 27, 2012, the day we were looking for tickets for the show, we went to a travel agency who claimed the best they could offer us was 72 pounds--a person. I had the idea of trying to rush the show, so we headed over to the beautiful Apollo Victoria Theatre. Luck was on our side, as we were able to score tickets in the orchestra seats, or "stalls," as they called them…..for THIRTY TWO pounds each!! That was a steal! We were 12 rows from the front! Excited, we headed out to explore the rest of London before the 7:00 evening performance.

We arrive at the theatre early, and it is already swarming with people!! They don't line up neatly on the streets like in NYC, they just kind of go in through any open door. Once they scan your ticket and point you in the direction you need, you are left to your own devices. No one takes your ticket and leads you to your seat. You are expected to find your seat yourself. Another thing they do, is not give you a Playbill. It took me until intermission to realize you had to buy the Playbill. It comes in what we know as a program, and they charge 7 pounds for it. Of course, I bought one, so it's an ingenious way to make a few extra bucks.  Hope they don't decide to adopt that policy in America, though! Getting a Playbill(for free!) is sometimes the perfect souvenir from a memorable show! Also, in America, ushers tend to monitor the audience a bit closer, being spread around the theatre. There were hardly any ushers to be found in London.  The last thing that I noticed as a difference, the day after the show I decided I wanted a Wicked charm bracelet from the Theatre, so I walked back to the theatre and told one of the ticket scanners I was just buying a bracelet. He let me through the doors without a second thought! I don't think that would have happened in America. If you don't have a ticket, you don't get into the theatre. Now, I am not the kind of person who would see a show dishonestly and sneakily, but I am sure other people are!

Now it is time for the show!

Cast:

Glinda-Gina Beck

Witch's Father: Kieran Brown

Witch's Mother: Bonnie Parker

Midwife: Aileen Donohoe

Elphaba: Rachel Tucker

Nessarose: Lillie Flynn

Boq-Adam Pettigrew

Madame Morrible: Julie Legrand

Doctor Dillamond: Christopher Howell

Fiyero: Matt Willis

Wizard: Desmond Barrit

Chistery: Paulo Teixeira

I don't think I need a synopsis, as this is a well-known and loved show, but summing it up quickly, this is the story of Glinda and Elphaba(aka the Wicked Witch of the West) in college, where they develop an unusual friendship.  In other words, a prequel to the well known and well loved Wizard of Oz.

The show begins, and we have a perfect view! I have only seen Wicked on tour, and this performance made me fall in love with Wicked all over again! There were much more special effects, and more of the Time Dragon Clock! The Time Dragon Clock was different from the Time Dragon Clock I have seen on tour and at the Gershwin Theatre in NYC(I have done a Behind the Emerald Curtain tour at the Gershwin).  The costumes seemed to be more elaborate in London, as well.  I was very impressed with the sets, props, and costumes.

The theatre itself was an older theatre, but very well maintained. It was immaculate. The seats were a bit worn but comfortable! But my favorite thing was of course, the talent of the cast!

Elphaba was played by the AMAZING Rachel Tucker! She was a powerhouse! Her vocal ability was simply amazing! Gina Beck, as Glinda, had a wonderful voice, too! They blended very well together on the harmonies. They had a real stage presence and fed off each other impeccably. Matt Willis played the adorably charming Fiyero, the handsome, rebellious schoolboy that both Elphaba and Glinda have set their sights on, was perfectly cast for the role. His voice was fantastic! Julie Legrand was fantastic as Madame Morrible, with the perfect amount of evil. Desmond Barrit had a lovely voice, and was a fantastic Wizard! As far as Lillie Flynn and Adam Pettigrew, they were an excellent casting for Nessarose and Boq. The whole show was outstanding, with no glitches and a sparkling, flawless performance. I was very pleased, and felt very fortunate to be able to snag tickets(for much cheaper than I would have in NYC without winning lottery!) to this performance of Wicked! Especially since shortly after I got tickets, the show sold out!

I also noticed the cast has performed a lot in different shows, but almost everyone had exclusively performed in England. I think if they came to shows in America, people would love any of them. I know I would go to see them, and enjoy any performance I was able to see them in!

Their English accents were also nice to hear during the show. I get so used to American actors, and it was pretty neat to hear the British during this show.

I did not stage door after this production. I was not sure if that was a custom in London.

In conclusion, if you are ever in London, DO NOT miss the opportunity to take in a West End production! I know you would not be disappointed, and the ticket prices are pretty reasonable!