Interview: From Oz to Oz, An Interview with WICKED Tour's Isabel Keating

WICKED is flying into Orlando this week and those familiar with the story know that it's a story about friendship, acceptance, and connection. I had the opportunity to chat with Drama Desk winner and Tony Award nominee Isabel Keating, who is currently playing Madame Morrible on the WICKED tour. From the moment we began talking, I felt a radiating kinship that made me think twice about Madame Morrible as the "bad guy" of the show.

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, the last time Isabel visited Orlando was a family road-trip long before her amazing stage career. Keating got her start in regional theater before moving to New York. In 2004, Keating won accolades for her role as Judy Garland in THE BOY FROM OZ. I recalled seeing the show around that time and joked that I probably saw her on stage, to which she replied, "You probably did see me. I never missed a show." I was speechless. Regardless of profession, perfect attendance is a lofty aspiration.

"We knew it was finite," she recalled. "So it was an extraordinary experience. And Hugh [Jackman] was an X-Men. He could do anything. By the end of the run, he was performing with an injured ankle and you wouldn't have known the difference."

What we see on stage is just a fraction of what goes on behind the scenes to keep a show running smoothly. "[Performing] is a very athletic event. What we do is athletic," she says. "As productions have changed, it makes it much harder for a performer to do eight shows a week. You really have to take care of your instrument." It is not uncommon for shows now to have alternates in roles that are demanding. WICKED is no exception, with an alternate Elphaba in each company.

Keating's other Broadway credits include ENCHANTED APRIL, HAIRSPRAY, and more recently SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK. While many performers get their professional start on national tours, the WICKED national tour is her first. Keating joined the tour in November 2016. After her run in THE LITTLE FOXES in Washington, D.C., she flew to meet the tour and immediately started rehearsals.

"Rehearsals are a bit of a tight rope walk," she describes. It's learning choreography on stage and off stage, including costume changes, getting out of the way of scenery, all while the show is performing 8 nights a week.

"With replacing and especially on tour, with little rehearsal time, I felt like I was hopping onto a moving train. In some ways you try to clone it to keep the train running. You do your best to slip in and keep telling the story. Over a period of time, I could feel myself breathing."

"I came in with my ideas and backstory for Morrible, but you also are trying to fulfill the demands of the director. The team gave me the freedom to do what I do and now that I'm six weeks into it, I can be my own Madame Morrible. You take the ghosts of those who have created the role, jiggle it and put it through your own instrument. It's great and challenging and exciting process."

"In this case, I have an amazing company that is my safety net. As actors what you do is in the moment. You want to live on the precipice, so you're telling the story as it is happening. Subtle changes moment to moment, night to night really keep it fresh. You also get so much energy from the audience."

As this is her first time touring, I asked if she's enjoying herself as I couldn't imagine being away for so long. "In Michigan, I was able to see my sister, who I haven't seen in years. I cooked Thanksgiving dinner and we laughed all day long. For Christmas and New Year's we were performing, so my husband came to visit me for the holidays."

Aside from Madame Morrible, Keating finds herself relating to Elphaba. "There is an inextricable synergy between Elphaba and Madame Morrible," she describes. "Elphaba is the realization of [Madame Morrible's] own past dreams. I see such talent from her and see talent that I haven't realized in myself."

As I was researching all the work Keating has done in her career, I noticed a link to a Pulse victim's fundraiser on her homepage. It stood out to me, because as far as I knew Keating did not have any specific ties to the event. "There are commonalities between the LGBTQ community and the theater," she explained. "WICKED really points out acceptance, empathy, and growth through learning surprising things about assumptions that one makes."

I mentioned that while Orlando is strong, it is a city that is still healing with each passing day. For people like myself, the theater is a safe place to experience a different perspective. "To bring joy is my utmost goal and aspiration in every performance," she says. "But especially this one for this city. It's important that we acknowledge those kinds of events and we also do what we can to bring joy and healing to the community. The only way that I know how, is through my work. So I'm really, really glad that we'll be [in Orlando] and people will be able to see the story between two great friends and the magic of friendship."

I asked Isabel if she had any advice for young actors, but found that her advice applies to us all: "It's always good to do something that scares you," she says. "It pushes your envelope."

As for acting: "I say go for it. Go after your dream. I can't tell you how many young people I meet who are overwhelmed by the story and the magic of theater." Keating advises interested performers to talk to as many people as possible on both the technical and the performing side. She advises young performers to get involved with community theater and summer stock.

"I think it's a beautiful dream to pursue," she says. "Definitely train, whether it's formal or informal. As I've said before, it's an athletic event. And see as much theater as you can. Be curious, ask questions, see art, make art. If possible, try to do a backstage tour just to see what you can. Pay attention to everything back behind the curtain." The cast of WICKED will be raising money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS during its run here and one of the donation options will be accompanied with a backstage tour. Be on the lookout for that opportunity.

"If you have a talent for writing, write. We need more playwrights." Aside from being a working actress, Keating is also working on playwriting. We bonded over the craft of writing. "Sometimes you have to put it aside," she says. "I continue to write. I'm fortunate that my significant other is a brilliant musician, who inspires me. You never know what will resonate. Someone can be inspired by your views."

In looking back at her career, Keating's trip to Oz in WICKED brings her full circle. "There I was with THE BOY FROM OZ and my daughter was Stephanie J. Block as Liza. Stephanie played Elphaba in the table read and the first national tour. Now joining WICKED, made me feel full circle back to Oz. It's rare to be in a show with such longevity and so beloved."

Don't miss your chance to catch Isabel Keating in WICKED at the Dr. Phillips Center from January 11 - January 29th. Though the weekends look sold out online, there are some seats still available on weekday evenings especially in the second and third week. There is also a lottery during each performance of WICKED. For tickets and more information visit https://www.drphillipscenter.org/shows-and-events/Shows-Events/broadway/201303-wicked.stml

Photo credits: Isabel Keating headshot from IsabelKeating.com; Drama Desk Award Coverage via BroadwayWorld Photo Archive; Tour Production Photo by Joan Marcus.