BWW Interviews: Kerry Ellis Talks WICKED And Her New Album!

Hi Kerry! Welcome to BWW:UK.

Thank you! How are you?

We're good - but more importantly how are you?

It's all a bit crazy! But it's good to be busy.

Well, you're very busy - back in Wicked and you have a new album out as well as gigs coming up. When did they approach you about taking over as Elphaba again?

It was literally ten days before I went back in. I got a call, and then it was over 24 hours, because of the situation with Willemijn [Verkaik, whose injury forced her to cut her run short]. She really wanted to finish her contract out and it was only two and a half months before the [scheduled] cast change, but it was getting too much for her - the pain was getting quite severe so it all had to be done very quickly, so from getting the call to being on stage was about ten days, with four days of rehearsal.

Did you have muscle memory, remembering where you needed to be standing?

Yeah, not initially! They sent the script out to me again before I did the rehearsals, and that was quite odd, because it was almost like I'd never done the show, I didn't remember anything! When I got on the stage, suddenly my memory kicked in and it all came flooding back. Now it just feels like I never left!

Is it strange getting to know a new Glinda so quickly?

Because I did it with the original company in London, then went to Broadway, then came back, I have worked with several Glindas, so it was just another nice new part of the show; to get used to somebody else made it more interesting for me.

And now, be honest, Kerry - you've got things to do at home, but you've got your album, and you've got your gigs, did you ever think, "No, I don't fancy going back to play Elphie again as well"?

I didn't think about it too much! When I had my baby, I didn't know how it would affect me, whether I'd want to go straight back to work or not, and I've been really fortunate I'm doing both. He comes with me a lot to various gigs and tours. I get to spend more time with him than most working mums, probably, because of our hours - I get all day with him during show-days.

Tell us a bit about the album.

I've been signing tons of them for the pre-orders! That comes out on September 14th. I did a show at the Palladium last year, just a one-off night, and afterwards people asked if it had been recorded, and I hadn't even thought about it. So then I realised it was a perfect opportunity to record the show - and that was it!

I'm really proud of it. It's the first album I've done by myself. Obviously Brian [May]'s produced my other albums, so this is the first time I've ventured out alone. I felt that I was ready - Brian's been such a great mentor over the past three albums, I learnt so much. We'll be doing some more shows and going back into the studio - there'll be more from us.

And will your gigs be drawing on material from the album?

Yes. It'll be a smaller-scale version of the Palladium show, with some different things, and changes from venue to venue, just to keep things fresh.

Will these smaller gigs be your focus after you finish your run in Wicked, or can we expect to see you in the West End again soon?

I don't know. I'd love to do another West End show. A lot of it is opportunity and what's available.

Anything you've got your eye on?

Not right this minute, but I'd love to do something new. It's great to be around the original creativity, so for me that'd be exciting. Who knows - if it comes up, great!

Kerry Ellis is playing Elphaba in Wicked. Her self-titled album is released on September 14th, and she will be performing around the country from September 27th.

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