When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?- Page 2
When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
#25re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/5/05 at 10:51pmI do not believe it has been confirmed David is leaving but I agree he should though- I like to see him in a better part. For sure, Shoshana, Michelle Federer (Poor Norbert huh- John and Michelle leaving the same day), and Ben Vereen. Rue keeps talking about extending so who knows.
safety_in_falsehood
Stand-by Joined: 9/15/05
#26re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/5/05 at 11:07pmWow, Michelle is finally leaving? Not that I don't like her, she has just been with the show so long I was beginning to think she would never leave.
#27re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 12:35am
A friend of mine talked to Megan Hilty at the stage door the other day. She told her that Wicked would be opening in London next year, and that Ben would be playing the Wizard. Nothing official... just Megan... who's Glinda... which would make me think that since she's the lead in the show, she should know... but maybe not. 
that's a really big mic...
#28re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:21amRue said unless she was offered a role in a new comedy (her words, not mine) she was going to extend.
#29re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:33am
Julian, just because they are the lead in a show does not mean they have the "in" in future cast and such. Producers have no obligation to inform current cast members about future cast members in productions elsewhere. And most times, they don't.
No offense meant at all, nor did I mean that to sound harsh if it did.
Radioactiveduck
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/05
#30re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:48am
Sorry for offending people about Ben, I haven't seen him, but the people I've talked to generally thought he was terrible.
Thank God for David Ayers going. Him I have seen a bit of, and disliked it quite thuroughly.
I dont think we have anything to fear, we're 1 elphie, 2 galinda's, 2 wizards, and 3 Fiyeros away from the OBC and still going very strong.
FrontRowFirst
Stand-by Joined: 9/6/04
#31re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 10:53amBen was the only actor who made the Wizard's songs at all enjoyable to me. That character for once actually came to life. I was shocked.
greenegirl87
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/11/05
#32re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 10:59ami agree about ben making the wizards song's enjoyable... i wish he was the one singing wonderful on the cast recording... he just fit that song PERFECTLY
"But now the air is filled with confusion. We replace care with illusion."
#33re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 11:46amThat's funny, since of the current cast, Ben is the one person that seems to be getting pretty unanimous rave reviews. The rest of them all have their supporters and detractors.
#34re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:22pm
re: the current cast, does Megan Hilty have her detractors?
I'd heard all the 'wait until after January' due to Bean, and having actually seen the current cast last week there are no words for how completely underwhelmed I was by her, and by the absolute lack of anything resembling chemistry between her Elphaba and Ayers' Fiyero, but I really enjoyed Hilty's Glinda. Sooo disappointed that Ben Vereen was out, though!
For anyone here who has seen both Vereen's and Garrison's Wizards, how would you compare the two?
#35re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 3:44pm
First of all, leaving January 8th (for sure) are Shoshana, Ben, Michelle, and David. Rue might as well. I know she said she wouldn't unless something else was offered, but supposedly she has been "sick" and doesn't feel like she can make it through another contract.
And these rumors of Saycon leaving January are NOT TRUE!! I don't know who is saying this but they aren't. She doesn't know what's going on with the take over thing either. And in regards to the rumors she is leaving to do "Color Purple," she said (this is a quote from a recent email I got:)
"I don't mind the CP questions. Actually I heard about Renee leaving the show, and felt many ways about it. I would love to do that show, the last time I auditioned, I was informed that they were not quite feeling me. Things could change, who knows but as of now I am not involved. That was a tough pill to swallow, but, well, such is life. "
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
safety_in_falsehood
Stand-by Joined: 9/15/05
#36re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 4:01pmOh thank heavens that Saycon isn't leaving! I love her!
#37re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 4:23pmJust because Saycon doesn't know who will be taking over the role doesn't mean it hasnt been decided. The producers have known who will be taking over the role in January for a while.
#38re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 4:23pmI really hope they all give it a little extra something on the 8th, seeing as that's when my tickets are for.
#39re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 6:00pm
just throwing this out there...
i believe that ana's contact in chicago is up in januray (i thought i read that somewhere). i'm just guessing that the producers may want to bring her to broadway for 6 months (probably the longest she would commit to). then who knows. i'm also guessing that kristy cates is long overdue to play the part somewhere!
ps - anyone know if shoshana wants to stay with the show when her contract is up? i think even if she does... maybe the producers are ready for a change.
either way... i'm sure they would love to have eden in any of the three productions.
wonder if stephanie has expressed interest in broadway. hmmm
no matter what januray will be a time of change for all elphaba's
Matty
Understudy Joined: 10/24/05
#40re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 6:11pmim in new york on holiday from london right now, ive seen wicked twice since ive been here. ben told me he is coming to london to do the london production when it opens this spring. i also asked sean about the liza rumours, he just laughed very loudly.
PJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#41re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 6:37pm
Shoshana hasn't really been shy regarding the fact that she's leaving when her contract is up. She's been saying for months that January 8th will be her final performance as Elphaba. So don't look for her to stay on.
And I agree with everyone who said Ben is the best Wizard so far. I've seen him many times, Garrison once, and Grey once. Ben is far and away the most interesting Wizard so far. Seeing Joel Grey live was a treat in it's own right, though.
#42re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 8:23pmonly speculating... but I mean... possibly, if the roducers had talked to Ben, and he told Megan... maybe that's how she found out... who knows... I don't think that Megan would speculate though... or maybe that person just flat out lied... who knows!
that's a really big mic...
#43re: When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?
Posted: 11/6/05 at 10:33pmSo Shoshanna is leaving NY, Ana is leaving Chicago, is Stephanie leaving the tour??? I've just fallen in love with her (well, her work from her website) and was just beginning to get excited about seeing her in March in Cincinnati. So, what gives? Also, is Carole Shelley's return to the tour going to last through the Cinci stop or will Carole Kane be back? I wanna see Kane ("Liar! Liar! I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!"). Anway, as someone who hasn't had the sheer ecstatic joy of seeing WICKED yet, I am very much looking forward to March!!!
<-- Tevye, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, March 2018
