Why make the Elphabas go on 8 times a week?

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:34am

Anyone think that is a bit strange?



Updated On: 4/19/13 at 11:34 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:36am

Because its their job.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:45am

Basically

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:53am

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:55am

Yeah but it's such a vocally challenging score..You would think their voices would be dead by the saturday Matinee. Also OT: Why does everyone lose their sh#t when elphaba says the line "We can't all come and go by bubble"? I mean yeah it's a funny but is it really that funny?

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:57am

Yeah but it's such a vocally challenging score..You would think their voices would be dead by the saturday Matinee.

Ethel Merman is rolling over in her grave. Followed by a whole lotta expletives.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 11:57am

The Elphaba's what?

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:00pm

"The Elphaba's what?"

HA!

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:00pm

Elphaba's hat. Duh.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:02pm

Why does Evita or f'ing Christine Daae have an alternate but Elphaba doesn't? I think it's a fair point.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:03pm

Okay so do you guys think its alright for the actresses playing Evita to go on 6 times a week? I mean, Where is that line?

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:09pm

To be fair, Evita and Christine Daae are in musicals that are more sung-through.

If Wicked closes, then Elphaba will go on 0 times a week. So, that could work.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:14pm

Wynbish, I can't believe you're hoping that WICKED closes!

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:15pm

The actresses who agree to the role know what they're getting into.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:28pm

Yeah But aren't alot of Christine's songs voice overed? Aren't their only a few chrsitines who actually sang the last few notes of "Phantom of the opera"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:45pm

You'll should file a claim against the show with the Better Business Bureau.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 12:59pm

Clyde, am I bovvered?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:19pm

The reason is clearly explained here.

[Tsao5]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:19pm

A little confused why ANYBODY needs to NOT go on 8 times a week (unless they are a kid as in Billy Elliot or Matilda or have a pre-existing commitment).

This is their job. This is what they are paid for-they have a responsibility to those who cast them, to their co-workers and to the paying audiences to give the best performance they can.

Barring seasonal flu or injury, an 8-performace schedule used to be and should be the norm.

Those who are lucky enough to be cast in high profile roles such as Elphaba know that they need to be vocally ready for this kind of role-and it is presumed by the casting team that they are...............; if one is professional (union/non-union does not matter) but has a professional attitude and a professional sense of responsibly they can do 8 shows a week...........

I am a bit surprised that because there is a challenging song or two for most of us (though I would think not for the actress cast) that that deems one not able to do a this 8 times a week.

The only case that I would agree is IF the singers do not have a huge amount of experience-the original Kim's in London (Lea Solanga/Monique Wilson) were really young for example.

Now, while some have alternates because the actor simply was able to put in his contract for whatever reason-(religious, Dudu Fischer in Les Mis when he was Valjean for example) or they have a certain concert schedule/tv schedule they knew of before that is ok.

But, there are so many roles (that in their own ways are vocally challenging not just because of riffing high notes) that could but don't have alternates-Valjean comes to mind and Max in the Producers and Mamma Rose come to mind.

I ALWAYS thought it odd that Christine in Phantom has an alternate when it is not a secret that she does not even sing the high note in Think of Me while Charlotta who does not have any canned music does not have an alternate.

Anthony Newley never had an alternate in Roar of the Grease Paint..........
Stephanie Mills did not have an alternate in the WIz.........................................
Colm Wilkinson did not have an alternate in Les Miz............................................
Chita Rivera did not have an alternate in Spider Woman (and she was in her 60's!! (I think)............................................
Mandy Patinkin did not have an alternate as Che in Evita...........
Michael Crawford did not have an alternate in Phantom.................

Some actors WANT to only do 6 shows a week, which, hey, if they get that in their contract good for them. I knew one who simply wanted to spend more time with their family, and because this person was really wanted, got it.

But getting back to Elphaba.......................alternate not needed (maybe a good vocal coach.......and throat coat :)

[Starship]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:39pm

In my opinion, I think it's one of those situations where the actor at that point of their career has had enough experience to give them the strength (per say) to perform the show 8 times a week. Even though the role of Elphaba seems difficult to you and me, in my opinion, I feel that it wouldn't be as bad to that performer than it would to you and me. I'm sure at first Elphabas have to get used to the schedule and figure out how to keep their bodies and vocals intact and healthy, but after a little while, I'm sure it starts getting much better.

And for those of you who say it's the performer's "job" and that is how they do it 8 times a week, I agree but at the same time just because it's a job doesn't make it any less difficult. Just because you go to your job for 10 hours a day doesn't make it any less difficult just because it's your job. I think it's the training, experience, and endurance that a person has that allows them to perform ANY role 8 times a week (Eva, The Phantom, Elphaba, Dorothy, etc.).

Updated On: 4/19/13 at 01:39 PM

[Nerwen]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:23pm

In Germany and Holland the actress playing Elphaba had only 6 shows a week. The other two shows always made the alternate. That´s the reason Willemijn needed getting used to it. In Europe they obviously care more for the voices of their actors/actresses.

[Belle9]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:45pm

Wait....Christine doesn't sing the high note in Think of Me? I knew about the high note in Phantom of the Opera, which is totally understandable. But Think of Me is a B flat....really easy to hit for any soprano.

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 4:22pm

Every Christine I've seen has hit the B flat in Think of Me. That is not a very hard note-and it's well supported by the notes around it.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 5:13pm

I know that when I went to London to see "Evita", I was very upset to find that Elena Roger did not perform any matinee shows. The understudy was perfectly serviceable, but I would have preferred to have seen Roger. From what I understand about anyone that plays Elphaba, they must remain on total vocal rest until show time. Ana Gasteyer (the first Elphaba in Chicago) said that even being in the theatre where "Wicked" was playing caused her many problems with her allergies because of all of the dust and the dryness of the inside of the theatre.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 4/19/13 at 5:15pm

I mean...she only has three strenuous songs....and TWAI is only belted the last thirty seconds.