Idina Menzel worried she would be fired from Wicked?- Page 2

[Hannahbelle]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:25pm

I saw Idina's last real performance (the one where she broke her rib and had to leave in an ambulance) and Shoshana Bean took over for her. I also saw Wicked the October before Idina left the show and Shoshana was on for her.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:52pm

To correct a couple of things...

Stephanie J. Block was the understudy for Elphaba during the San Francisco tryout (and appeared in the ensemble). She opted not to come to Broadway (because she got Boy From Oz), but later opened the national tour and subsequently went to Broadway. She went on once in San Francisco.

Eden Espinosa stood by for both Elphaba and Nessarose, joining the cast shortly after the NY opening, along with Laura Bell Bundy who stood by for Glinda. During previews there were no standbys, only understudies. The Glinda understudy, Melisa Bell Chait, actually had to go on several times in previews, when Chenoweth injured her neck. Chait later suffered a stroke, unfortunately, though I believe she eventually recovered.

Espinosa left the company in the fall to open Brooklyn and was replaced by Shoshana Bean, who was the last person to stand by for both Elphaba and Nessarose on Broadway.

Bean ultimately became the first Broadway replacement for Elphaba

[mikem]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 12:57am

It's interesting (and logical) that Glinda would be conceived as being supporting, but, seeing the show pre-Tonys, Chenoweth made so much more of an impact than Menzel that they both seemed like leads. Glinda opens and closes the show, and she goes through a much larger change over the course of the show than Elphaba (also, Glinda's arc is better dramatized IMO). And Chenoweth was really, really hilarious. I saw the show again post-Tonys, and I thought Menzel had really come into her own, while Chenoweth was much more schtick-y than she had been. But the first time, it was all about Kristin.

I've always thought that Menzel was lucky that Chenoweth decided to leave the show a month after the Tonys, and that was announced during the voting period. If Chenoweth hadn't been leaving, I think Chenoweth would have gotten some of Menzel's votes and Menzel might not have won.

[noisefunk2]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 1:05am

finebydesign - You think things were icy between Menzel and Chenoweth? I find that hard to believe given the numerous videos of them together. For example, Kristin's last performance where they could barely get through every scene without crying.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 1:40am

That's one of those years where I'm split my heart gives the Tony to Idina but my head gives it to Tonya Pinkins.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 3:22am

1. Adamgreer is correct in his timeline of Elphabas and stand-bys.
2. Noisefunk, it is WELL documented and diplayed that Menzel and Chenoweth do not care for each other. A Broadway.com video from opening night comes to mind where Chenoweth, in polite Southern Belle fashion states "We are VERY.. different.. people off-stage. But we are on-stage, we are TOGETHER." I think that accounts for distaste / dislike for one another and a commitment to the show and their on-stage relationship. I've seen many 'final performances' of performers where I was well aware that two actors dislike each other, but still get emotional that final day. It is still losing a member of the show family.
3. If anyone here remembers ANYTHING about Menzel's voice 6 months into the run, you'd agree that a fear of being replaced was legitimate. Her voice was failing. She was no longer belting. She was yelling. There was no pitch, no tone, just screams. Sometimes even THAT failed her.
3. Bean, whether you care for her not, only grew vocally stronger as her run progressed. Quite remarkable if you ask me.
4. Wicked in San Fran was a VERY different beast than what debuted at the Gershwin. Can't forget that. replacements should have been no shock. Neither should the expansion of Glinda within the show, given how audiences took to Chenoweth's clowning, which not only lost honesty and character as HER run progressed, but further diminished as every subsequent actress has been forced to at least SOMEWHAT replicate Chenoweth's desperate begging for applause.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:00am

4. It wasn't THAT different. The first time I saw Wicked on Broadway after seeing it pre-Broadway, I was surprised at what WASN'T cut/changed that I thought should've been.

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:21am

Even if Cheno and Menzel don't particularly get along, they have been very professional about it. I am sure there was some tension between them, but I feel like fans and the media exaggerated it. Crazy fans tend to make up things to stroke their obsession. Besides, even if they don't particularly care for each other: Who the hell cares. They still turned in wonderful performances every night and had great chemistry on stage. That is what matters in the end.

[landryjames2]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 11:06am

I saw Idina three times in Wicked, and she was spot on each time with dynamically terrific vocals and was absolutely fantastic overall. I saw Shoshana once, and without saying anything explicitly negative--the experience was very different to me to say the least.

I have seen Wicked a few times since Chenoweth and Menzel, and no pairing has come even somewhat close (for me) in chemistry or magic despite what may or may not have been happening backstage.

[east side story]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 1:23pm

I'm sure Idina felt more love from her producers after Chenoweth scooted out, and she got a raise to the tune of 50k a week.

[Becky]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 11:53pm

It's a competitive business - and just because we may think an actor/actress is talented doesn't mean their job is always secure. Idina's fears are a reality for them (no matter who you are). For her to voice it makes sense to me.

As far as Idina and Kristin getting along or not...People have been blowing this out of proportion for years. It gets really old, and it's evident how much people hold them to higher standards than "regular" people. I work with people I love one day and strongly dislike another - even people I consider friends and love. When you work in a stressful situation alongside anyone, people are bound to get irritated and have issues with each other. Find me a workplace where people (even friends) never have issues. It's not real life.

As much as people want to think their Broadway icons have idealistic (and unrealistic) perfect relationships/friendships? It's not practical. Doesn't make it a rivalry or anything more.

Updated On: 10/19/13 at 11:53 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:24am

Actually, going off of their tweets, I'd say they were quite excited to be able to do this together.