Lindsay Mendez leaving Wicked ?

[RW3]

I've heard January 24th. Has anyone heard anything else?

[Liza's Headband]

Leaving for what??? Not sure why she would leave such a secure job.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

I was told the 24th is the day her replacement begins, but I'm not Lindsay nor do I work at a Wicked, so it may be a miscommunication, but I heard her last day is the 19th.

I'm not a huge Wicked fan, but I thought Lindsay played the role very well.

[girlonbroadway]

I heard that Lindsay and Alli are both leaving in February, but no one knows until she makes an announcement on Twitter or Wicked releases one on here.

[justincharacter]

Any inside information on the replacements?

[disneybroadwayfan22]

I hope it's a new person. I'm tired of the producers, always recycling people.

[justincharacter]

I bet Gina Beck will be Mauzey's replacement. Gina is on tour now just to get used to the US audiences for a couple of weeks, then Kara Lindsay will replace her after Gina transfers over to the Broadway production. That's what seems to be happening and it makes sense, but I'm not for sure.

[VotePeron]

Im really sad to see Lindsay go...it is too soon! Why is she leaving so soon? Ugh

[steven22]

Carla Stickler she be bumped up to lead. I know she's been with WICKED for a few years on and off, but girl can sing.

[justincharacter]

Either they bring someone new in, or it's Christine Dwyer being promoted to lead.

[Visceral_Fella]

@Liza's Headband The Broadway production doesn't let people stay for long periods of time. People have stayed on tour and in the sit down productions for years, and years, but the Broadway production won't house an actress for more than 9-15 months. Not sure why that is, but that's the pattern.

I hope Alison Luff comes over she's the best Elphaba I've ever seen. She's incredibly strong in the role. If that happens I would want Allison and Alli to overlap for a bit because that would be a Wicked dream team for me. That'd probably be my favorite time seeing the show.

Unfortunately I can't say that I'm not happy that Lindsay's Wicked time is coming to an end.

[Liza's Headband]

@Liza's Headband The Broadway production doesn't let people stay for long periods of time. People have stayed on tour and in the sit down productions for years, and years, but the Broadway production won't house an actress for more than 9-15 months. Not sure why that is, but that's the pattern. "

Is that really true, though? Who else has been keeping track? It just seems so incredibly odd to me how they rotate them out so frequently on Broadway. What's the point? Is it their way of holding onto all of the other leading ladies on tour? A tit-for-tat kind of arrangement. Maybe it's how they are able to get such stellar NY talent to tour the country. Maybe they're then guaranteed a stint on Broadway.

I don't know. I don't follow WICKED and it's horrendous carousel of Glindas and Elphabas. But it does fascinate me, if only because I don't know why the producers do it...

[steven22]

Heather Spore and some other ensemble members of the broaday company have been there for years and years already!

[basketcase]

Ensemble and principal contracts work differently. It's much more at the discretion of the ensemble actor whether or not they want to stay with the show, whereas it's much more up to the production whether or not they offer to extend a principal's contract. As a Wicked ensemble member once explained to me, barring any major objections from the production, his contract basically rolled over every 6 months or so unless he decided he wanted to leave.

[steven22]

Wasn't Jake Burns playing Elphaba on broadway for over a year?

[basketcase]

She was, but she was obviously asked to extend and accepted. The typical Elphaba contract on Broadway seems to be about 9-12 months. The role is very physically taxing, and many women may choose not to extend even if offered, so that they can give their voice a break. Lindsay is extremely talented and could definitely have something else in the works if she isn't extending, or maybe she just wants a break, or maybe the producers want to bring in someone else. She's had a great run, it doesn't seem that strange to me that she would be leaving soon.

[wicked4l]

The Elphaba has already done the role. That's all I know from a source in the show.

[RW3]

^UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[justincharacter]

I tell you, WICKED is like a clique.

They don't want anyone new in it...

[RW3]

^An international clique

[fingerlakessinger]

I've heard Danna Paola is coming up to do it.

[getatme]

Kara Lindsay is going on the second national tour, not the first.

Put me in the camp that would love to see Alison Luff come to broadway. I saw her on for Caissie Levy and Ghost and was blown way by her, I traveled to Boston to see her Elphaba and thought she was just incredible. Her voice, her acting, everything.

[blaxx]

I wonder if the Mexican production would let Danna Paola leave so soon.

[Younger Brother]

Unless it's Mamie Parris, no former Elphaba will have me interested. Why not someone new? I can think of loads of women who could play the role: Marla Mindelle, Shayna Steele (who apparently auditioned without even getting a callback so..unlikely), Lena Hall, Krystal Joy Brown..so many who have the potential to be really great, not to mention..fresh!

[justincharacter]

@blaxx The producers offered her to transfer since opening night. So I wouldn't doubt it if she decides to depart to do it on Broadway so soon.


@Younger Let's not forget Sasha Allen!