When is Ben Vereen scheduled to leave Wicked?

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:35am

Was at Wicked tonight 11/4, and Ben Vereen was out. We got Anthony Galde, who was good, but I REALLY want to see Vereen as The Wizard. Is Ben Vereen still scheduled to be in Wicked after January, when is he scheduled to leave?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:39am

I think he's scheduled to leave in January- the same date as Bean. Someone here said that, though I've seen nothing official.

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:47am

ugh- that's what I feared! Thanks.

[washu2002]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:38am

Does this mean that Saycon will be taking over the role of Elpheba in January?

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:49am

There is much rumor, speculation, innnuendo, and outuendo (get it, Wicked reference) to who will be assuming Elphaba when Sho departs. It'll most liekly be Saycon or Eden Espinosa. I'd personally be fine with either of those girls, because they are powerhouse Elphies.

As for when Ben Vereen leaves, I'll venture to say...not soon enough.

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:59am

Duck- not soon enough- really? is Vereen not good? My favorite wizard by far so far has been David Garrison on the tour, I felt like he really brought an extra *something* to the role that I loved. But I haven't seen Vereen yet, and I just figured he'd be awesome too based on who he is.

[admanrich]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 8:40am

On his website, www.benvereen.com, it shows the dates of him being in Wicked, and the last week is January 1-8, 2006. So unless he extends, which he might if the rumors of Liza replacing Rue are true, he will leave on January 8, 2006 along with Rue and Shoshana.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 8:42am

Don't listen to Radioactiveduck, Ben is the best Wizard ever to grace Wicked.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 8:44am

i agree with you judas..ben vereen is just fun...he has that "legendary" presence and proves himself to be an excellent wizard.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:17am

I thought Ben was far and away the best Wizard...

Saycon won't be replacing Bean- she's leaving the show in January as well.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:26am

Wait...stop....stop.....LIZA AS MORRIBLE!!!!!!!! Please make it true...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 11:16am

The cast after January 8th should be:
Elphaba.........Eden Espinosa
Glinda...........Megan Hilty
Mme. Morrible......Liza Minnelli
The Wizard......Sean McCourt
Fiyero......David Ayers (too bad...he should really leave in Jan. too. He just wasnt cast right)

[PJ]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:24pm

I thought the Liza thing was just a rumor?

And I talked to Eden Espsinosa last week, on Halloween, and she told me that she still doesn't know if she's taking over. Supposedly they've been "in talks" for a while now, but nothing's close to being official.

And I really hope Saycon is leaving in January. Ick.

[hyperchet]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:30pm

Ben is the best Wizard I've seen.
Plus his mockery of himself is fun.
On the line "You've gotta give the people what they want!", he does a little soft tap move that makes everyone laugh.

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:26pm

Thanks for the info/comments you guys!! I really do want to see him as the Wizard still, but I was so hoping I'd be able to catch him without having to see Bean again. Decisions, decisions...

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:32pm

I've seen the three bway wizards and I think Ben is the closest to the real character.

Joel was too nice.

George was too intimidating.

Ben was at a sympatico.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:45pm

I think it was determinded that Liza was simply a rumor. She has dates scheduled that would make it difficult to do the show. And surely they would have to add an additional song for her. I can't wait to see the new January line-up. I have tickets Feb. 4th.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 2:54pm

Was that Liza rumor ever mentioned beyond that strange post in her fan club forum?

I wonder if this ever even was a possibilty...

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 5:09pm

Aww I am sad that Saycon is leaving, she was really good when I saw her. Eden is also great as Elphaba, although in my opinion most are better than Sho.

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 6:24pm

Forget Ben, when the hell does David Ayers leave?

[MissNY]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 6:58pm

David is leaving on January 8th as well

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:15pm

Thank God for small favors. His departure can't come soon enough.

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 8:10pm

Wow almost everyone who is leaving a Broadway show is leaving on my dad's birthday. Now I know what to get him..

Can anyone clear this up for me, I didn't wanna make a thread and I just wanna know..which cast is Adam Fleming in? He is listed as being Boq's understudy on both the Chicago and New York sites. I mean Adam is good, but not good enough to be in two places at once...

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:40pm

Adam's listed on playbill.com's cast list for the Broadway company.

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:57pm

Thanks you, little_sally!