Jennifer DiNoia News

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Des Moines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Des Moines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

BWW reports on Giggin4Good's Christmas charity concert at the Union Theatre, Southwark on Sunday, December 7.

WICKED, the award-winning musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to release the first production pictures (by Matt Crockett) of US star Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba, alongside Savannah Stevenson as Glinda, in the London production of the global musical phenomenon.

X-Factor finalists Lauren Platt and Lola Saunders attended classic musical WICKED at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre to celebrate Halloween on Thursday night.

WICKED, the smash hit musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is proud to announce that Jennifer DiNoia, who has enjoyed a remarkable eight-year association with the show in North America and internationally, will join the West End production for a strictly limited 14 week engagement as Elphaba from tonight 27 October 2014 to Saturday 31 January 2015 at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: ROCK OF AGES and West End's WICKED gain new stars, OH HELL NO! begins off-Broadway, stars gather for a slew of galas and benefits tonight, and Broadway hunk Jeremy Jordan makes his 54 Below debut!

WICKED, the award-winning musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, has released the first pictures of Jennifer DiNoia as she prepares for her West End debut on Monday.

WICKED, the smash hit musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will soon welcome Emma Hatton to the West End cast, according to Whatsonstage. Hatton currently stands by as 'Elphaba,' and will take over the role when Jennifer DiNoia departs the production in February 2015.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Bennett & Gaga's CHEEK TO CHEEK is out today, Harvey Fierstein hosts BROADWAY SALUTES, JERSEY BOYS welcomes back an old friend, PBS salutes Joan Rivers and more!

WICKED, the smash hit musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is proud to announce that Jennifer DiNoia, who has enjoyed a remarkable eight-year association with the show in North America and internationally, will join the West End production for a strictly limited 14 week engagement as Elphaba from Monday 27 October 2014 to Saturday 31 January 2015 at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre.

WICKED pros appear at Broadway Fantasy Camp's All Day Broadway: WICKED. Carla Stickler, currently appearing as 'Elphaba Understudy' in WICKED at The Gershwin Theatre, will meet with Broadway Fantasy Camp participants on Saturday, October 18, 2014 in Manhattan. Joining Stickler is Jennifer DiNoia, who is rejoining the Broadway company as 'Elphaba Standby.' The Musical Director is Jason Yarcho, previous Conductor for the first National Tour of WICKED.

And that concludes another stellar season of Broadway touring shows through Indianapolis. Five exciting, high-energy shows each spent one week in the capital of Indiana, as well as an extended run for a Broadway favorite. Here's a recap of the shows from the 2013/2014 season.

Broadway juggernaut WICKED has landed at San Antonio's Majestic Theatre.

I used to believe the cyclone that dropped Dorothy's house on Munchinkland was a random disaster. Thanks to novelist Gregory Maguire, I now know better. Last night, when Director Joe Mantello brought this splendidly-imagined backstory to life on stage at the Orpheum, it once again brought down the house.

How good is the production of WICKED which is now appearing at the State Theatre? In 2009 when I took my then 14-year old grandson, known as the Kid Reviewer because I take him along to give the teen/tween view of shows, he gave it a 9.5 out of 10 on his 'rate the play scale.' Why only a 9.5? He said he's reserving the 10 for the most unbelievable show he's ever seen. But, he indicated 'WICKED' was GREAT!' Why? 'It had everything. Great story, outstanding production qualities...sets, costumes, lights, special effects. The music and the performances were awesome.' His advice: 'Go see this show! It's appropriate for kids and their parents.'

The old sayings, 'You've got to see it to believe it,' and 'You either get 'IT'or you don't,' are certainly sayings that could be (and probably are) applied to WICKED. With its 10th anniversary this year, and nine current productions performing around the globe, I must say I was completely surprised during intermission. A gentleman sitting in front of me struck up a conversation and nonchalantly stated he had bought the ticket on a whim while in town for business ~ with no clue what the show was about. He had no idea it was in reference to Wizard of Oz and had no anticipation. He was simply ready to enjoy a live theater production and that was what caught his eye online. Wow. The winner of more than 50 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, was unknown to this gentleman. Naturally, I reflected back to my first time of seeing it in Chicago, and the subsequent reviews of 'Wicked' I have written ~ each one a totally different experience and finding different aspects most notable. At my first experience, I was blown away ~ as almost everyone is. The second, I noticed the nods to the book, film and characters. At my third, I noticed, and wrote about, the symbolism transportation played ~ in this review (REVIEW: WICKED 2010). After seeing any show several times, the viewer naturally compares the actors and have those they feel most closely fit the bill, the ones they believe most talented, etc. This production stars Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba and Hayley Podschun as Glinda. If you are a fan of Kristin Chenoweth and, frankly, who isn't? ~ then, you will absolutely adore Podschun. She practically radiates on stage during 'Popular,' drawing ecstatic applause from the engaged audience. Naturally, DiNoia's rendition of the power ballad won thunderous applause. It is definitely one of DiNoia's finer moments in the performance. Her other being the duet, 'What is this Feeling?' with Podschun as the two opposing witches realize how much they loathe each other. The main issue with anyone stepping into the sparkly shoes of Glinda or the work boots of Elphaba in the musical loosely based on Gregory Maguire's novel, is they are attempting to fill seriously talented footsteps. Even those who have not (gasp) seen the musical, have more than likely heard of the Broadway originators of the roles ~ Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel (read review of her solo performance here). And therein lies the problem. Can anyone ever make the role truly their own, while compared to the greats at every turn? Probably not. At least not for another 10 years. It would be equivalent to performing a role so well the audience forgets Judy Garland (The Wizard of Oz), Michael Crawford (Phantom of the Opera), or Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean). Whether a stage or screen production, some performers become the standard for all others after them. A tough act. With that said, it's like being in the top 10 percent of your graduating class. No, you aren't No. 1 or 2, but you're still in the top percentile. Nothing to be upset over. Bottom Line: Whether this is your first, or 15th time, Wicked is a must-see anytime it is in town. Performance Schedule There is no performance on Thanksgiving Day,Thursday, November 28. November 13-17: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Thursday matinee at 2:00 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 19-24: Tuesday -Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 26 - December 1: Monday - Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm. Click here for information on $25 ticket lottery for Wicked in Indianapolis. Images: provided by BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Joan Marcus Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy's Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

The musical that flew back to Des Moines last week needs no introduction. Wicked, The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, cast its spell on Des Moines in two prior engagements and this time around new spectators and Wicked veterans alike will be flocking to see the gravity defying musical.

I was a freshman at Sam Houston State University when I first read Gregory Maguire's riveting and racy novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. That same year, on October 30, 2003 WICKED opened on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre. I was first bewitched by WICKED when the Original Broadway Cast Album was released on December 16, 2003. In October 2005, I saw the miraculous show for the first time when the First National Tour landed in Houston. Now, WICKED is retuning to Houston for the fourth time and the musical's Broadway production will turn 10 years old this year. It is currently the 12th Longest Running Show in Broadway history. WICKED, with its multiple productions all over the world, is a musical phenomenon that enchants audiences everywhere it goes.

The company of the second North American tour of WICKED is thrilled to welcome John Hillner as Dr. Dillamond and Jenny Fellner as Nessarose on Monday, July 1 in Milwaukee, WI and Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible on Wednesday, July 10 in Houston, TX.