Posted by: Adam
Posted on: Friday, May 12 2006
Producer David Stone introduces the
principal London cast of WICKED.
The final auditions took place at the end of April and we met with some extraordinarily talented people. It was always our best hope that we'd be able to cast the entire production in London, and we were impressed by the exceptional talent brought in for us.
We went into this casting process open-minded but with a thought that, if possible, we would bring Idina Menzel over to recreate her Broadway performance for a limited period - but always with the intention that we'd find a British actress to take on the role straight after. Idina has been such a huge part of the development and success of WICKED for so many years and we wanted to give London theatregoers the opportunity to see her unique and celebrated performance. The London engagement is certain to be the final time that Idina will perform this role, so it's a very special opportunity for all of us to enjoy her powerhouse performance as Elphaba. We thank British Equity for granting us permission to bring Idina Menzel to London.
We are also pleased to thank our Casting Director (Pippa Ailion) for bringing us Kerry Ellis, the sensational performer who will become the first British Elphaba in January. Kerry will act as the 'standby' in the role from the first performance, but then she'll make the role her own.
There has been a great deal of speculation about who would play Glinda in London, with all sorts of names being discussed (and announced!) but none of it was even close to the truth. In one of those great moments that makes the job of being a producer very special, someone completely unknown to us all walked through the audition room door and simply blew us away. Helen Dallimore has never appeared in the West End before, but she found the heart and soul of Glinda from the outset and sang like a dream. It's always exciting to discover new talent, and we feel certain that Helen will make a sensational West End debut in this coveted role.
Adam Garcia worked with us during the workshops for WICKED in New York back in 2002, and we are all delighted that he will now play the role of Fiyero in the city where his stage and television career has flourished for over 10 years.
The wonderful Miriam Margolyes is going to make a funny, and very formidable, Madame Morrible. Miriam has a long history of giving glorious, scene-stealing performances on stage and screen, and we are all honoured to have her as part of the WICKED London company. I first became aware of Nigel Planer in the original cast of Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre where he gave a hugely touching and funny performance as Amos Hart. Nigel began his career in musicals (as the understudy to David Essex in Evita at the Prince Edward Theatre) and has a wonderful singing voice. He surprised and delighted us all with his multi-layered interpretation of The Wizard, which was both poignant and very funny.
When it came to casting the roles of Nessarose, Boq and Doctor Dillamond we all unanimously chose the same three outstanding individuals: Katie Rowley Jones, James Gillan and Martin Ball. Each brought something very special to their character in the audition process.
Annalene Beechey, who has just received rave reviews for her performance as 'Cinderella' in Sondheim's Into The Woods at the Derby Playhouse, will be our Glinda standby.
The WICKED company will also include: Simon Adkins, Paul Ayres, Joseph Connor, Nadine Cox, Sarah Earnshaw, Jye Frasca, Maria Graciano, Nicky Griffiths, Simon Hardwick, Pippa Higgs, Melissa Hunte, Cassidy Janson, Caroline Keiff, Joshua Lacey, Andy Mace, Dominic Shaw, Philippa Stefani, Craig Stein, Oliver Tompsett, Tim Walton and Kerry Washington.
Musical supervisor/director Gareth Valentine has also joined the WICKED creative team. More news in the next issue of Ozmopolitan.
I'd like to thank everyone who came to audition for WICKED. An unprecedented number of people submitted CVs and attended the open dance calls earlier in the year and the final audition process delivered an exceptional level of talent. At the completion of this process, I'm delighted to say that we have secured a truly fantastic company of actors, singers and dancers who are going to make our London premiere production of WICKED really incredible.
Wicked London Cast Announced!, posted by Adam on Friday, May 12 2006 at 11:39:10
Wicked Tour Winds MOST awards!, posted by Adam on Tuesday, May 9 2006 at 16:59:57
Wicked Stars Headline Bway Acoustic Soul Benefit, 5/15, posted by SuperGirl6 on Monday, May 8 2006 at 14:49:25
Kate Reinders Joins Broadway's Wicked as Glinda, May 30, posted by SuperGirl6 on Monday, May 8 2006 at 00:49:24
Kerry Ellis Is Elphaba in London, posted by Adam on Friday, May 5 2006 at 14:54:32
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