Tag: wicked

My Take on A Rumor Concerning the Wicked Movie (The End of my Hiatus)

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I’m back!!! After a much longer break than I intended, I finally have new content to share. School starting back up combined with my writer’s block kept me away, but I will try and post more often from now on. Anyway, I’ve heard rumors from multiple sources that Ariana Grande is being seriously considered for the role of Elphaba in the Wicked movie adaptation, originally set for release sometime next year. Before I start sharing my thoughts, I would like to acknowledge that yes, I do know that Ari has Broadway training and was in the musical 13 as a teenager. I’ve done my research.

That being said, I just don’t think Elphie is a role she’s fit for. I’m not completely against the idea of her being on Broadway or even in the movie (Nessarose, possibly), but this part is one that someone else should fill the shoes of. The only advantage to having her in it would be mainstream buzz from the non-Broadway crowd, but that could be done if she were in any role. (Again, Nessarose.) Here is a list of underappreciated and talented Broadway actresses who should be casted instead:

  • Hailey Kilgore, known for the revival of Once on This Island, would be a great fit.
  • Talia Suskauer, who recently took on Elphaba in the National Tour.
  • Jessica Vosk, another past Elphaba who was a total fan favorite.
  • Ariana DeBose, whose credits include Hamilton (OBC) and A Bronx Tale (OBC)
  • Maggie McKenna, who recently finished the tour of Dear Evan Hansen as Zoe Murphy and was phenomenal. She’s also a relatively fresh face.
  • Laura Michelle Kelly, a personal favorite of mine for Finding Neverland.
  • Fantasy: Eva Noblezada, even though she says she’ll never leave Hadestown.
  • Jasmine Cephas Jones, original Maria Reynolds in Hamilton.
  • Mandy Gonzalez of In the Heights
  • Ashley Park, known for originating Gretchen in Mean Girls.
  • Kiersey Clemons, Joanne in Rent Live!

And I’m sure I’ll think of more after I publish this. Also for the role of Glinda some Hollywood talent that could still sing the role includes Anna Kendrick or Amanda Seyfried. Other Broadway actresses I would cast as Glinda are Betsy Wolfe, Laura Osnes, and Kara Lindsay (again.) Casting directors, hear my prayer: give Broadway actresses the attention they deserve!!!

Who would you cast in these two leading ladies’ roles? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Friendships in Musicals- Rated out of 10

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First of all, Happy Tony Day! I’m excited to see how this year’s show unfolds. And speaking of “holidays,” yesterday was National Best Friends’ Day, so I thought I would talk about a few of my favorite friendships in musicals and just for fun give them “ratings.” Without further ado, here are the Broadway besties!

Number One: Elphaba and G(a)linda. What better way to start out this list than with maybe the most famous pairing? Elphie and Glinda meet in college, and it’s hate at first sight. For a long time, it’s hard for them to get used to each other, but as the story goes on, they become some of the best friends the world’s ever known. I think people could really learn a lot from their story, so I give them a 10/10.

Number Two: The Schuyler Sisters. Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy are not only a power trio of sisters, but also best friends, especially Angelica and Eliza. They represent ultimate platonic love, particularly when Angelica sacrifices her love for Hamilton so Eliza can be with him. I wish we got more of Peggy’s story, because she was just as much of a queen. 9/10 because we need more Peggy.

Number Three: Evan Hansen and Jared Kleinman. The typical high school boys who spend their free time doing not-typical things. Unless you think backdating emails you wrote claiming to be someone else because you need to prove you were friends with a dead kid you weren’t friends with in the first place is something typical. This friendship goes downhill fast when Evan is consumed by the lie, and Jared walks away from him. 6/10 for toxicity on both parts.

Number Four: Jeremy Heere and Michael Mell. This friendship is one that as soon as you witnessed it, you knew it would last throughout the whole show. Until Jeremy started ignoring Michael to be cooler, which caused Michael to feel hurt and eventually have an anxiety attack at a party. Nonetheless, Michael helps Jeremy out in the end, saving the day. 8/10 because it’s so one-sided. Poor Michael.

Number Five: the Barricade Boys. Barricade Day was just a few days ago, so I had to include them. They are the definition of loyalty- willing to die for each other, and unfortunately, most of them did. They spent all their time together, having as much fun as one could have during the June Rebellion. 10/10 I wish I had a squad like that.

Honorable Mentions: Winnie and Jesse, Tuck Everlasting
the Six, Six
Jack and Crutchie, Newsies
Dmitry and Vlad, Anastasia
The Fates, Hadestown

Who are your favorite Broadway best friends? Let me know!

P.S. I’m seeing Dear Evan Hansen on Friday, so expect a post about it next week!

Unique Things About Couples on Broadway

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Who doesn’t love love? And better yet, love stories? Broadway has some of the best couples, and a lot of them have something incredibly specific about them, which makes the love story even better! (Huge thanks to my good friend Alex who helped me with this!) Everyone says that “every Broadway show is the same- there’s love, music, and dancing.” I’m here to disprove that. (Spoiler warning!)

The first couple that comes to mind is Elphaba and Fiyero, from Wicked, of course. The thing that’s the most unique about them is that they are the underdogs of the love triangle between Glinda, Fiyero, and Elphaba. You expect Glinda to stay with Fiyero, but there’s a complete role reversal and Glinda is singing the same song Elphaba sang earlier on- “I’m Not That Girl.” The other thing that makes their relationship special is that they contrast so much with Fiyero’s relationship with Glinda, which was lighthearted and not serious. THe love between these two, on the other hand, is serious and deeper than the surface.

Another couple that is especially unique is Anya and Dmitry from Anastasia. They start off hating each other, with Anya being annoyed that Dmitry and Vlad are forcing her to play the part of the lost princess. After time, though, Dmitry develops feelings for her and she unknowingly does the same. Soon after, Dmitry helps Anya remember who she is- the lost princess Anastasia herself, and they realize that they have loved each other since they made eye contact when they were kids.

A particularly unusual couple is Evan and Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen. First of all, Zoe has just lost her brother, and is denying that she misses him when their relationship starts. But mostly, the whole relationship is based on LIES! Evan lies about Connor and fabricates this complex friendship that he and Connor didn’t actually ever have. The love story goes on between these two for a much longer time than you would expect, and then the truth comes out. Nonetheless, Evan and Zoe might be the cutest couple on Broadway right now.

Donny Nova and Julia Trojan from Bandstand have their own version of a love triangle, or “love” triangle, I should say. Julia’s brother was Donny’s best friend, and they fought in the war together. Donny made it home, but unfortunately, her brother did not. Donny struggles throughout the show with the guilt from this event, thinking it should’ve been him who died instead. Not-so-coincidentally, Julia joins Donny’s all-veteran band, and they fall in love, and she helps him cope with his thoughts. Unconventional, but beautiful.

Finally, Marius and Cosette in Les Mis. Are they a controversial pairing? Undoubtedly. But do I love them? Also undoubtedly. The first thing that makes them unique is the positve energy they carry into the dark and tragic world they live in. Some argue that Marius should’ve ended up with Eponine, but it wouldn’t be the same story if it weren’t for this perfect match. (Personally, I’m on team Cosette. She deserved a happy adulthood, since her childhood was complicated. What team are you on?)

Of course, musicals also have non-romantic love stories. Examples include love of a best friend, such as Elphaba and Glinda or Winnie and Jesse in Tuck Everlasting (though this is also usually considered romantic). Another common love story is mother and child, like Sophie and Donna in Mamma Mia, Kim and Tam in Miss Saigon, and Valjean and Little Cosette in Les Mis, though their family is not a typical one.

The love stories in musicals are some of the best love stories ever, and these examples prove that NOT ALL OF THE COUPLES ARE THE SAME! What couple is your favorite? Talk about it in the comments, and as always, thanks for reading this far!