I saw Wicked twice (for the first time) in September. I loved JLT! I didn't mind a bit not seeing Miss Chenoweth. From seeing pictures of both of them, I can see that JLT is just right as Galinda. She is beautiful, as tall as Idina, sings like an angel, and her comic timing is perfection. Now I read that many of her wonderful funny moments are things she's added since taking over the part. The hair toss and the wand jokes are great additions to the show. How wonderful that she's made the part her own. Does she still not get applause when she makes her entrance? She deserves the hand that Idina and George Hearn get, and I feel bad that she didn't get it either of the performances I saw. Maybe when word gets out about how good she is??? I adore Idina Menzel. I would have hated to miss her as Elphaba. But I don't mind a bit that I saw JLT as my first Galinda. Hope to see it again next year with Miss Block as the green one.
Luvwicked, I've never posted here before, but I was actually at the same performance as you sitting right in front of James Gandolfini! His son was with him and kept tapping me on the shoulder, so I finally just turned around and saw this adorable little kid sitting on Tony Soprano's lap! Gandolfini actually fell asleep a few times and his son kept waking him up.
I thought the show was amazing! Had never seen it before but listen to the soundtrack compulsively. I thought both female leads were absolutely amazing. My only critique was that I felt Idina's voice kinda overshadowed and overpowered Joey McIntyre (sp?) in "As Long As You're Mine", but that just may be my own bias. We were actually at the stage door as well and talked to Joey for a bit and took a few pics with him, he was very nice. We were leaving just as Idina was coming out and I had heard it wasn't worth staying to try to meet her (kind of in line with your observations). But she was wonderful and seemed to be signing for all the people waiting for her. We also met George Hearn who was with two little boys I assume to be his grandsons?
Anyway, I would love to see your pictures, I'm sure they are wonderful! As I said, I've never posted but thought it was so coincidental I was at the same performance. I have to confess, at the part where Fiyero flies out on the rope, I laughed really loudly (for some reason I found it really funny) and my friend who was sitting like 5 more rows (we got cancellation tix) back claimed she heard "someone laughing obnoxiously at an unfunny part", so I apologize!
"Commit a little mortal sin, its good for the soul"
Guys, I posted my pictures on my fan photos...check them out if you want. Yeah, Joey's a dork with the whole rope thing...he swung out like two feet and almost fell over...it was cute though.
"A little humility wouldn't hurt."
--Ellie, Constantine-Hellblazer, "Dangerous Habits"
NotTheGirl---- your pics are awesome... im insanely jealous of your pic with Idina. That is my dream... to get a pic with her, but everytime ive seen her she's been witha big crowd and doesnt take pics... : ( its very sad.... its ok, JLT is my fav!
Aww! We waited almost 2 hours for her...Joey decided to take a bunch of people backstage. I was one of like two people who asked for a picture--I was really surprised she said yes.
LittleFish--under my fan photos. Go there and look for my sn.
"A little humility wouldn't hurt."
--Ellie, Constantine-Hellblazer, "Dangerous Habits"
I'll be seeing Wicked on Oct. 30th as well with Up In Won Hah!
I've seen Wicked a grand total of 3 times. Twice in less than a 24 hour period. :x I saw Eden in July and was disappointed with not seeing Idina, but thoroughly enjoyed Eden's preformance.(I then saw the 2pm show the next day with Idina). She really gets into Elphaba as a character, and that is just awesome to see. JLT was classic in both shows, and in my very humble opinion, better than Kirstin. However, they each made G(a)linda their own. JLT comedic timing is flawless and she is great at improvising.
Hopefully they will do something special for the 1 year anniversay, and I'm going to try and stagedoor it :P Hopefully Idina will be nice enough to sign my Wicked book that has been signed by the rest of the original (and some of the new) cast. ::crosses fingers::