Follow Us On Twitter
Chicago's resident company of the blockbuster musical Wicked is booking tickets well into 2006, but look for a few changes over at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre. Both Ana Gasteyer (Elphaba) and Kate Reinders (Glinda) will be exiting the Stephen Schwartz hit when their contracts end in late January. According to a production source, they will be replaced by their respective understudies: Gasteyer by Kristy Cates and Reinders by Stacie Morgain Lewis.
There is no shortage of talent in this highly touted sit-down company. Chicago favorites Gene Weygandt and Rondi Reed continue in their respective roles as the Wizard and Madame Morrible. Familiar faces Heidi Kettenring and Jeff Dumas are also seen in featured roles. Although no official news has been issued, it is possible that Kettenring could move up to one of the leads. Ms. Kettenring has been acclaimed in Chicago productions of The Pajama Game and Funny Girl, among others.
Ana Gasteyer is wasting no time shedding her green makeup, as the Northwestern grad and Saturday Night Live veteran will jet to New York for a new adaptation of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera, where she will play Mrs. Peachum. Performances of Wallace Shawn's new adaptation begin March 24 under the direction of Scott Elliott. The cast also includes Edie Falco and Alan Cumming. Isaac Mizrahi is slated to design the costumes.
Her replacement Kristy Cates has played Elphaba on Broadway and in Toronto. Her credits include the original Broadway cast of Wicked, Boobs! the Musical Off-Broadway, and Regional productions of jon and jen, Into the Woods, as well as productions at the Muny, the Lucille Lortell, and the Eugene O'Neill Conference.
Wicked lost the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical to Avenue Q, but has lost none of its box office luster. The national touring company opened in Chicago in May, 2005 and then took to the road again while a separate Chicago company was formed in July. Although a performance on December 8 was cancelled due to a power outage, a special added Sunday performance sold out in a matter of hours, based mostly on word of mouth.
The success of Wicked has not only been felt in New York and Chicago, but wherever the National Tour visits. Several cities have instituted special "lottery" style tickets the day of performances to appease audience demand. Avenue Q, meanwhile, has announced no Chicago or regional dates, as an exclusive Las Vegas booking has tied up the rights for an indefinite period.
-Joe Stead