Posts tagged Ashleigh Gray
Video Footage: Ashleigh Gray performs “Defying Gravity” and “Suddenly Seymour”
0Check out this video of Ashleigh Gray (former s/b Elphaba – West End; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – West End) performing “Defying Gravity” and “Suddenly Seymour” in rehearsal for an event. The video is credited to YouTube user GrayGreeneWebb and is embedded below for your convenience.
Video Footage: Ashleigh Gray performs “The Wizard and I” on Patrick Monahan’s Pick ‘n’ Mix
1Check out this video of Ashleigh Gray (former s/b Elphaba – West End; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – West End) performing “The Wizard and I” on Patrick Monahans Pick ‘n’ Mix, a show created by third year television broadcasting students at the University of Westminster. The video is embedded below for your convenience.
Video Footage: Ashleigh Gray performs “Watch Me Soar”
0Check out this video of Ashleigh Gray (former s/b Elphaba – West End; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – West End) performing Scott Alan’s song “Watch me Soar” from his new album, “What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up”. The song and album can be purchased on iTunes, where Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba – Oberhausen; former Elphaba – Stuttgart) can be heard singing this song. The video here is credited to YouTube user IntervalProductions and is embedded below for your convenience.
Former “Wicked” Stars to Perform Music of Bobby Cronin
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Ashleigh Gray
Four former “Wicked” cast members will be performing the music of Bobby Cronin at a concert in London at the Players Theatre on February 27th. These performers include Ashleigh Gray (former s/b Elphaba, ensemble, u/s Elphaba – West End), Mark Evans (upcoming Fiyero (as of 7th February 2011), former ensemble, u/s Fiyero – West End), Katie Rowley-Jones (former Nessarose – West End), and Jye Frasca (former ensemble, u/s Boq – West End). Also performing will be Hadley Fraser, who has performed in several other West End shows.
For tickets and more information, click here.
This is the same production company that brought Scott Alan’s music to the West End last year with performers Stephanie J. Block (former Elphaba – Broadway, 1st National Tour), Oliver Tompsett (former Fiyero, former ensemble, u/s Fiyero – West End), and Ramin Karimloo (starred in several other West End Shows). As a bonus, they’ve released exclusive clips from last year’s concert, which can be found by visiting our source, BroadwayWorld.
Bean, Dearman, Gray, and Verkaik to appear at ‘Simply the Music of Scott Alan’
0Past and present Wicked cast members Shoshana Bean (former Elphaba – 1NT, Broadway; former s/b Elphaba & u/s Nessarose – Broadway), Louise Dearman (current Glinda – West End), Ashleigh Gray (former s/b Elphaba – West End; former u/s Elphaba – West End), and Willemijn Verkaik (current Elphaba – Oberhausen; former Elphaba – Stuttgart) will be performing at the New Players Theatre, London, honouring the work of composer Scott Alan in a concert entitled ‘Simply the Music of Scott Alan’, on the 26th September, 2010. There will be two performances, at 5pm and 8pm. Also performing are Sierra Boggess, Hadley Fraser, Jodie Jacobs, Norm Lewis, Patina Miller, Stuart Matthew Price, and one special guest still to be announced. Further information and tickets can be found here.
Is It True…?: Wicked West End Casting
3There are quite a few rumors circulating as to the casting of the West End Production of “Wicked” – set to change on 29th March 2010. The rumors (and nothing more – most of this is just heresy):
- All principal cast are set to leave, as well as Ashleigh Grey (Elphaba s/b).
- Sarah Earnshaw (Glinda s/b) will be staying through.
- Most ensemble will be leaving.
- Rachel Tucker will be Elphaba & Louise Dearman will be Glinda (this is VERY strongly rumored).
Let me know (iwevans@bellsouth.net) if you hear anything else plausible! Remember, all of this information is purely RUMOR, hence the “Is It True…?” title.
The Way I See It: The Current Wicked in London Situation
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As I’m sure anyone reading this blog knows, there’s currently a bit of a situation in the West End production of “Wicked.” But let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start…sorry, couldn’t help it!). Flashback to October 11, 2009: the day in which we find out via an interview that Mrs. Stephanie J. Block (former Broadway, 1st National Tour Elphaba) was nearly lined up (and had actually been put in!) to do the West End production of Wicked due to the illness of Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Ashleigh Grey (standby for Elphaba), AND Sabrina Carter (understudy for Elphaba). Thankfully, Shona White (former West End standby for Elphaba) was able to come in and stand by for the role (though she never performed, unfortunately).
So everybody figured it was a rather temporary situation as the regular players for the role of Elphaba recovered: wrong! Now, on November 8, we are still speculating from day to day of who will be playing Elphaba each evening… So now the question becomes: Are we about to see another situation where the role of Elphaba murders somebody’s vocal chords? I hope not, for everyone’s sake.
My firm opinion, caused by many situations of this sort, is that all productions of “Wicked” should resort to an alternate system in which a lead is only expected to do six shows per week. This system has been successfully utilized in Germany since the production began previews on October 31, 2007 and has had Willemijn Verkaik stay healthy in the role of Elphaba since then.
Best wishes to all involved in this situation!
PHOTOS: Top Left – Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba (1st National Tour, Broadway)
Bottom Right – Alexia Khadime as Elphaba (West End Production)