Posts tagged Carmen Cusack
Nessa’s Niblets: October 30, 2012
0- Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1st Ntl. Tour; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney, Chicago) & Donna Vivino (s/b Elphaba – Broadway; former Elphaba, former s/b Elphaba – 1st Ntl. Tour) have both appeared as Rizzo in productions of GREASE. In the production where Ms. Vivino played Rizzo, Kristine Reese (former Nessarose – 2nd Ntl. Tour, 1st Ntl. Tour; former swing, u/s Nessarose – 1st Ntl. Tour) and Kristy Cates (former Elphaba, former s/b Elphaba–Chicago; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba–Broadway) also performed.
- Deedee Magno Hall (former Nessarose – San Francisco, 1st Ntl. Tour) and Cliffton Hall (former Fiyero – 1st Ntl. Tour), who are married and performed together as Nessarose and Fiyero, respectively, met while touring internationally with MISS SAIGON.
- Marcie Dodd (former Elphaba – San Francisco, 2nd Ntl, Tour, Broadway; s/b Elphaba – Los Angeles; principal Nessarose & u/s Elphaba – Los Angeles; ensemble, u/s Elphaba – 1st Ntl. Tour) is the only women who has played both Elphaba and Nessarose full time.
Media: Cusack & Kettenring In SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
0Check out these photos and videos of Carmen Cusack (former s/b Elphaba – Sydney, Chicago; former Elphaba – 1st Ntl. Tour) and Heidi Kettenring (former Nessarose – Chicago) in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Ms. Cusack is playing Dot/Marie, while Ms. Kettenring plays Frieda/Mrs./Elaine. The production runs until November 4 in Chicago, Illinois. For tickets, visit www.chicagoshakes.com.
Click here to see photos from the production.
Watch video highlights from the production below. Both videos were posted by YouTube user chicagoshakes2009.
Cusack and Kettenring Cast In Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
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- Carmen Cusack
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- Heidi Kettenring
Carmen Cusack (former s/b Elphaba – Sydney, Chicago; former Elphaba – 1st Ntl. Tour) and Heidi Kettenring (former Nessarose – Chicago) have been cast in the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s upcoming fall production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Ms. Cuasck will play Dot, French impressionist George Seurat’s muse, in Act One. In Act TWo, she will play Marie, George’s grandmother. Ms. Kettenring will play Mrs./Frieda. The production will play at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier from September 26-November 4, 2012. For tickets and more information, please visit www.chicagoshakes.com.
Nessa’s Niblets: June 13, 2012
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Jane Brockman
Jane Brockman (Midwife, u/s Madame Morrible – 2NT) played “Glinda” in Northern Stage’s production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Clifton Davis (Dr. Dillamond – 1NT) wrote several hits for The Jackson 5 including ”Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Lookin’ Through the Windows”.
Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1NT; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago, Melbourne) and Jeanna de Waal (upcoming Glinda – 2NT) both starred in the Off-Broadway revival of CARRIE. Ms. Cusack played the role of “Miss Gardner” and Ms. de Waal played the role of “Chris Hargensen”.
Nessa’s Niblets: May 8, 2012
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Clive Carter
Clive Carter (former Wizard – West End) originated the role of “The Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince” in the original London production of INTO THE WOODS.
Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1NT; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago, Melbourne) was one of the performers hand-picked by producer Cameron Mackintosh to play a main role in the Shanghai, China engagement of LES MISERABLES. This engagement was the first time a Western musical production visited China. Ms. Cusack reprised the role of “Fantine”, a role which she had played on the West End and the UK Tour. She has since reprised the role again on the West End.
Kerry Ellis (former Elphaba – West End, Broadway; former s/b Elphaba – Original West End Cast) and Nigel Planer (Wizard – Original West End Cast) both starred in the original West End production of WE WILL ROCK YOU. Ms. Ellis played the role of “Meat” and Mr. Planer played the role of “Pop”.
Performer News: Cusack, Hilty & Reiber
0Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1NT; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago, Melbourne) is currently playing the role of gym teacher “Lynn Gardner” in MCC Theater’s Off-Broadway Revival of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL. For tickets, and more information, please visit www.mcctheater.org.
Megan Hilty (former Glinda – Los Angeles, 1NT, Broadway; former s/b Glinda – Broadway) will star as “Lorelei Lee” in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES at City Center Encores! The production runs from May 9-13, 2012. For tickets and more information, please visit www.nycitycenter.org.
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Julie Reiber
Julie Reiber (former s/b Elphaba – Broadway, Los Angeles) joins the Broadway production of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, on February 6, 2012, in the role of “Marion”. For tickets, and more information, please visit www.priscillaonbroadway.com.
Source
Nessa’s Niblets: May 18, 2011
0I apologize for being a day late.
Mandy Gonzalez (former Elphaba – Broadway) was the standby for Idina Menzel (original Elphaba – Broadway, London) in the role of Amneris in Aida on Broadway.
Ben Vereen (former Wizard- Broadway) and Gene Weygandt (former Wizard – Chicago, 1NT) switched productions for one week in 2005. Mr. Vereen temporarily joined the Chicago production and Mr. Weygandt temporarily joined the Broadway production.
Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1NT; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago, Melbourne) and Jennifer Dinoia (current s/b Elphaba – Broadway; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago, Sydney; former u/s Elphaba – Chicago) were both flown to Australia at different times to be a temporary Elphaba standby.
Nessa’s Niblets: March 15, 2011
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Carmen Cusack
- Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1st National Tour; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago) has had extensive theatre careers in both the United States and in England. In the United States, in addition to her past experiences in “Wicked”, she is currently portraying Nellie Forbush in “South Pacific”, and in the past, she has portrayed some roles at a regional theatre in Houston, Texas. In the West End, she performed as Fantine in “Les Misérables” and was the alternate for Christine in the National Tour of “Phantom of the Opera”.
- Megan Sikora (former ensemble, u/s Glinda, Nessarose – Chicago, Broadway) covered the roles of Glinda & Nessarose in the Broadway production, but she was flown out to the Chicago production for several months to cover Glinda after Erin Mackey (former Glinda – Broadway, Los Angeles, Chicago; former ensemble, u/s Glinda – Chicago; former swing – 1st National Tour) was promoted and Christina DeCicco (former Glinda – 1st National Tour) ended up taking over the 1st National Tour instead of taking Mackey’s spot.
- Sabrina Weckerlin (former alternate Elphaba – Stuttgart, Oberhausen) performed in the “Best of Musicals” tour prior to being in “Wicked”, playing Glinda in the section with “Defying Gravity”.
Nessa’s Niblets: February 8, 2011
2We apologize for this post being late – conflicts arose on both of us who were intending to do it!
- Amanda Flynn (former ensemble, u/s Glinda – Los Angeles) is the only American understudy for Glinda who never performed the role; Elinor Collett (former ensemble, u/s Glinda – West End) and Pippa Lloyd (former ensemble, u/s Glinda – West End) are the only two who never went on in the London Production. Every other cover for Glinda and Elphaba has performed the role at some point.
- Stephanie J. Block (former Elphaba – Broadway, 1st National Tour) was in the ensemble and understudied Elphaba in the San Francisco try-out of “Wicked”. She sang the solo lines “No one cries they won’t return!” and “I got here early so I could get a good place!” (which is now cut).
- Several “Wicked” cast members have visited other productions of the show from those they perform with to standby for leading roles – known ones include Jennifer DiNoia (s/b Elphaba – Broadway; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago; former swing, u/s Elphaba & Nessarose – Chicago) and Carmen Cusack (former Elphaba – 1st National Tour; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago) who visited the Melbourne and Sydney productions, respectively; Merideth Kaye Clark (former s/b Elphaba – 1st National Tour; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – 1st National Tour) and Dee Roscioli (former Elphaba – Broadway, Chicago; former s/b Elphaba – Chicago) who visited the San Francisco production; Donna Vivino (former Elphaba – 1st National Tour; former s/b Elphaba – 1st National Tour) who visited the Chicago production, and Heather Spore (ensemble, u/s Glinda – Broadway) who visited the Chicago production.
Editorial: Pippa Grandison and "Wicked" Australia
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As some of the readers may be aware, Pippa Grandison played her first performance as Elphaba in “Wicked” Sydney last night. This was completely unannounced and was only confirmed by Lucy Durack (Glinda – Melbourne & Sydney) tweeting in congratulations. It is generally assumed that she has replaced vocally ill Amanda Harrison as lead Elphaba.
And thus, my editorial: WHAT THE HECK “Wicked” producers? I am not denying that Ms. Grandison is talented – I have never heard her or seen her in anything. But I do know that the producers have a very capable standby, Ms. Jemma Rix, who has been with the show since it opened in Melbourne in July 2008 and has been the lead in Melbourne/Sydney for all intensive purposes since April. Ms. Harrison has probably played about thirty performances since April, with Ms. Rix, Zoe Gertz (current u/s for Elphaba), Patrice Tipoki (former u/s for Elphaba; current s/b for Elphaba along with Jemma Rix), Carmen Cusack (former 1NT US Elphaba), and Jennifer DiNoia (current Broadway s/b Elphaba) all having to fill in for her. Ms. Rix has done a vast majority of these performances, and the producers overlooked her. I feel that this is completely unfair to Jemma Rix (as is the fact that she was surrogate lead for six months with NO credit). Yes, I’m aware life isn’t fair and that Pippa Grandison does have more of a name, but when one has functioned as lead for six months, with zero credit, the title should go to them.
PHOTO: Headshot of Ms. Pippa Grandison