Posts tagged Patrice Tipoki
Nessa’s Niblets: June 19, 2012
1
Kerry Ellis
Patrice Tipoki (Elphaba – Sydney; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – Melbourne) and Renee Armstrong (former ensemble – Melbourne, Sydney) performed together in the pop group “Girlband.”
Kerry Ellis (former Elphaba – West End, Broadway; former s/b Elphaba – West End), Amanda Harrison (former Elphaba – Melbourne, Sydney), Rachel Tucker (Elphaba – West End), Patrice Tipoki (Elphaba – Sydney; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – Melbourne), Marcie Dodd (former Elphaba – 2NT, Broadway; Elphaba s/b – Los Angeles; principal Nessarose & Elphaba u/s – Los Angeles; Elphaba u/s & Nessraose u/s – 1NT), Jennifer DiNoia (former s/b Elphaba – Broadway; former Elphaba s/b – Sydney, former Elphaba s/b Chicago, former swing, Elphaba u/s, Nessarose u/s – Chicago), and Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba – Holland; former Elphaba – Stuttgart, Oberhausen) were all in the musical “We Will Rock You.”
In the first season of the television series SMASH, Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero – Original Broadway Cast) made a cameo appearance. Additionally, his wife, Michelle Federer (Nessarose – Original Broadway Cast) made several guest appearances on the show. Annaleigh Ashford (former Glinda – Chicago, Broadway; former ensemble, u/s Glinda – 1NT) guest-starred in one episode. Manuel Herrera (Chistery – Original Broadway Cast; former ensemble – Broadway) and Katie Webber (former ensemble, u/s Nessarose – Broadway) appearance as dancers in several episodes. Megan Hilty (former Glinda – Los Angeles, 1NT, Broadway; former s/b Glinda – Broadway) had one of the starring roles and Phillip Spaeth (former Asst. Dance Captain, swing u/s Chistery – Los Angeles; former swing, u/s Chistery – San Francisco) had a recurring role.
Video Footage: Patrice Tipoki Interviews & Performs on “Good Morning”
0Check out this video of Patrice Tipoki (Elphaba – Sydney; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – Melbourne) doing an interview on the TV show “Good Morning” and of her performing “The Wizard and I” on the same show. Credit goes to YouTube user LovesickMelodyy for the videos, which are embedded below for your convenience.
“Wicked” to Close in Sydney on September 12
3According to the official “Wicked” in Australia twitter, the Sydney production of the show will close on September 12, 2010, after playing for just over a year. It is unknown whether or not the production will transfer or tour. The cast currently stars Jemma Rix and Patrice Tipoki sharing the role of Elphaba and Lucy Durack as Glinda, who has played the role since the opening in Melbourne in July 2008.
Patrice Tipoki to share role of Elphaba in Sydney
4According to the official Facebook account of “Wicked” in Sydney, Patrice Tipoki (current s/b Elphaba – Sydney; former ensemble, u/s Elphaba – Melbourne) will be sharing the role of Elphaba with Jemma Rix (current Elphaba – Sydney; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney, Melbourne) as of May 25, 2010, replacing Pippa Grandison (current Elphaba – Sydney) in sharing the role. Congratulations to Ms. Tipoki!
Cast Update: Sydney Production
1The producers of Sydney’s production of “Wicked” have finally updated us on the cast situation – or as many have named it, the 2009 Australian Elphaba Crisis. Jemma Rix (standby for Elphaba) and Pippa Grandison (temporary Elphaba) will be sharing the role for January and February with Patrice Tipoki (former understudy) as standby for Elphaba. Amanda Harrison is apparently set to return.
We’ll keep you updated on this as more news arrives.
Editorial: Pippa Grandison and "Wicked" Australia
0
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