Autism within the Arts

What do you think of when I say Autism?

Naughty?
Uncontrollable?
Temper Tantrums?
Rude?
Ignorant?
Stupid?

How about some of these:

Mental Illness.
Difficulty Communicating.
People.
HUMANS.


This is some of the stigma surrounding Autism. This are some of the words I hear spoken to people I love.

Autism and the awareness of such are causes very close to my heart as my sister has Autism.
Amber is on the severe end of the Autistic Spectrum - it took her years to get a diagnosis. The fight my mum had getting her a statement of special needs, to get her any form of help. That fight shouldn't be so hard. The names she got called should not be tolerated. The insults are not necessary - they are just cruel.
Autistic children are not weird, Autism is a mental illness and should be treated as such. There is such a taboo surrounding Autism and I fully intend to play a part in destroying this myth.

Autistic children tend to excel in a specific subject or aspect of life; be it Maths, IT, Reading or Performing Arts.

Amber (right) and I

Amber is now 15 and she loves to read. She is so good at it. But her real passion, her real love is in the Arts. Whenever she hears a song she will learn the words, sometimes, only by listening to it once, and sing it. She loves Dance and Drama. Give that girl a beat and she will dance like no one is watching, she will sing like the world is listening......and she will act as though her life depended on it.
Give her a script. She will know her lines and the rest of the script by heart in an hour. She truly is remarkable. I love her so much. I am proud to be big sister to her.


Which is why I get such a warm, fuzzy feeling when I see these magical words: Autism - Friendly Performance
These words are appearing more and more often alongside some of the West End's biggest shows.
The first show I personally saw advertising an autism-friendly performance was Wicked. I nearly cried. They advertised the performance as specifically adapted to the various needs people with autism may require - the house lights remained dimmed, not completely off, the special effects were toned down, the orchestra wasn't as loud. The list went on... if you wish to read the full announcement I will link to it here.
I kept a close eye on the news the following day and I did not see a single bad review. It was widely received. It was clear the time and effort those at Wicked and The Apollo Victoria Theatre put in to make this a success. One of my favourite stories was this one written in The Guardian.


More recently more and more shows are embracing autism and adapting performances to suit the needs they have.
Aladdin is holding its FIRST autism friendly performance this August! I will link to it at the end of the blog.
The Lion King is another. Holding its FOURTH autism friendly performance on June 4th which is already sold out!

Here is what happens during an autism friendly performance:

Its incredible right?!!

If that isn't enough they have also created a video specific to those with Autism so they know what to expect when they arrive.

Check it out here!


This sort of Autism Awareness within the Musical Theatre industry is so important. It encourages these people to visit the theatre more, without the fear of prejudice or misinterpretation.
This in turn allows children like Amber more access to theatre and may even encourage them towards a career in the Arts.

What we need is more spotlight on Autistic Actors, more opportunities to show they are more that what society thinks of them. They can achieve the same, if not a higher standard than non-autistic actors.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY!

There need to be more shows that portray illnesses such as autism, the most well know being 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time'
The main protagonist in this show has autism but the part has never been played by an autistic actor - perhaps this is something people could consider when casting shows like this.
The show itself however is truly remarkable!!

I cannot recommend it enough - but be quick! It plays its final show in London on 3rd June 2017
If you want to book click here!
If you can't get into London, never fear!! It is touring the UK! For dates and locations click here!


So if there is one thing you take away from this it is that autism should not be misconstrued. It should be accepted as what it is, a mental condition.
This doesn't mean they are weird or difficult or are not capable of a job within the Arts.

If anything, they really could improve the industry....




LINKS!

Aladdin's FIRST Autism friendly performance - http://www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk/2017/03/13/aladdin-autism-friendly/

The Lion King Autism friendly performance -
http://www.thelionking.co.uk/autismfriendly/

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time -
http://www.curiousonstage.com/

The National Autistic Society -
http://www.autism.org.uk/



You may have also noticed that I changed the colour theme of my blog to Blue. That is in support of Autism Awareness Month which is April! xxx

Celebrity Casting

Now this could be interesting.... just a reminder all views expressed here are my own and I am interested in hearing other peoples opinions! Let me know in the comments!

Anyway, on with the show....



Recently I have been seeing more and more shows doing 'Celebrity Casting', now I am all for celebrities being cast in shows - such as Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl, Nicole Scherzinger in 'Cats' - HOWEVER I must admit I don't like it when companies cast celebrities in a bid to sell tickets rather than to provide an excellent show.

Take for example the recent touring production of 'Ghost: The Musical' we have a well known, well loved show heading on a tour of the UK with Sarah Harding (best known as part of Girls Aloud) and Andy Moss taking the title roles.

Now I haven't been able to see the show myself and I hate to say it I haven't particularly wanted too given what I have heard about the show....Sarah Harding is not a very popular choice as Molly. Her vocal talent within the role is questionable and her accents need a little work. Now before you start firing insults at me I have listened to multiple recordings of her performances and it hasn't done much for me than other than make me cringe....
I think you need a certain voice type to play Molly and sadly I don't think Sarah quite has what it requires, neither sadly,  do many of the press and audiences who have seen the show. However I have always been a fan of Sarah and would like to see her take on some more well suited roles in the world of Theatre.

Ghost is currently Touring until 22nd April 2017.



So let's also take a look at some well suited celebrity castings, Funny Girl with Sheridan Smith starring as Fanny Brice.
Sadly Funny Girl has recently played its last show on the West End (8th October) but it has been announced that there will be a UK tour of the show!! Yay!
Anyways, Sheridan Smith was sensational!! Funny Girl was originally playing at The Menier Chocolate Factory then moved to the Savoy (now home to Dreamgirls - opening in November)
Having listened to the OLC soundtrack I am completely blown away at the raw talent and emotion Sheridan possesses and the effort she puts in at every show.
Sheridan is 100% the right person to be playing Fanny, she has that wit and sass required and is a hilarious character, as well as being able to hold an audience during the slower, more emotional numbers.

I would love to see Sheridan take on some more Theatre roles in the future!

So lets open it up a bit...what do you guys think about celebrity casting? Just a way for producers to make money - talented or not? Or are they ways of showcasing amazing talent, wherever it is found?


Speak soon!
Jade xx

Wicked 10th Anniversary!

I know, I'm late with this one -- sorry guys! But better late than never.
Enjoy!


27th September 2016

A Night I will not forget....

Come with me...to the Emerald City

One short night in the Emerald City...

Now as I'm sure most of you know (unless you have been living under a rock - no seriously...where have you been?) Wicked celebrated 10 Years in the West End earlier this week and I was lucky enough to be there.

Dress Circle - Row K seat 7

First thing is first..it was an aisle seat *mini fist-pump*. As I have mentioned before I love aisle seats...it means I get a little more legroom. That being said the Apollo Victoria Theare has just been refurbished and the seats have a pretty decent amount of legroom anyway...and the seats are really comfy...like really comfy...

Anyways, before you all ask the view from the seat was brilliant!!
You could see the whole stage and you had a really good perspective of the lighting on the stage, this can often be missed if you sit in the stall - I certainly never noticed the lighting when I was down there.
I got side-tracked...back to the view from my seat!
Pictures speak a thousand words so here you go!

Dress Circle, Row K, Seat 7 :) Amazing View

Now lets rewind just a little bit - I was buzzing in the few days leading up to the event. I couldn't wait to finally see the glorious Rachel Tucker back doing her thing opposite the amazingly talented Suzie Mathers. Clearly London had the same idea!! Everywhere was going green. For example the Victoria Tube line had special posters (as did all the tube lines I went on throughout the day) but this poster I spotted at Euston was by far my favourite:

It does sound Wonderful!

I was in London all afternoon so I saw so much green!!!

I think this one was at Green Park! You can never have enough green!

The Wicked Booth in Piccadilly Circus

So anyway, there will be more photospam later on but for now back to the story.... Upon stepping out of Victoria Station and once again seeing the Apollo Victoria in all its green glory I was so happy, ready for this special show, except this time it was a little bit more special....it was much busier, a forest of people behind a few barriers and behind those barriers was a green carpet! Leading from stage door to the main entrance.

The Crowds were insane!!

Even standing at the side of the green carpet there was a serious buzz! Cast members from times gone by made appearances, the likes of Willemijn Verkaik, Savannah Stevenson, Louise Dearman, Emma Hatton and Kerry Ellis to name but a few. As the main entrance was for ex-cast and press only we had to enter via the back entrance.

I got to walk up the Green Carpet :)

Stepping into the Foyer was madness! The crowds!! In al honesty I have never seen so many people crammed into one place but it was amazing! Everyone seemed so excited and were chatting with everyone. The special merchandise they had on offer for the 10th was so so so beautiful!! If my bank allowed I would have bought it all.




I want it all!! I am proud of my self restraint....



So anyway after taking in the atmosphere and doing a little bit of star spotting (caught a glimpse of Savannah, Emma and Kerry) I headed upstairs to my seat.
I found my seat and found a little gift on it... every member of the audience had been given a 10th Anniversary Poster which I think was a very sweet gesture!!  Thank you Wicked!!

Now the show started a little after 7 and damn, what a show it was. As soon as Suzie was lowered in the bubble the crowd burst into applause, when we saw the ensemble there was also applause....and when Rachel first stepped on stage the roof was officially blown off the top of the Apollo Victoria, what a welcome!! The applause went on for a good couple of minutes. The best audience ever!!

The first act sailed by without any major hitches you really could feel the excitement of the cast, every single member of the cast was giving it their all, more so than usual. One thing I did notice is that after 'Popular' when Glinda rushed off-stage, changed back into her Shiz uniform and is back onstage for the arrest of Doctor Dillamond, she ran off but didn't re appear. I assume there was an issue with the costume, but unless you have seen the show multiple times you probably wouldn't notice.
When 'Defying Gravity' began the whole audience was deathly silent, you could hear a pin drop, its was almost like the whole theatre collectively leaned forwards in anticipation.
And as soon as Rachel was taken up in the lift the entire audience erupted! Before the song had even finished the whole audience was on their feet applauding and cheering.

Interval came and went and I settled down for Act 2! This is where a couple of things went wrong, it was quite funny!!

So in 'Thank Goodness' the "Congratulotions!" banner got tangled and didn't unroll fully, bless the guys operating it, they tried dropping it again but it didn't work - one side remained caught up.
The audience took it all in good humour and greeted it with cheers and a collective laugh - the cast clearly demonstrated the professionals they were and continued - the show must go on!

Also during the scene where Fiyero comes across Elphie and the Wizard (just after 'Wonderful') the Guards are sent to get water....Well the 2 guards turned and marched off....one got his weapon (I can't remember what they are called!!) caught and ended up smashing on of the lights on the Wizard Head and walked into the piece of set!! How we all laughed, but we applauded him! He continued so well, I really hope he didn't hurt himself.
Also it looked like Suzie nearly walked into it too as she exited the stage but she didn't, thank goodness.

For Good came along and I could here a few people crying, it is such an amazing piece of music and Suzie and Rachel sang it beautifully. Their voices just blend together so nicely - expert casting guys!!
The show ended and the audience rose!! Cheers and applause echoed around the building (my hands ached for ages...) and it went on...and on...and on. These guys deserved it. The whole cast was brilliant, from swings to leads, from creative to stage hands....everyone involved in the show made it exceptional.

Wicked 10th Anniversary Cast

Then we get to the good bit. As it was a special show - 10 years is a long time!- there was a bit of excitement afterwards...Rachel and Suzie introduced members of the current international case, original cast, the 15/16 cast and all other casts between. They all assembled on stage and took a bow together. Speeches were made tears were shed and then they introduced someone rather special, the man who created the magical score we all love, the spellbinding Steven Schwarz was brought on stage and once again the audience rose - his applause went on for a good 4-5 minutes. He too made a speech but one thing I noticed was a common theme - Wicked is a truly magical show, it lives through its story, the casts that make the magic happen and above all the audiences. Without us, Wicked would not be the mega show it is today, we keep going back time and time again and coming out feeling Wonderful...that is what makes a show special.
Then they let of a load of streamers and balloons started falling from the sky :) It looked beautiful from where I was sat but I did feel sorry for those sat Centre Stalls - they were all falling on their heads :)


I feel so honoured that I was able to attend this amazing show and see it turn 10....Congratulotions Wicked UK and here is to 10 more thrillifying years.


Now the Performers...

Oliver Savile - Fiyero

"It's Not Lying...It's looking at things a different way"

 

I was thrilled to be seeing Oliver in the role of Fiyero, I've seen covers take on the part but was pleased to see Oliver and he blew me away! He brought something different to the role that I have never seen in a Fiyero before. 
Now Fiyero is a difficult part to play and there are many different angles to the character after all, when we meet him he is a self - absorbed, posh Prince. To me he seems to be the character that goes through the biggest personality change because by the end of the show he is a kind, loving accepting person. Oliver portrays this so well! Not only is he appropriately handsome with a dazzling smile which seems to scream 'Love Interest' his voice is just so well suited to the part! His 'Dancing Through Life' is exceptional but his voice is really brought out on his duet with Rachel, 'As Long As You're Mine' , it is full of love and passion and some brilliant harmonies are highlighted too. Their voices blend so well.

I cannot wait to see Oliver again and wish him all the very best in the rest of his run in Wicked and the very best for the future :)

Twitter: Oliver Savile



Suzie Mathers - Glinda (The Ga is silent)

"Pink Goes Good With Green"

I was so excited to be seeing Suzie. Suzie has had contact with Wicked since 2008 where she started off as a Swing and in 2012 was cast as the lead role of Glinda. This marked Suzie's West End Debut and her 10th City and 6th Country to be playing Glinda in :) Now those are some impressive numbers!
Now Glinda too, is an interesting character who also had a personality change over the course of the show. We meet her as a self obsessed, ditzy brat who is known for getting her way and by the end of the show she is a loving, radiant figure of power within Oz, respected and loved by all. I think that deep down Glinda was always a loving character which we see begin to flourish towards the end of  'Dancing Through Life'. Onto her vocals....such a pure soprano! Her 'No One Mourns The Wicked' is one of the greatest I have seen. She effortlessly delivers those high notes. Her comedic timing in 'Popular' is perfect, right up there with Savanah Stevenson's rendition. Her voice really is highlighted in her duet with Rachel 'For Good'. This is the moment in the show where the Witched relationship is cemented and they begin to realise how much of a good impact they have had on each others lives. Suzie and Rachel's voices were created to blend together I swear- the harmonies those 2 can pull off are exceptional.

I hope to see Suzie again soon and wish her all the very best for her remaining time in Wicked and in the future :)

Twitter: Suzie Mathers



Rachel Tucker - Elphaba

"It's the Wizard who should be afraid...of me"

Now onto everyone's favourite green girl, fresh from her Broadway run, Rachel Tucker is back ladies and Gentlemen!!
Rachel is up there with my top 3 Elphies; the other 2 being Emma Hatton and Kerry Ellis (in no particular order) but I love and respect all the wickedly talented ladies who go green :)
Elphaba seems to be the only character who doesn't particularly change, she always stays true to herself and to what she believes in. She always is thinking of others before herself and wants to use her power to benefit others. We first meet her as an outcast schoolgirl who is afraid of others seeing her power but she soon grows to accept them and use them for good. Rachel's vocals are phenomenal. He voice conveys such power and such authority and yet when she softens the voice you are still completely mesmerised. Her ability to portray the many emotions that Elphaba feels is unique, she is warm, confused and at times frightening but is above all loving and her vocals reflect that.
From the power during 'Defying Gravity' to the passion in 'As Long As You're Mine'. Personally, one of my favourite parts of Rachel's performance was her rendition of 'No Good Deed', her riffs are just out of this world - 'No Good Deed'  is a very emotive piece of music, it comes from Elphaba's rage over her being seemingly unable to do good, despite her good intentions. It is at this point in the show Elphaba accepts her true wickedness and Rachel perfectly captures that moment, that turning point if you like, better than any Elphaba I have ever seen!
Her rendition of 'For Good', the emotional duet with Suzie is beautiful, these are 2 well seasoned performers who know their respective roles inside out strike a perfect chemistry that is needed if the story is to be believed. This is a defining moment in the show and both witches capture it perfectly.


It has been a pleasure seeing Rachel back in Wicked and I hope she enjoys the rest of her time as Elphaba. All the very best!

Twitter: Rachel Tucker



The current cast of Wicked truly show off the full value of the show! If you have never had the opportunity to see this masterpiece then I urge you to go now! Even if you, like me have seen the show before, go again! The 10th anniversary cast are utterly spectacular. You never know, it could change you 'For Good'


Love you all
See you soon xxx

Jade :)


Website: http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/
Twitter: WickedUK
Facebook:Wicked UK
YouTube:Wicked The Musical UK
Instagram:Wicked UK

The Musical Theatre Appreciation Society!

Now these guys are the greatest fun!

The MTAs Logo!

The Musical Theatre Appreciation Society, or MTAs, as we call them, are quite simply a group of people who love Theatre!
What started as a small Facebook group discussing all the weird and wonderful things of the Musical world, they now have a following of  16,628 members on Facebook alone! Well when I last checked....

Now I've been a member of the MTAs for a while and it has truly been amazing to see them grow! The whole group is just full of lovely warm people, and it's not just for those who have seen a million show and are experts on all things theatre...its even for the newbies. Some may never have seen a West End show, some may never have been in a production but it doesn't matter. As long as you love theatre then that's all that matters. Any age, any experience....all are welcomed and loved and listened to.
There are 6 members of the Admin team, all are great fun! They do a wonderful job keeping the page afloat and pointing it in new directions. They have created a Twitter account, Snapchat, YouTube account and have a blog!! All of which I will link to below if you are interested.

They also have a Sister Page called Musical Theatre Competition Page which kind of does what it says on the tin! Its where the members of the MTAs partake in competitions, some just for fun, and some for a prize. They include West End Challenges. Where you get challenged by a West End actor to sing a song from the show, past triumphs have been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wicked and Beautiful. It's a song for guys and a song for girls, usually with a 2 week submission window, all in the name of fun!
Currently they also have another competition running themed around Murder Ballad (coming 30th September to the Arts Theatre)
Submit a 'Mugshot' with the date the show opens and you are in with a chance to win a £20 Theatre token AND a signed flyer from the show.....

Something like this....

 

 

 

 

All good fun!
They also have Q&A's with Stars, Snapchat Takeovers. Its all a big laugh and a great thing to get involved it.

And its not all behind a screen! They often arrange group outings to shows with a stop off at the Theatre Café...I have yet to attend a meet up but I look forward to being able to in the near future!!

You are free to post into the group and ask questions or discuss recent visits or to get opinions on a show/cast.
Everyone is always willing to chat and you can get so much wisdom from some members. Some have been in productions of many a musical and are more than happy to share advice/experiences with the younger generation.

I could sit here and go on but instead I will allow you all the opportunity of finding out what a great bunch of people they are for yourselves....don't take my word for it!!

The MTAs can be found via the below links:

Facebook: The Musical Theatre Appreciation Society
Twitter: MTAs Official
Blog: MTAS
Snapchat: @MTASSociety



Go take a look - I'm sure you'll love it!!

That's all from me this week....
See you next week!!

There are some exciting things lined up for you for the next few weeks so watch this space!

Love you all xx
Jade xx :)

Filming in Theatre!

Another week, another blog!

Where has the time gone? I mean seriously, this week seems to have absolutely flown by!

Anyway, this week I'm going to talk about a somewhat controversial topic in the Theatre World

Filming in Theatres.


 A complete no go right? Well, personally I can't decide! I am eternally grateful for all those bootlegs floating around on YouTube, I mean how else would I get to hear Anna O'Byrne in Phantom or see Kerry Ellis on Broadway. Or even reliving some old moments such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2002 at the Palladium...

So from that point of view I am happy people occasionally break the rules and film or record the audio. It means people like me get the opportunity to see or hear things they may never have had a chance to hear. In a way it can actually open other peoples eyes to Theatre and get them into shows they may have never found an interest in otherwise!

But then there is the other side, the actors and audience perspective. I have personally had the experience of a young lady a row in front of me filming while I was seeing Phantom of the Opera. After a quick glare she soon stopped :)
But it did make me think, if more shows were professionally filmed and released maybe, just maybe people would be less likely to record during shows.

Now I understand there is a huge cost in filming productions but just think about how amazing it would be if, maybe even for a limited time, people could see some of their favourite casts in action.

Take something like Cats. The revival in 2014 was amazing! Nicole and Kerry took on the role of Griz. Now as far as I am aware the only professional recording of Cats was back in the day when the film was made with Elaine Paige. All due respect to Elaine, but wouldn't it be nice if we had our hands on a newer version?

Take Sunset Boulevard and Starlight Express, old classics that have disappeared....all we have are soundtracks. Personally I would love to see Starlight revived and filmed.

Now I do understand some of the big shows are filmed for anniversary shows, take Les Miserables, 10th and 25th anniversary recordings! Phantom 25th Recording, Miss Saigon 25th Recording....

All are available for us to watch and relive over and over again. Younger generations can be introduced to such old classics...

Now from the perspective of being able to see new versions and cherish experiences I understand recordings. Personally I would never film in the theatre, but that is my opinion.



When I went to see Phantom I was more than a little miffed that the woman in front of me was filming. She soon stopped and that was that. Once I had someone next to me playing Candy Crush all the way through Act 1 of Les Miserables.....
But I do know how distracting it is having a phone waving about near you just so someone can get some hits on YouTube.
Now the Audience can't always see if anyone is filming but there are people who can.....THE ACTORS!!

Those people on stage who perform night after night, 8 shows a week. They can see. Out there in the darkness they can see the light of a phone, the reflection of the stage lighting off the logo on the back. They can see everything and it is so distracting for them!!!
I am always seeing interval tweets or post-show tweets from actors saying that yet again they have had a camera on them all night.
It is distracting for them!
And the Audience!!



Long story short,
Don't film in theatres.....period.....
Yes I watch bootlegs and will not deny that but, don't film in theatres people. It does ruin the show for not only the audience but the actors too


So that's all from me this week!

See you soon
Jade xx

Wicked!

27th August 2016


Sweet Oz....
I had the most thrillifying time ever.

If you haven't already guessed by the hints, I went to see Wicked yesterday!
Now, it was my first time seeing the show! I know, I know, shocking right? It's been on my top 3 list for years and I still have somehow missed it... bad Jade...

Anyway, yesterday morning I was more excited than Charlie was when he met Willy Wonka. That excitement slowly grew and came to fruition as I exited Victoria Tube station and saw it, stood there in all it's emerald glory, The Apollo Victoria Theatre. Home to none other than Wicked!

O Hallowed Halls and Vine Draped Walls,
The Proudliest Sight There Is....

 

Now thus far it all sounds calm right? Standard trip, no trouble...
Wrong...
My train was delayed.....every commuters nightmare.
Which is okay if you leave in plenty of time. Sadly I was rather time restricted and the delay didn't help. It would always happen to me....

Anyway so exiting Victoria Station, I legged it across the road in slipped into the box office, picked up my ticket and found my seat. Stalls. B38, 2 rows from the front. Slightly restricted view but there was legroom!! And when you're 6ft 2 like me, it is nice to have a little legroom. The view was pretty good to be honest! Only miss the top left corner which is where Savannah (Glinda!) appears in her bubble (I really want a go in that bubble....best way to travel.) Then again, we can't all come and go by bubble....
So you miss that tiny bit and the very back of the stage, but most action is centre/front stage so we were all good.

Also you have to look up to see the time dragon.

I sat down and looked at my phone 14:27. If that's not cutting it fine I don't know what is!
*Memo to me: Catch an earlier train!*

Turned of the phone, had some water and waited.
Then it hit me! The opening notes of No One Mourns the Wicked. I jumped a little, (bearing in mind I was right in front of the speaker) then settled into my seat to be whisked off to Oz.

If you haven't heard No One Mourns the Wicked (or want to have another listen!!) go ahead - it's right here!

To all those who followed the link welcome back! At least I hope you came back....
You have to admit that's a darn good piece of music. Stephen Schwartz I salute you!

Anyway...back to Oz...

Act One flew by! No pun intended...
Before I knew it the oh so familiar tune of Defying Gravity tickled my ears. I knew I was about to witness something amazing. The entire auditorium was filled with an eerie reverence as the song began....
HOW DO THEY DO IT??!! The power required for that song is unbelievable. The women who play Elphaba have my upmost respect! Big well done to Emma Hatton. Completely blew me away!

If you don't believe me have a listen. I Give you Defying Gravity Ladies and Gentleman!

What a way to end an Act!

Interval came, had a nice chat with the woman next to me, she had brought her daughter as a birthday/completing SATs Present (she was 11). They were both loving it, which I always like to hear! I slipped off to the Ozdust Boutique to buy a programme and was cheeky and got the Broadway Cast Album too! :) I mean come on....it would be rude not to...

Back at my seat and Act 2 begins!

They sang, they danced, they cried.... I almost cried... but all good things must end sadly and this really was a good thing!

Emma's Riffs, Savannah's high notes, Kane's Sass....all culminated in one big final number....For Good. *sniffles*

The finale came, the curtain fell and the audience rose! We gave them the standing ovation they damn well deserved!

No!!! Take me back!!!

As always I went to Stage Door afterward but didn't expect to see Emma and Savannah, after all they had another show to prepare for! Sadly I didn't get the opportunity to meet them but hopefully there will be other times and I wish them both well in all their future endeavours once the leave Wicked. They deserve it!




Savannah Stevenson - Glinda!

Pink goes good with Green

Her expressions alone are amazing!! I've never sat so close before but I am so glad I did. In No one Mourns the Wicked you can really see on Glinda's face how hurt she is by what the citizens of Oz are saying about Elphie. Savannah played that really well. All through the show in fact, you could see the expressions Savannah wore, from the hurt, the glee, the fear and above all the tears at the end and during "I'm Not That Girl" It really gives you a new perspective when you see the expression.
It truly amazes me just how into a role Savannah gets. Not sure I could make myself cry that much, 8 shows a week!
Also those high notes?! Absolutely stunning, was left speechless. It is amazing how she can create a sound like that - Brava! Comedic timing - exceptional! Make me laugh, made me cry. The sign of a true performer.
It is amazing to see how Glinda evolves from a spoilt brat, to a kind, compassionate leader who's experience moves her to look at things in another way and to help others become good. To see how her friendship with Elphie changes is simply magical
Savannah is completely gifted and deserves every success!

Twitter: Savannah Stevenson




Kane Oliver Parry - Fiyero! (1st Cover!)

"You've got me seeing through different eyes"

Goodness me, Kane was stunning! It was only partway through Act 1 I realised it wasn't Oliver, he was that good!
He took that role and made it his own! It was Kane's final show as Fiyero and he went out with one heck of a bang! The smooth sass required for Fiyero came across effortlessly. The wit, quips and humour was all there. To see the character development is amazing, from cocky, shallow prince to a self sacrificing, loving man who fights for those he loves.
As I have mentioned before I don't think understudies get enough credit and once again I have been shown that understudies are incredibly talented people and deserve their place in Theatre. Wishing Kane all the best in his next role.

Twitter:Kane Oliver Parry


Emma Hatton - Elphaba!

"Unlimited, my future is Unlimited.."

Sweet Oz.....
Emma was brilliant! The sheer power she has is incredible. Her ability to throw in the riffs shows just how talented this lady is. We see Elphie change from an awkward schoolgirl to a strong, independent Witch with unfathomable power, power with which she wants to do good. You need a voice of steel, not afraid to push but yet it's not all about power, we need to see the soft side of Elphaba, see her vulnerable moments and Emma does just that!
Gifted and talented indeed! I wish her all the best on her next venture!

Twitter: Emma Hatton


I am so lucky I got to see this cast before they left! I've been wanting to see Sav and Emma for a long time and finally that opportunity came! Thrillifiying indeed!!

Now all I can say is bring on the 10th Anniversary!!



Remember Guys! Emma and Savannah leave on 3rd September to make way for the 10th Anniversary cast, if you haven't seen them yet or want to go again I say do it now!! You won't regret it!


Love you all!

See you next week xxx
Jade xx



Website: http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/
Twitter: WickedUK
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Understudy Appreciation!!

Understudies.

Those people who often go unnoticed. Those people who are always ready to go. Those people are the Superheroes of Theatreland.

Now this has been something I've wanted to discuss for a while. The bottom line is, in society today I don't feel understudies are given anywhere near the amount of respect they deserve, if anything, they seem to get slated by the media!!

Take for example Funny Girl. Bless her heart Sheridan Smith had to take a few weeks of for personal reasons which I am all for! She is only human and everyone, no matter how big the name needs a break. This meant that the understudy had to come on...*enter stage right* Natasha Barnes!
Now I haven't seen Funny Girl myself but from all I've heard Natasha was absolutely brilliant! But there were those people over the internet and in the media who complained because they weren't seeing Sheridan. Natasha took it all in her stride and nailed every show she did!
And as an aside, Natasha has also jumped in as an emergency cover in American Idiot tonight!! Kudos to her!!

Sunset Boulevard. Another big show, another big name! The one and only Glenn Close making her West End debut! Now that was something to see. Extraordinary! But the were a few nights Glenn was off sick.....*enter stage left* Ria Jones! Now lets just take a moment to pause and appreciated the shoes she had to fill. She stepped up to the mark, only to have a huge booing crowd before her! Thankfully by the end of the show she has won everyone over and got a standing ovation.

The point still stands, these understudies work so so hard and what they do and are so damned talented. I mean could you jump up and belt out Defying Gravity at a moments notice? No I don't think so....
These wonderful guys and gals are the glue that help hold the West End together. I mean what if the lead was injured mid show and there was no cover. Well it would be curtain down, bye - bye, end of show. Then you really would have unhappy patrons!

I think understudies are so talented, some even more so than the lead themselves! The understudies are not randomly pulled of the street, they go through the same vigorous audition process all the leads do. They are selected for a reason. They are talented...They can belt show tunes and they ARE worthy to be on that stage.

For example, as some of you would know from one of my previous posts, I went to see Phantom a little while ago.
Now I've never seen Ben Forster take on the role of Phantom yet so was looking forward to see his take on things....only...Ben wasn't on!!

SHOCK!!!!

Now did I head up to the box office and demand a refund? Did I shout and boo from my seat when it was announced he wasn't in that show due to illness?
Nope!
I settled down in my seat to enjoy the show!
And by god I enjoyed the show! If you want to read about that visit the link to that post is here! http://themysteriesbehindthecurtaincall.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-phantom-of-opera-take-2.html

Anyway I had 2nd cover Kieron Brown and he was absolutely phenomenal.
Completely blown away.


Now when you next go and see a show, whatever show it may be, yes I understand the excitement of seeing one of the leads but if they aren't on, don't kick off..... I get it though, its okay to be miffed but just wait.
Take a moment.
Pause
Breathe

Think about the understudy who is about to take you on an amazing journey. Think about the nerves they must be experiencing!
Don't hate them, love them
Be open minded.
Embrace what they bring to the role.

If it wasn't for understudies, Theatre would not be what it is today.

To all understudies out there I salute you!
Keep doing what your doing and keeping theatre alive!!


So much love.

Speak to you all next week!!
Jade x