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Kristin Chenoweth Was in Wicked?

I have a soft spot for musicals. I know, I know, and yet I’m heterosexual, but there it is. I dig ’em.

Lately I’ve been listening to Wicked, based on the best-selling book of the same name (which is inspired by the movie based on the book). As it turns out, Kristin Chenoweth is in one of the leading roles. I know Ms. Chenoweth from The West Wing, where she played a chippy, pint-sized media handler in later seasons. I had no idea she had the musical theatre chops.

Here’s a very campy number from the show. The song is called ‘Popular’, and is the ‘transformational number’ familiar to watchers of recent Disney movies:

In truth, most of the actors I know are good singers (and dancers). They tend to have trained in all three at one point or another–the more skills, the more auditions they can go to. In related news, Scarlett Johansson is releasing an album of Tom Waits songs. I can only assume that Tom needs the money.

Interestingly, Wicked’s composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz has been writing for 35 years. In 1971, he wrote that perennial church favourite Godspell. I learned that in this discussion of whether there will be a Wicked movie.

7 comments

  1. In fact, the musical theatre is where Kristin was “discovered” — She played Sally in the 1999 Broadway revival of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, for which she won a Tony for Best Featured Actress, and a Drama Desk Award.

    I sound like James Lipton….

  2. Tom Waits doesn’t get to decide whether Ms. J makes an album of his songs. In a strange bit of law that would probably never make the books these days, cover songs have what’s called a “compulsory license”: anyone can record and sell a cover version of someone else’s song, as long as you jump through the proper legal hoops and pay appropriate royalties, the songwriter has no say in whether you do it, and you don’t need to ask permission.

    CD Baby has a good primer on the topic. So Tom Waits will make money, but he doesn’t get a say in who sends it to him in this case.

  5. Actually, she has two solo albums out. And she will have a third coming out sometime in the spring we are told. And that doesn’t mention the numerous cast recordings she has participated in.

  6. For my wife’s birthday, a few years ago, I flew her to New York. We saw Wicked on the last day of previews. Chenoweth was good, but Indina Menzel was astonishing showing terrific range.

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