Wicked (video)

Colour Code:
DATE = VOB

2003.10.12 @ Broadway (previews)
CAST:
Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda)
Idina Menzel (Elphaba)
Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero)
Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible)
Joel Grey (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Michelle Federer (Nessarose)
Christopher Fitzgerald (Boq)
William Youmans (Doctor Dillamond)
NOTES: This is one of the oldest Wicked videos out there (I know it was the first I ever watched, myself) - and, as such, it is also one of the crappiest, in terms of video quality. There is very little obstruction of the view though, and the filmer did a pretty decent job of catching the important action. What is lost in video quality, is made up for in audio quality - the sound is amazing. And it is also a pretty good performance. There was a high level of comedy - and whether that is because of the freshness of the material, or because it was just a good show is anyone's guess. But it is funny! So, despite everything, it is still very watchable - if even just for being the time capsule that it is. Rating: "C+"

2004.07.18 @ Broadway - Kristin Chenoweth, Norbert Leo Butz, and Joel Grey's last performance
CAST:
Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda)
Idina Menzel (Elphaba)
Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero)
Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible)
Sean McCourt (u.s. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Michelle Federer (Nessarose)
Randy Harrison (u.s. Boq)
William Youmans (Doctor Dillamond)
NOTES: Kristin, Norbert and Joel's Last performance. Good use of pan and zoom. Video quality itsself, is fair. Very emotional performance (especially Kristin and Idina), with a few improvs due to emotions. An incredible "For Good", as well as a hilarious improv by Kristin during "Popular" - including a top 10 list! Watchable. Rating: "B-"

2004.09.19 @ Broadway - Kristy Cates u.s. Elphaba
CAST:
Kristy Cates (u.s. Elphaba)
Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda)
Joey McIntyre (Fiyero)
George Hearn (Wizard)
Carole Shelley (Morrible)
Michelle Federer (Nessarose)
Christopher Fitzgerald (Boq)
NOTES: Also a fairly low-quality video, and some heads in the way at moments. But, the video still manages to redeem itsself (in a big way). First off, the video was filmed from the orchestra, so unlike a lot of other Wicked videos, you get a more on-level view, and despite the video quality, there are a lot of good close-ups. The sound is also decent. Another big redeemer is that the cast was excellent this night. Jennifer was absolutely hilarious, and Katie gave one hell of a show (her Defying Gravity could almost stand alone by itsself as a show). This video gives me the biggest, silliest grin every time I watch it. Rating: "C+"

2004.10.20 @ Broadway
Cast:
Shoshana Bean (s.b. Elphaba)
Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda)
Joey McIntyre (Fiyero)
NOTES: This is one of Shodshana's performances as a standby for Idina Menzel. The video is a decent quality. Filmer was very attentive and did plenty of zooming and catching of the crucial action. Head in the view at a few moments, but the filmer worked around it. Sound does a strange rise and fall for a couple of minutes toward the end of "No One Mourns the Wicked". Watchable. Rating: "B-".

2005.09.01 @ Broadway - Idina Menzel's "Last" & Joey McIntyre's Last
Cast:
Shoshana Bean (u.s. Elphaba)
Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda)
Joey McIntyre (Fiyero)
Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible)
George Hearn (The Wizard)
Michelle Federer (Nessarose)
Robb Sapp (u.s. Boq)
William Youmans (Dr. Dillamond)
NOTES: Idina Menzel's "last" performance. She was injured prior to this performance, so she couldn't perform the show, so Shoshana stepped in as understudy and gave an amazing performance in her stead. Idina's appearance at the end is not to be missed, but I won't spoil the surprise. You just have to see it for yourself! Great and emotional show, with special improvs by Jennifer and Joey, as well as plenty of touching speeches after bows. Video quality is pretty decent, and the filmer did a good job of zooming and catching the important moments, with very little "wash-out". It is also interesting because it was filmed from fairly far toward House Right (not an angle I have seen much of). A required video for the shelf of any Wicked fan. Rating: "B".

2005/6 [unknown date] @ Chicago - Ana Gastayer
Cast:
Ana Gastayer (Elphaba)
Kate Reindeers (Glinda)
??? (Fiyero)
NOTES: This is a decently captured performance. It's a little blurry, but not as badly as some others. The performance itsself is alright. As much as I love Ana Gastayer (hello, "Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical"!), I don't think she makes as good an Elphaba as one would think. The video is watchable though. Rating: "B-".

2006.01.08 @ Broadway - Shoshana Bean, Michelle Federer, David Ayers, and Rue McClanahan's last
CAST:
Shoshana Bean (Elphaba)
Megan Hilty (Glinda)
David Ayers (Fiyero)
Ben Vereen (The Wizard)
Rue McClanahan (Mme. Morrible)
Michelle Federer (Nessarose)
Robb Sapp (Boq)
Sean McCourt (Dr. Dillamond)
NOTES: Michelle Federer, David Ayers, Rue McClanahan, and Shoshana Bean's last performance. Fair video quality. Lots of good zoom and catching of action. Incredible and emotional performance. It is especially touching because Megan Hilty is crying and barely able to speak, let alone sing for most of the last 20 minutes. She also gives a very emotional speech after bows. I highly recommend this one. Rating: "B".

2006.03.14 - 1st Touring Cast
Cast:
Julia Murney (Elphaba)
Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda)
Sebastian Arcelus (Fiyero)
BJ Benjamin (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Alma Cuervo (Madame Morrible)
Timothy Britten Parker (Dr. Dillamond)
Jennifer Waldman (Nessarose)
Logan Lipton (Boq)
NOTES: Video quality isn't too great, but I have heard that there is a pretty high quality of this one out there, so I am thinking it is due to compression. The video was also broken up into several 5-minute pieces, and sadly, two of the pieces are missing, so "Something Bad" and the first 5 min of "Dancing Through Life" are not here. It's a decent show though. Oh, and has anyone else noticed that Julia Murney is a bit of a yodeler? Even if you don't want the whole show, ask me for part of "Defying Gravity" (I'll let you take it for free), and you will see what I mean. Rating: "C".

2006.05.23 @ Broadway - Megan Hilty's last Broadway performance
CAST:
Megan Hilty (Glinda)
Eden Espinosa (Elphaba)
Derrick Williams (Fiyero)
Carol Kane (Madame Morrible)
Ben Vereen (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Jenna Leigh Green (Nessarose)
Robb Sapp (Boq)
NOTES: Megan Hilty's Last on Broadway. Decent quality video, with very steady filming, and good use of zoom and pan. Very good performance. Lovely sendoff speech from Eden after the bows. Rating: "B".

2007.02.09 @ 1st National Tour - Julia Murney & Kendra Kassebaum
Cast:
Julia Murney (Elphaba)
Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda)
David Garrison (Wizard)
Sebastian Arcelus (Fiyero)
Logan Lipton (Boq)
??? (Madame Morrible)
NOTES: This is one of my favorite Wicked recordings. For being an mp4, it is very good quality. Blackouts are minimal (even during "No One Mourns the Wicked"!). The filmer did a great job of capturing the show, using lots of zoom and pan, and without jiggling all over the place. It is also a very good cast, with great performances from all. Rating: "B+".

2007.10.28 @ Los Angeles - Julie Reiber (u.s. Elphaba), Dioni Michelle Collins (u.s. Morrible), Natalie Daradich (u.s. Nessarose) (VOB)
CAST:
Julie Reiber (u.s. Elphaba)
Megan Hilty (Glinda)
Kristoffer Cusik (Fiyero)
Dioni Michelle Collins (u.s. Madame Morrible)
John Rubenstine (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Natalie Daraditch (u.s. Nessarose)
Michael Drolet (Boq)
??? (Doctor Dillamond)NOTES: Excellent video, and an excellent performance. Julie Reiber is one of the better Elphabas, and as always, Megan Hilty is so much fun to watch. The filmer did a fantastic job of catching all of the action, and there are very few blackouts or heads in the way. I am unsure of who plays Doctor Dillamond though, so if anyone knows, I would very much appreciate that information. One of my favourite Wicked videos! Rating: "A"

2008.08.24 @ Chicago - Lisa Brescia's last performance (VOB)
CAST:
Lisa Brescia (Elphaba)
Annaleigh Ashford (Glinda)
Kristoffer Cusick (Fiyero)
Stanton Nash (Boq)
Heidi Kettenring (Nessarose)
Rondi Reed (Mme. Morrible)
Gene Weygandt (The Wizard)
K. Todd Freeman (Dr. Dillamond)
NOTES: How many ways can I say AMAZING?! Great performance, and superb video and audio quality. It's like being there! Wonderful use of zoom and pan. This is almost like watching a DVD: "A+" (a rating I usually only give to DVD-quality video).

2009.04.26 @ San Francisco (matinee) - Vicki Noon (s.b. Elphaba), Tim Talman (u.s. Dillamond) (VOB)
CAST:
Vicki Noon (s.b. Elphaba)
Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda)
Nicolas Dromard (Fiyero)
David Garrison (Wizard)
Patty Duke (Morrible)
Deedee Magno Hall (Nessarose)
Eddy Rioseco (Boq)
Tim Talman (u.s. Doctor Dillamond)
Keith A. Bearden (u.s. Witch's Father/Ozian Official)
Phillip Spaeth (u.s. Chistery)
NOTES: High quality video. Not too many heads in the way. Fantastic performance. One of the only videos I have seen that manages to capture most of "No One Mourns the Wicked", and also one of the only videos I have seen do a quality wide pan shot of "Defying Gravity" (I am often disappointed when filmers zoom in on the face during that song, because it makes it so you can't see the awesome flying and lighting effects). First full video of the SF cast. Rating: "A-"

2009.04.26 @ San Francisco (evening) - Angel Reda (u.s. Elphaba), Tim Talman (u.s. Dillamond) (VOB)
CAST:
Angel Reda (u.s. Elphaba)
Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda)
Nicolas Dromard (Fiyero)
David Garrison (Wizard)
Patty Duke (Morrible)
Deedee Magno Hall (Nessarose)
Eddy Rioseco (Boq)
Tim Talman (u.s. Doctor Dillamond)
NOTES: Actors' Fund Performance. Good quality video. Some occasional heads in the way. Good performance. Angel flubs during "Defying Gravity" and says "So, if you care to fly me, look to the Western sky!". Rating: "A-"

2009.05.08 @ San Francisco (evening) - Alexa Green (u.s. Glinda) (VOB)
CAST:
Teal Wicks (Elphaba)
Alexa Green (u.s. Glinda)
Nicolas Dromard (Fiyero)
DeeDee Magno Hall (Nessarose)
Patty Duke (Madame Morrible)
Lee Wilkof (The Wizard)
Alexander Selma (u.s. Boq)
Keith A. Bearden (u.s. Doctor Dillamond)
NOTES: High quality video, and the show is well-captured. There are a couple of short blackouts, and most of "No One Mourns the Wicked" is blacked out - I am assuming because of ushers (the ushers at the Orpheum Theatre are INSANELY strict about the "no cameras" policy. I got attacked by one for having my phone out once... during an intermission!). Goofs note: Alexa flubs "your simple frock" during "Popular", and overthrows the hat during the Catfight scene. Rating: "A"

Wicked Day

Wicked Day 2007
Includes:
"The Wizard & I" (performed by Lisa Brescia)
"Popular" (performed by Annaleigh Ashford)
"For Good" (performed by Lisa Brescia and Annaleigh Ashford)
NOTES: Lisa Brescia and Annaleigh Ashford performing at Wicked Day 2007. Quality video and steady filming. Filmer was front and center for all of the songs. Nice sound. Good performances from both - though, a little awkward at moments (but perhaps only because it looks like it was cold, and performing these songs must be an incredibly different experience out of context). Rating: "A-".

Wicked Japan

Unknown Japan pefrormance
CAST:
Unknown
NOTES: I am still very confused about this one, and unsure when, where and why exactly it occurred. All I can say it was in Japan. The songs are very out of order - and this was not the filmer's doing. The performance seems to have a different idea of when things took place (i.e. the song list goes in this order: "One Short Day", "Sentimental Man", "Loathing", "The Wizard & I", "Popular", "Sentimental Man", "Defying Gravity: Part 1", "For Good", "Defying Gravity: Part 2", Curtain Call). The cast is a mix of white and Japanese actors, and the show is in both Japanese and English (it jumps back and forth - sometimes even between lines). English lines have Japanese subtitles. Good video quality and use of zoom. Decent audio quality. Despite being confusing, I am incredibly glad to have this video, and I recommend it for your collection. Rating: "A-".