The search for the perfect Dorothy for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s forthcoming production of the Wizard of Oz continued in Over the Rainbow this weekend. The latest hopeful to hand back her silver shoes (don’t get me started on how weird that is!) was Bronte Barbe. I felt really sorry for her as she’d obviously not expected to go out so early. I thought she was a good bet for the top 5 (so did ALW!) but the public vote disagreed. Bronte Barbe Bronte comes from Macclesfield, a quiet, sensible town at the edge of the Peak District. It’s not quite Kansas but I expect it sometimes feels like it to someone like Bronte! She lives there with her Mum, sister and dog.  She’s only 18 and she’d been working as a volunteer teacher at her former dance school before the show.  She does have some amateur musical theatre experience and she’s got her Grade 8. I think she’ll do well and she could have been Dorothy. Over the Rainbow Show 5 put an end to Bronte’s Dreams of the Emerald City One not quite brilliant performance of K.T. Tunstall’s Suddenly I See and Bronte was doomed to be in the bottom two. I thought quite a few of the Dorothys were on dodgy ground on Saturday night’s show. The producers had given them all songs that went against type. Some of the girls pulled it off but I agreed with the public vote that both Bronte and Lauren struggled. I though Sophie struggled even more than either of them though so I was surprised that she survived. Steph on the other hand was a revelation singing “It’s So Quiet” she seemed to finally get her R&B warbling under control and give us a real musical theatre number. Very nice! Not sure she’s Dorothy but still, very nice. So why did ALW save Lauren? He said it was down to experience and Lauren is 22 against Bronte’s 18. However I also think Lauren has a stronger voice. She might even be Dorothy  if she can just stop mugging to the camera! Goodbye Bronte Click here to view the embedded video. My Favourites for Dorothy My favourites at the moment, in no particular order (where did I get that idea from?) are: Jenny Douglas – Good voice & full of life and devilment. Danielle Hope – Reasonable voice, good stage presence. A strong dancer she has that adolescent quality that Dorothy will need. Dani Rayner – Lovely voice, looks the part, just a bit worried about her acting skills and very young at only 16. And almost any of the others – it is as they say, all to play for, and the standard is so high that one slip can be fatal. I’d feel sorry for them but I know how well many previous losers have done! Talent won’t be ignored and for some of them not being Dorothy might be the best career move they’ll ever make! Bronte would make a smashing Glinda

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Wicked is continuing to build after its most successful year ever and is bringing in not one but two new witches! Current witches Alexia Khadime (Elphaba) and Dianne Pilkington (Glinda) leave the show on a record breaking high note and will play their final performances on Saturday 27 March 2010. Bound to be a very emotional evening! (If you want tickets for this one you must act fast – Click through to see if there are Wicked theatre breaks available for Alexia and Diane’s final performance. By the way there’s a Free Hotel Offer on weekday Wicked Theatre Breaks until the end of March) Wicked

Rachel Tucker as Elphaba I’m a big fan of Rachel Tucker. I thought she had a great voice when she was in I’d Do Anything and I absolutely loved her in We Will Rock You. She was playing Meat the night I saw her but I believe she made a great success of the lead role, Scaramouche, on the few occasions she got to play it. Rachel will join Wicked as the new Elphaba and I can’t wait to hear her sing “Defying Gravity”. The voice and the song should combine beautifully and give us yet another interpretation of a great standard. So as one Nancy (Jodie) bows out the West End will see another graduate of the I’d Do Anything programme take centre stage. Perhaps this will convince the critics that reality casting shows do actually uncover worthwhile talent. Don’t hold your breath! Like Kerry Ellis, a previous much loved Elphaba, Rachel will bring her own loyal fan base to the show and no doubt to this post. Hi all
Oz Trivia – Rachel is no stranger to Oz having played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre. Louise Dearman as Glinda Louise joins the cast of Wicked as Glinda. She’s been widely acclaimed in her lead role in the touring production of Evita. It will be interesting to see what she makes of the role of Glinda and how she stamps her own personality on it. Louise’s voice is described by her agents as: pure, melting soprano voice, with a surprisingly strong belt. Having listened to a sample I have to agree, lovely! But don’t just rely on my judgment have a listen for yourself:

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Wicked Theatre Breaks to see the new cast Wicked theatre breaks are perfect for families. This summer is likely to be a busy time for Wicked theatre breaks, especially as Show and Stay have a special offer on at the moment. Wicked Theatre Breaks from £81.50pp with Show and Stay - book now Wicked Theatre Breaks - who’s in the new cast? Wicked is one of those shows that inspire a lot of loyalty. Fans like to keep up to date with cast changes and see the show again and again. Having said “Goodbye” to Kerry Ellis,(I thought she was brilliant as Elphaba but it seems Alexia Khadime is developing quite a following too!) Wicked is ready to welcome some more new cast members.

The revised Wicked cast includes:

Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Dianne Pilkington (Glinda), Oliver Tompsett (Fiyero), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Harriet Thorpe (Madame Morrible) Natalie Anderson (Nessarose) Alex Jessop (Boq), David Stoller (Doctor Dillamond), Ashleigh Gray (Standby for Elphaba) Sarah Earnshaw (Standby for Glinda),

Wicked Theatre Breaks - a birthday outing Wicked theatre breaks are a great choice for family groups or , if you are feeling generous, a perfect birthday treat for your teenage or even pre-teen daughter and maybe 3 of her best mates. You might think I’m nuts suggesting taking a group of teenage girls to London but they, and you, will have the best time and they’ll never forget it! There’s no mess to clear up afterwards. She probably won’t expect much of a present. And her ‘cool score’ at school will go off the Richter Scale! (So will your cool parent score!) The show is an ideal choice for a themed birthday treat. You just have to make sure they have a cash limit for goodies from the foyer of Wicked! CDs, books, T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and even Glinda’s wand make great presents. Stock them up with fruit juice drinks and try to avoid too much popcorn, all that sugar will make it even harder for them to sleep! Talking of sleep, did you realise you could get a family room? Some of the hotels offer great deals so 2 adults could take 4 girls and just pay for 2 rooms! Just rope in another mum to lend a hand or even better (younger = more energy!) someone’s big sister and you’re set. Other things to do on a Wicked theatre Break So you’ve got your tickets, you’ve hopefully booked your train at the same time (save up to 40% that way), and you’ve unpacked. Now what? Luckily Show and Stay offer some great extras you can book at the same time as the theatre break. With teenage girls, or even pre-teens, my first choice would be the London Eye fast track. You spend far less time waiting around, the girls get to see the sights without getting bored and there’s plenty of time left for hitting the shops. Now, I know they are teenagers, or think they are, but I love Hamleys and they will too! Got to take their photos with those giant teddy bears and then head inside for some serious shopping. And you thought it was a toy shop? Did you not know it has one of the biggest collections of Hello Kitty merchandise in the country? Pah! Just make sure they save some money for Top Shop! Food, quick, all that shopping takes it’s toll! Where else but Planet Hollywood? Of course, if you are sneaky, you’ll have booked a bargain pre-theatre dinner there when you booked the show. Then it’s off to see Wicked. Afterwards if they (and you) are not too exhausted it can be worth hanging about round the stage door. The Wicked stars know their audience and they rarely disappoint them. Often programmes are signed, smiles and even the occasional chat is possible. If you are really lucky photos with cast members might be taken. Especially if they know there’s a birthday girl around. Back at the hotel try to persuade them it’s bed time. Good luck with that
Wicked Theatre Breaks - The Last Day Next morning try a stroll through Chinatown. If they’ve any money left there’s more (but possibly less authentic) Hello Kitty stuff around plus other wonderfully tacky London souvenirs that won’t break the bank.

Covent Garden’s good fun to wander round too. if you’re after a cheap and cheerful lunch, (and you’ve any money left!) the West Country Pasty shop is good value and has somewhere to sit and watch the world go by too. (You could, just possibly, leave them there and slip upstairs to the bar for a quick and sustaining G&T- did I say that? Moi?)

Then it’s off to catch your train. You might be lucky and they’ll fall asleep on the way home. After all they probably didn’t sleep much in the hotel. If not they can look at all their wonderful photos on their phones, while you doze off!

Behind the Scenes at Wicked Oliver Tompsett, who plays Fiyero, takes us behind the scenes of Wicked

Book before 15 June 2009 and enjoy an unforgettable hotel and theatre package from just £81.50pp

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Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Dianne Pilkington (Glinda), Oliver Tompsett (Fiyero), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Harriet Thorpe (Madame Morrible) Natalie Anderson (Nessarose) Alex Jessop (Boq), David Stoller (Doctor Dillamond), Ashleigh Gray (Standby for Elphaba) Sarah Earnshaw (Standby for Glinda), Ensemble: Karen Aspinall, Lee Bridgeman, Sabrina Carter, Aileen Donohoe, A C Garcia, Clare Halse, Lauren James Ray, Keeley Jane Jackson, Arran Knight, Danny Mac, Mitchell Mahony, Sean Needham, Buchi Osuji, Sean Parkins, Caroline Rovina, Pharic Scott, Gregor Stewart, Lindsay Taylor, Chloe Taylor, Michelle Theunissen, Emily Tierney, Jennifer Tierney, Hannah Toy, George Ure, Sam Wilmott and Gary Wood.

Related Posts:New Wicked Cast but Without Desmond BarritWicked - Harriet Thorpe chats about Wicked - Thursday 29th MayWicked cast changes - a new ElphabaWicked gets a new witch2008 showsa Wicked - rest of the new cast announced.