Wicked away from the stage

Fellow Ozians, we return now to the regular weekly Wicked blog posting after the interim Love146.org special blog! I hope you all enjoyed!

Wicked is one of the few musicals that has as much of a cult following away from the stage as on it. We all know this, that is why we are here, we want to read and watch as much about our obsession that we can! We scour the web for exclusive video and audio, create our own web pages and images all due to our love for this phenomenon!

It seems that the world has embraced the fact that Wicked has a massive fan following and more and more cases of Wicked away from the stage are occurring, in 2007 regular viewers of ABC's Ugly Betty found themselves treated to a sneak preview of Wicked on stage!

Broadway stars Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty took their roles as Elphaba and Glinda to the small screen as the characters of Ugly Betty went to see Wicked! I have never been a fan of Ugly Betty, i tried when it first came out but just didn't get on with it. Yet as a Wicked fangirl I have of course watched this episode countless times! For those who never saw it or indeed those like me who never pass up an opportunity to watch a Wicked clip here is a little taster...

This makes me laugh every time I watch, but also makes me sad as I know something like this could only happen in America. How amazing would it be for characters from a well known British show were to turn up at the AV and find themselves on stage with the current London cast! Rachel, Louise, Mark and co if you're reading (which I hope you do sometimes!) what do you reckon? And which TV shows would you like to turn up at the AV (reality TV not included lol!)

But it is not only television shows that are keen on sharing the popularity of Wicked, other West End Shows have been known to try a little 'Wickedness'. I have heard on the grapevine this week that the musical now calling the Theatre Royal home has paid homage to the famous 'Ahhhhh ahhhhh ahhh ahhhhh' from the end of Defying Gravity! So if you are going to see 'Shrek' any time soon guys, keep an ear out for it during 'What's up Duloc?'

It was another musical before Shrek that pardodied a Wicked song, not as part of the show but extremely funny none the less. My second favourite musical Avenue Q performed in Dress Circle on February 14th 2007 (Oh while we're on the subject SAVE DRESS CIRCLE!!) The characters of Trekkie Monster and Kate Monster take on 'Popular' with hilarious results, I'm sure you'll agree! Pay particular attention to the 'I'll show you what shoes to wear' line and Trekkies reaction to it...

Julie Atherton is just so so talented, I love her Kate Monster and this video brings two of my most favourite things together - Wicked & Avenue Q (which I finally get to see next month....very excited!)

So it would seem that Wicked is as much at home away from the stage as on it, I mean how many musicals have an entire day dedicated to them once a year? Wicked day, that usually happens in October brings together fans from all over the world to share and rejoice in all things Wicked! There are performances from the shows stars, masterclasses, a chance to see the costumes up close, and even a Wicked karaoke! I'm sure the manufacturers of green face and body paint are sitting scratching their head as to why their sales take a sudden upturn during this time!

I myself am hoping to take my first trip to Wicked Day this year, I have always been stopped by exams or assignments in the last 3 years, but now I am free and able to indulge my obsession!! So if anyone else is going then keep me informed and I'll be sure to say hello!

A shorter than usual blog this week everyone, I have been super busy this week and not had chance to gather as much info as I wanted! I hope you enjoyed it anyway! I will be back next week with more about our shared obsession! Wicked!! Bye for now Ozians!!