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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 26 OctOber 2018
Broadway musical 'Wicked' turns 15 with a party

By MARK KENNEDY and special," says Menzel.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fifteen "It's also really timely be-
years ago, one of the top cause we have a voice
films in the land was "Find- right now and 'Wicked' is
ing Nemo" and Shania about not being ashamed
Twain played the Super to have that voice when
Bowl halftime show. 50 it's powerful and even an-
Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tr- gry and fierce. We can't
yin'" was a hit album and be afraid of how that will
a couple of witches-to-be be perceived. We have to
took over Broadway. own that. Harnessing that
The musical "Wicked" shook kind of power is what really
off some tepid reviews to makes change and what
roar into Broadway history true beauty is."
and this Monday is cele- Chenoweth agrees: "I love
brating its coming-of-age that 'Wicked' was done
with a Halloween-themed and such a success and
NBC special starring its orig- that movies like 'Frozen' are
inal stars Kristin Chenoweth done because it's a recur-
and Idina Menzel, as well ring theme to our new gen-
as Ariana Grande. eration of girls — be strong,
"First of all, I can't believe it's be courageous, stick up for
been 15 years. I think it was who you are and what you
yesterday. And yet it feels are and what you believe."
like it's been 15 years. So This image released by NBC shows Kristin Chenoweth, left, and Idina Menzel from the Halloween- NBC's special was filmed
themed TV special "A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years On Broadway," airing on NBC
there's that I'm battling in on Oct. 29 at 10pm ET. Oct. 16 not at Broadway's
my brain," says Chenoweth, Associated Press "Wicked" home in the Ger-
laughing. "I just wanted to shwin Theatre but in the
be in a show that someone duced in L. Frank Baum's Times sniffing that the musi- two young women — one empty Marquis Theatre. "A
would have heard of." "The Wonderful Wizard of cal "does not, alas, speak seemingly perfect in looks Very Wicked Halloween"
Mission, accomplished: Oz" and immortalized in a hopefully for the future of and popularity, the other a will also feature Pentatonix,
"Wicked" is Broadway's sixth 1939 film adaptation. The the Broadway musical." restless, green-skinned out- Adam Lambert and Ledisi.
longest running show and is songs by Stephen Schwartz Variety called it "lumber- sider — finding their voices "Wicked" came at an impor-
regularly sold out, last week include "Defying Gravity," ing, overstuffed" and New and forging a bond despite tant time for Menzel, whose
commanding a $120 aver- ''Popular" and "For Good." York's Daily News described their differences. career was struggling after
age ticket. There is current- "I knew it was something it as "an interminable show "It's a testament to the she was dropped by her re-
ly a North American tour, a special," says Menzel, who with no dramatic logic or piece, to how good 'Wick- cord company. The char-
West End production and had already achieved emotional center." ed' is that 15 years later, acter of Elphaba was the
another touring the United success in "Rent" when she Fans politely disagreed. it's even more important perfect role for the actress,
Kingdom. The ice cream tried out for "Wicked" direc- The show went on to win a and really resonates with who would go on to sing
company Ben & Jerry's has tor Joe Mantello. She said Grammy Award and three this movement that we're "Let It Go" for "Frozen."
launched a special sand- she shook while rehearsing Tony Awards, opening in in. And how wonderful to "I was really insecure. I
wich in its honor. the songs: "I knew I thought 16 countries including Bra- have two female-centric hadn't worked in a little bit
The musical reimagines the it was important and it zil, South Korea, Germany, characters who end up and so I was trying to find
relationship between the moved me when I first au- Japan, Australia and Latin supporting each other my process. I was compet-
Good Witch of the North ditioned and got a call- America. The musical pre- and loving each other and ing and I was battling my
(Chenoweth) and the back." miered long before the changing each other and own insecurities just like my
Wicked Witch of the East Critics were not always #MeToo movement but has accepting in each other character was." Menzel
(Menzel), who were intro- kind, with The New York benefited from its focus on what makes them different would win a Tony for the
role.
Abbott uses skills as a master storyteller in 'Three Beths' Chenoweth, a Tony- and
Emmy Award-winner who
would go on to have parts
By JEFF AYERS ter? This incident causes master storyteller to con- on "The West Wing," ''Glee"
"The Three Beths" (Grand suspicion, but instead of vey a complicated and and NBC's "Hairspray Live!,"
Central Publishing), by Jeff searching for answers, the ambitious tale that seems remembers first getting a
Abbott police accuse her father straightforward but is full of taste of "Wicked" when
In "The Three Beths" by Jeff again of killing Beth, even twists and red herrings. He Schwartz asking her to stop
Abbott, Mariah Dunning though a body hasn't been also keeps the story moving by his Los Angeles home to
has wondered about her found. Mariah decides to without falling into cliches hear him sing her "Popular."
mother's disappearance search for answers, what- or over-the-top revelations. She adored it but made it
for six months. Mariah's fa- ever the cost. The mystery works because her own by adding a little
ther is suspected of killing The first thing Mariah learns of the terrific characters flip, making it "pop-u-lar."
Beth Dunning and hiding is that her mother isn't the and the beautiful road She insists she knew "Wick-
her body, but swears he's only woman named Beth map he unveils while navi- ed" was going to be big.
innocent. One day at the to have vanished under gating the reader through Just how big?
mall, Mariah sees her moth- mysterious circumstanc- a complex landscape. This cover image released "I just remember thinking:
er wearing dark sunglasses, es. Are the three women Those who enjoy unpre- by Grand Central Publishing 'This is so big. I feel this could
and when Mariah confronts somehow related — or is it dictable stories can never shows "The Three Beths," by be big. Like, I think this
her, she flees. Why would a fantastic coincidence? go wrong diving into the Jeff Abbott. could be 'Cats,'" she says,
Beth run from her daugh- Abbott uses his skills as a world of Jeff Abbott.q Associated Press laughing. "And I'll leave you
with that."q