68. The Last Elphaba of An Era (with Mary Kate Morrissey)

Summary

Title: Detailed Summary of Sentimental Men Episode 68: The Last Elphaba of An Era (with Mary Kate Morrissey)

Podcast Information:

• Title: Sentimental Men
• Host/Author: Broadway Podcast Network
• Description: Quincy Brown and Kevin Bianchi discuss and celebrate their favorite women in musical theatre.
• Episode: 68. The Last Elphaba of An Era (with Mary Kate Morrissey)
• Release Date: February 24, 2025

---

Introduction to Mary Kate Morrissey

In this heartfelt episode, hosts Quincy Brown and Kevin Bianchi welcome Mary Kate Morrissey for an encore appearance on Sentimental Men. The conversation centers around Mary Kate's decade-long portrayal of Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked, marking the end of an era for the beloved character.

Mary Kate's Journey as Elphaba

Mary Kate Morrissey shares her extensive journey with the role of Elphaba, highlighting her progression from standby to principal Elphaba on Broadway.

• Starting Out:
  "Mary Kate Morrissey in 2015 made her Wicked debut as the Elphaba standby on the second national tour."
  (11:07)

• Becoming Principal Elphaba:
  "In 2023, Mary Kate Morrissey made her Broadway debut in Wicked as the Elphaba standby. In 2024, she took over as the principal Elphaba on Broadway."
  (10:55)

Mary Kate emphasizes the importance of perseverance and dedication, stating, "I just have to be, every single show I did, I treated it like an audition."
(18:59) This mindset enabled her to refine her performance continually, ensuring she delivered her best night after night.

Overcoming Challenges and Personal Growth

Mary Kate delves into the mental and emotional challenges of embodying Elphaba, discussing her journey towards increased self-confidence and mental health.

• Mental Health Evolution:
  "Most improved is the mental health. Like, I remember the last interview... it's so beautiful to see that you are really living in it now."
  (68:13)

• Therapeutic Practices:
  "I'm in therapy, which has been really, really, really good... just to have someone be like, be angry about this and I'm like, I'm angry about it."
  (29:23)

Mary Kate acknowledges the transformative power of her role, noting how playing Elphaba has reshaped her identity and personal outlook:
"I've been changed for good by the experience of it."
(66:15)

Reflections on Leadership and Team Dynamics

Discussing leadership, Mary Kate highlights the responsibilities that come with being the principal Elphaba, including managing personalities and supporting the ensemble.

• Leadership Qualities:
  "It's managing personalities. It's managing expectations and pressure. It's saying no to things... supporting your standby, supporting the other people in the roles."
  (26:20)

• Team Support:
  Mary Kate praises her dresser, Jessica Larson, as a pivotal support system:
  "Jessica Larson is literally with me offstage... she's always looking at me in my eyes and letting me know that I'm not alone doing this."
  (28:53)

Impact of the Wicked Movie and Audience Engagement

The conversation shifts to the release of the Wicked movie and its influence on Broadway's Wicked production. Mary Kate discusses the surge in ticket sales and the influx of first-time viewers.

• Increased Ticket Sales:
  "Wicked has always been like 90% sold. Now we're 99% sold."
  (31:03)

• Audience Reception:
  "We're having first-time viewers, which is really fun. And you can tell because the reactions in the second act are loud."
  (31:03)

Mary Kate appreciates the opportunity to connect with a broader audience and demystify the rigors of performing:
"What I wanted to show is that it's actually a lot of grit. It's grit and it's dedication and it's disciplined."
(35:50)

Embracing New Ventures and Hobbies

As Mary Kate approaches the end of her principal contract, she discusses her newfound passion for golf, which serves as a therapeutic outlet and a way to balance her intense performance schedule.

• Starting Golf:
  "I picked up golf because my mom wanted me to play. If you want to hang out with me, you got to learn how to play golf."
  (45:26)

• Golf as Therapy:
  "Golf is kind of like yoga. Every single little movement is very, very specific."
  (47:02)

Mary Kate shares how her golfing hobby has not only provided a physical and mental escape but also expanded her personal brand, leading to features in publications like Golf Digest:
"There's so much crossover between golf and theater. It's absolutely insane."
(47:07)

Advice for Upcoming Elphabas

Concluding the episode, Mary Kate offers valuable advice to new actresses stepping into the role of Elphaba. She emphasizes the importance of building a supportive team and maintaining personal well-being amidst the demands of the role.

• Building a Support System:
  "Assemble your team of avengers. Only surround yourself with people who are rooting for you and find ways to enjoy it."
  (69:19)

• Embracing the Journey:
  "It's going to be so hard, it's the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it's also... it can completely change and grow you."
  (69:27)

Mary Kate's heartfelt encouragement underscores the balance between professional dedication and personal happiness.

Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with Quincy and Kevin congratulating Mary Kate on her remarkable run as Elphaba and expressing excitement for her future endeavors, including her golfing adventures and potential new roles.

---

Notable Quotes:

1. Mary Kate Morrissey on Treating Every Show Like an Audition:
   "I just have to be, every single show I did, I treated it like an audition."
   (18:59)

2. On Mental Health Improvement:
   "Most improved is the mental health. Like, I remember the last interview... it's so beautiful to see that you are really living in it now."
   (68:13)

3. On Leadership and Team Support:
   "It's managing personalities. It's managing expectations and pressure. It's saying no to things... supporting your standby, supporting the other people in the roles."
   (26:20)
   "Jessica Larson is literally with me offstage... she's always looking at me in my eyes and letting me know that I'm not alone doing this."
   (28:53)

4. On Embracing Golf as a Hobby:
   "Golf is kind of like yoga. Every single little movement is very, very specific."
   (47:02)
   "There's so much crossover between golf and theater. It's absolutely insane."
   (47:07)

5. Advice to Future Elphabas:
   "Assemble your team of avengers. Only surround yourself with people who are rooting for you and find ways to enjoy it."
   (69:19)
   "It's going to be so hard, it's the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it's also... it can completely change and grow you."
   (69:27)

---

Conclusion:

Episode 68 of Sentimental Men offers an intimate glimpse into Mary Kate Morrissey's extensive career as Elphaba, her personal growth, and the profound impact of her role on both her professional and personal life. Her reflections serve as inspiration for aspiring musical theatre performers, emphasizing resilience, leadership, and the importance of maintaining balance through personal passions.

Transcript

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Hi, y'all. This is Kristin Chenoweth. Hi, I'm Gloria Stefan. This is Sara Bareilles.

[Patti LuPone]

Hi, I'm Patti LuPone.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

This is Lin Manuel Miranda.

[Patti LuPone]

You're listening to the Broadway Podcast Network.

[Quincy]

And that concludes the exit interview. You may leave.

[Patti LuPone]

May leave.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

How did I do? What are my closing remarks from my bosses? What am I closing remarks? What's most improved?

[Quincy]

I'm Quincy.

[Patti LuPone]

And I'm Kevin.

[Quincy]

And this is Sentimental Men. We're here to talk and maybe scream.

[Patti LuPone]

About our favorite women in musical theater. What will he sing today? I swear to God, if what I think is going to come out of your mouth comes out of your mouth. I can feel it coming. I see trees of green Red roses too Quincy.

[Quincy]

I see em blue for me and you and I think to myself what a wonderful world.

[Patti LuPone]

I had one request and it was that you kept that particular voice off our podcast.

[Quincy]

Is that good, though?

[Patti LuPone]

It is pretty good, actually.

[Quincy]

I could go into a wonderful world.

[Patti LuPone]

You could. I'm sure there's going to be a non EC tour. Good evening, Quincy. How are you today?

[Quincy]

I'm great. We saw Carrie ellis live at 54 below last night.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

How could I be bad on a day. On the day after that?

[Quincy]

It was. I mean, you tell me.

[Patti LuPone]

It was honestly like church is like the best way to describe it. The set list, incredible. The instrument, tip top shape.

[Quincy]

She's in, pristine voice.

[Patti LuPone]

I feel like the vibe in the room last night was like, exactly perfect. Like, it was just like everybody was there to have a good time. Hear Ms. Cari Ellis sing the greatest hits of Broadway and the West End.

[Quincy]

I think our table mates may have thought we were a bit much.

[Patti LuPone]

Well, I am a bit much.

[Quincy]

Well, what's interesting is we're really not, like, I don't want the listeners to think that we're like these rowdy theater patrons. We just had two moments, one after the other. Kevin almost knocked the table down. And then I like, threw. Accidentally threw a pen at her when I was trying to sign the tab. And it happened very close, but that.

[Patti LuPone]

Wasn'T even during the show. That was literally like on the way out. Both of those things.

[Quincy]

Yeah. The. Are you guys big fans of her? I can tell. Was a little pointed, I thought.

[Patti LuPone]

We can tell. Yeah.

[Quincy]

Again, though, we're not. We're very polite audience members.

[Patti LuPone]

We're good audience members. Are we enthusiastic audience members? Yes. But I would wager that any performer would rather have a room full of us than a room full of people who are afraid to have a good Time.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Especially at a cabaret. Like, we don't go see a show and like hoot and holler.

[Quincy]

I'm just hope. I hope we're self aware. We are.

[Patti LuPone]

I think we are. Okay. I think both of us are far too insecure to be. To be unaware of how we come off in an audience situation.

[Quincy]

We got to meet listener Jay.

[Patti LuPone]

We got to meet listener Jay.

[Quincy]

So sweet.

[Patti LuPone]

Let's talk about Ms. Ellis. You kind of said. I think we were talking over each other, but she is an impeccable voice.

[Quincy]

Really pristine voice. I don't know what I was expecting, but it really was just so astonishing how easy she was doing the Broadway belts. Greatest hits. We got Don't Rain My Parade. We got I Dream to Dream, Always Starting Over, Defying Gravity Anthem from Chess. Am I missing anything?

[Patti LuPone]

Somebody to Love. Yeah, she sang Shallow. Shallow. Yeah, she SANG like all 11 o'clock numbers. Like, everything she sang was like the vocally challenging moment of that show.

[Quincy]

And everything was easy, breezy, carefree. She was having so much fun. It really, I mean, I've never seen her live and I don't think I realized how excited I was going to be to see her live until it was happening in front of me.

[Patti LuPone]

Oh, my God. I dreamed a dream.

[Quincy]

Yeah, you had a real moment.

[Patti LuPone]

I did. She's like absolutely iconic in that role. And to hear it with my ears, you know what I mean? Like so many of those, it's like, yeah, I've seen the booths, I've heard the audios.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

But with my own ears, live in the room. To hear some of that was really, really special.

[Quincy]

It reminded me of the feeling when we saw Julia Murney sing. How did we all come to this? From the Wild party. Also at 54 below. We've had some really special moments at 54 below.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. Remember when you bought a steak for Julia Marie after her show? You, me, and the Broadway medium?

[Quincy]

Yeah. I don't know. I just had last night. I was like, wow, I will always go to an elphaba's cabaret at 54 below because it is a guaranteed perfect evening.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah, I agree. Who else would you like to see?

[Quincy]

Well, we should also mention Carrie also kind of announced that she's in the second movie, which I think we kind of knew, like, before she had told us. I was like, wait, weren't the like, London Elphabas in the Wicked movie? And then she said. She also said she signed an NDA, so maybe we shouldn't be talking about it. But I don't know. Phones were Out?

[Patti LuPone]

Well, yeah. I mean, she told us she was gonna be in a movie that comes out this year.

[Quincy]

Sure. Did I ever say the name of the movie? I don't think I did. Right.

[Patti LuPone]

I don't think so. She's. Apparently, she's in a movie that comes out this year.

[Quincy]

Sounds perfect.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

And tell the listeners what you texted me last night.

[Patti LuPone]

So I'm thinking, like, where is there room for cameos in. In Part two? And the only existing.

[Quincy]

I was firing that I. Glinda's mom in Part one.

[Patti LuPone]

Well, I know that. Which was. Which didn't feel like a cameo. That felt almost like a coincidence to me because it was just kind of like, why wouldn't you pick a Glinda to be Glinda's mom if it was, like, intended to be intentional cameo? Also because it's like, she didn't even have to sing or anything.

[Quincy]

Sure.

[Patti LuPone]

You know, they were not letting Alice Fern near that score away. But I am hoping the only existing place that I can think of for a soloist would be. I hear she has an extra eye that always remains awake. I want that to be one Elphaba and then the next one. Another Elphaba is. I hear she can shed her skin as easily as a snake. And then I want to Carrie Ellis. I want Carrie Ellis. The highest female solo. I hear some rebel animals are giving her food and shelter. And then I want it to be Norbert Leo Butts. I hear her soul is so unclean, pure water could melt her.

[Quincy]

There was no Norbert in Part one. There was such a primal. He should. Could have been long, long ago, long before.

[Patti LuPone]

Oh, my God. If that was Norbert, that would have been.

[Quincy]

That would have been the moment.

[Patti LuPone]

Norbert, honestly, also could have been Elphaba's dad if we were going that route.

[Quincy]

No, that would have been cute. Wow. Imagine Idina as Elphaba's mom doing the piano sit choreography.

[Patti LuPone]

That piano boop, boop, boop, gets me every time. That's like, my exact sense of humor.

[Quincy]

Idina would really slay that moment.

[Patti LuPone]

Is this, like, very tactical sound cue happening as they, like, bump across the piano?

[Quincy]

I think you're right. That seems to me where I would stick a bunch of former Alphabet cameos in the second movie.

[Patti LuPone]

I hope if. If that's what it is. I hope it's several formers and not just, like, three other people and Carrie Ellis. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

Do we think Lucy Jones is in this movie?

[Patti LuPone]

I think she told us she wasn't. I think she told us she wasn't because she was in the show when they were filming.

[Quincy]

I think I was going to say, I want to go back and look at which former Elphabas went to the London premiere.

[Patti LuPone]

That's interesting because I know Carrie was.

[Quincy]

Like, out and about doing all of the movie stuff.

[Patti LuPone]

We'll see.

[Quincy]

Yeah. So we'll see. But that it was like a really fun evening. We learned some new information. We saw Carrie Ellison defying Gravity Live. She did her look.

[Patti LuPone]

She did the growl. Also, she served a look. The little jumpsuit.

[Quincy]

Yeah. She was serving. Kevin, who do we have on the pod today?

[Patti LuPone]

Well, Quincy, today on the podcast, we have an encore appearance by one Ms. Mary Kate Morrissey here for her exit.

[Quincy]

Interview with the Sentimental Men.

[Patti LuPone]

Her unofficial official performance review.

[Quincy]

Her words. Her words.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. As you will hear. Yeah.

[Quincy]

She literally asked us for a performance review. Didn't. At the end of it. Or final remarks towards her on.

[Patti LuPone]

Yes. She was like, so what were my strengths? What could I get better at? I'm like, everything and nothing is the answer. But no, I'm super excited. I love to have a guest back on the pod. It's always a good time. There's always a good vibe, and it's a theme.

[Quincy]

We just did had Caroline back after five years.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

As she's wrapping up her journey.

[Patti LuPone]

Five years. Quincy is insane.

[Quincy]

I know. You know what I can't do? I can't go and look at the videos that we posted at the beginning of this podcast because we both looked very different. And it makes me sad she is gone as she used to be.

[Patti LuPone]

That's tragic. But I really liked. Because we had this conversation with Mary Kate yesterday, literally, like right before seeing Carrie Ellis at 54 below. And so I feel confident saying to the listeners now that you're in for like a very good conversation with Mary Kate. Her journey, her growth with this role. No, I mean over the last nine or ten years, but over the last year, even has just. It was really incredible to hear.

[Quincy]

Really special. I'm so happy for her. I'm so impressed by her and I can't wait to see what she does after Wicked.

[Patti LuPone]

Same. Winning the US Masters or whatever the golf super bowl is.

[Quincy]

Should we just refresh the listeners on Ms. Mary Kate's resume?

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. So Mary Kate Morrissey in 2015 made her wicked debut as the Elphaba standby on the second national tour. In 2017, she was moved up to Principal Elphaba of the second national tour. In 2019, she was the. In the original cast of the Mean Girls first national tour as Gretchen.

[Quincy]

So your best friend Screwdriver as Gretchen.

[Patti LuPone]

Not as Gretchen, as. What's her name?

[Quincy]

Janice.

[Patti LuPone]

Janice. I would be so into the Gretchen too, though.

[Quincy]

I want to see her Regina. Tbh. I think in her first episode, she told us that she maybe auditioned for Regina as well.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. And she said she didn't have anything Regina enough to wear to the audition. I remember that story.

[Quincy]

It was also interesting. Both her and Caroline were, like, scooping the episode, but, like, compared the Elphaba personality to the Glinda personality at the thing. The Wiccan premiere.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. Yeah. I also not to, like, scoop the episode, but I also like to the point that she. This is good. We're giving them things to listen for. I loved. And she goes into a little more depth about this, but I love that Mary Kate has identified herself as, like, the end of an Elphaba era, because, like, we talk about the golden age and then we talk, you know, like, we have our different eras.

[Quincy]

What is this era called then?

[Patti LuPone]

I kind of want to call it the BC era. Like before Cynthia.

[Quincy]

Cynthia. Okay.

[Patti LuPone]

Bcba, bm, before movie. But it's interesting to hear a perspective on that from, like, within. Like, it's one thing for, like, us as fans to be like, oh, yeah, like, this is an era. This is an era. But to hear one of the actresses really say, like, to use that vocabulary and, like, talk about that was really interesting.

[Quincy]

We should sit down with the timeline and, like, actually look at it one day. Because I was thinking last night, Carrie Ellis, in my mind, is the end of the golden age of Broadway, which I think is around 2008. 9. I think Carrie Ellis was 2008. She replaced Stephanie J. Block. To me, Carrie Ellis is, like, the last of that age. And then we move into the, like, Mandy de Roscioli, Tealwick's Jackie Burns age. And then I think of, like, Hannah Corneau as the current age that Mary Kate is in. Current class.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. I would say. Yeah, I think I'm right there with you, actually, because who was before Hannah Cornel?

[Quincy]

Was it Jessica Vosk, maybe? Jessica Vosk is that.

[Patti LuPone]

I feel like that 15th anniversary cast was very reminiscent of the original cast. I feel like maybe not Marcy Dodd, but around then, through the 15 year, I feel like it was very much like, how can we keep the show as close to Adina and Kristen as possible? And then, like, the Hannah, the Lindsay, the Talia, Mary Kate, Alyssa Joy Fox, like, all of those girlies, I feel like were one step away from the archetype. And now we'll have whole new era. Post Cynthia era bm. Will we ever have another white Elphaba? I don't know.

[Quincy]

I was wondering that if like now it's kind of shift towards black. I think it's too soon to tell like, because it could be a one off or it could be a like shift. We gotta see also.

[Patti LuPone]

I can't wait to see what kind of wig they give her.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Will she have the braids like Cynthia? Will she have the center part like Alexia?

[Quincy]

Did we finish Mary Kate's resume? That was a crazy tangent.

[Patti LuPone]

No, we didn't. So when we started that tangent, we were at 2019 original cast of the Mean Girls tour. In 2021, after the COVID shutdown, she reopened the Mean Girls tour and was famously replaced by one Ms. Lindsay Heather Pierce. In 2023, Mary Kate Morrissey made her Broadway debut in Wicked as the Elphaba standby. And then in 2024 took over as the principal Elphaba on Broadway. And that brings us up to today.

[Quincy]

Where she's about to conclude her run.

[Patti LuPone]

And honestly, I mean, I don't want to like say, conclude her Elphaba journey, but in the progression of like standby to principal to standby to principal, and thinking of the fact that she's been playing this role for 10 years, it's like this really is such a huge chapter for Mary Kate the person. Not just like Mary Kate the actress, the Elphaba.

[Quincy]

Totally. We have gone on for too long. So let's get into this great conversation with Mary Kate Morrissey.

[Patti LuPone]

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[Kristin Chenoweth]

@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] all right.

[Quincy]

We are joined by Mary Kate Morrissey for an encore appearance on Sent Men. How much longer do you have left in the show?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I have a month almost. Today's the last day of January, right?

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

February is my last month.

[Patti LuPone]

Oh, man.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. How are we feeling? I'm feeling. I was just telling. I was just for your listeners, I was telling the sent men that this feels like my exit interview. Like, like, okay, now I've done it. Now I'm. Now it's all wrapping up. We gotta put a little bow on it.

[Patti LuPone]

I think last time we spoke was right before you went in full time.

[Quincy]

Right. You were standby.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I was standing by.

[Quincy]

And we didn't know you were going in yet.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

No.

[Quincy]

Okay, so I guess let's start there. Talk to us about how lead came your way.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I'm sure that I haven't listened to our last episode, but I feel like I probably told you guys. There's always that sort of like, can I do it? Hesitancy about it. It's such a big, big, big gig. And because I was going on so much, I really kind of felt like I could. So I said to Lisa Liguillo, our associate director, I'm your girl. Like, it's me. If you guys give it to me. Yeah, it's me. I was like, I'm doing it. I'm doing it so much right now that I know I can, and I know that I will, like, keep. Keep the show safe. And she was like, yeah, you know, you know, you. Blah, blah, blah, right? And so I saw an audition, even though I was, like, on probably three or four times, five times a week, six times, like, it was nuts. And. And she would be, like, seeing the show, and she's like, yes. And I'm like, yes. Then I would get into the room to do the audition, and she's like, it's not translating. I'm like, that's because it's theater. And I'm like, what I am doing is for 1900, not for an iPhone. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So she tried to, like, bootleg the show. That didn't work. And then I went. It was really fun to be auditioning, though, because I got to read with all the people they were bringing in for Fiyero and things like that. There's guys from Hamilton or guys from all these different. It was really fun. And I just knew that I had to be so good. I had to be so good in the show that it made their job easy. Why would you look somewhere else if what you need is right in front of you and ready?

[Patti LuPone]

Right?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So I was just like, I just have to be. Every single show I did, I treated it like an audition.

[Patti LuPone]

I remember Jenny denoia telling us when she was in a similar position moving from standby to Broadway, she was like, I had to go audition. And I literally had the fricking green, like, still in my ears from performing the Night before and, and like, you know the like mind trick that comes with having to like audition for the job you're already doing.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And what was crazy at both times I had to put myself on tape and audition I was on that night. And so I'd be like, I have to go right now because they're gonna paint me in five minutes. Yeah, like I. I'm so sorry. I love. I don't want to sing Defying Gravity another time because I have to go do it tonight live. So.

[Quincy]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So they ended up giving me the gig, which is like amazing. You know, I, I was definitely like hesitant when I got it. I was like, well I remember it selling my husband like I got the full time gig. And he was like, are we happy? Are we allowed to be happy about this? And I was like, yeah, we're happy. This is like. Cuz this is the victory lap. This is like the big dream come true. And, and now at the end of it I'm like, I can say I've done it, you know.

[Quincy]

Well, it's interesting. I was, I was listening back to the episode we did a long time ago and I feel like a common through line in that conversation was just kind of your mental health journey with the role and feeling confident within yourself. And it felt like you were kind of in a middle of the road place with how you felt about the performance you were giving in Elphaba. But it seems like we got to a very confident place by the time it came to go in for lead.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Definitely. I definitely felt like, I definitely felt like I was a great Elphaba and why would they not want me to do it all the time? So. And that took like, obviously took like a lot of work. But I, I just kept working and working and working and working in the rehearsal room and my voice lessons and just trying to get better, better, better, better, better.

[Patti LuPone]

I also feel like that whole year of the twentiet, like all of the like promotional stuff, you were there, you were like doing broadwaycon. You were doing Comic Con all of anytime Wicked needed, needed a girl Comic Con performance.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Never forget, never forget, let David Stone forget. But never forget us. Like fluorescent lights. They did not tell us that it was going to be like fluorescent lights. I think David wouldn't have let me do it.

[Patti LuPone]

But it was enter from the back of the conference room.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I was on that night too. Like it was crazy because I was doing all of that promo stuff. I was doing. It almost felt like me and Marissa Gonzalez, who's like our market, like head of marketing. It almost felt like we were campaigning for me to be the next Elphaba. And she was like, we are doing this. But then I was like on the campaign trail and also doing the job. You know what I mean? It's crazy. It was crazy.

[Patti LuPone]

I feel like you did the kind of like old school journey of like, tour, standby, tour principal, Broadway standby, Broadway principal, which is such a sort of logical progression to make through the company. In what ways did that kind of prepare you to take on the role principal on Broadway?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I have nine years of character study under my belt.

[Patti LuPone]

Holy shit.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I know her like the back of my hand. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

Yeah. Because you started in 2015.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yes.

[Patti LuPone]

Wow.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

It's a 10 year journey. When I started playing her, I didn't know. I knew nothing about myself the way that I do now. I knew nothing about her the way I do now. And just from doing it so many times in so many different conditions, I feel like I. That is something where nothing can shake me on stage and it's so fresh every night because I am just like letting myself be surprised and authentically react as her because I know how she would.

[Quincy]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So I feel like that is something that I'm grateful for. I know that not everybody wants to go the standby route. Like, we have Lyncia coming in right away into the chair, and I haven't done that in a long time. And I am grateful for my standby gig because it helped me digest all of these things about her that I needed to learn slowly. Like, I don't think I was. I think I would have been a completely different Elphaba if I hadn't had the chance to like, do the show a couple times and then think about what went wrong and take that to my voice teacher or take that to my acting coach and be like, how can I make this better? What's the vibe here? Like? And work on it that way. And I think that that is like, I don't know. I feel like it was a gift and also gift of like, work. That was employment. You know what I mean? That was solid employment with the big green machine. Like, and like government job, maybe corporate theater, but also like those people I've just become so close to and I. The culture of Wicked. I am so like, deeply ingrained in. You know what I mean? Like, when something goes down at the theater and it's. I'm like, this is my house, right? Do we need to, like, this is. This is my house. What happened? You know, it is like, even the.

[Quincy]

Small touch points like Kevin and I have had with, like, Wicked LLC and being wrapped into that whole group, it does really feel like a solid family that once you're in, if you are along for the ride, they will take good care of you.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, definitely. And we also, like, ride for each other. You know what I mean?

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

So what was going into this principal Broadway contract? What was your main objective? Having done the role in all its various forms before, what did you really want to do with this principal contract?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

When I started, I wanted to make it out alive. I was like, you know what I want to do? I want to make it out alive.

[Patti LuPone]

I want to finish.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I want to finish. I want to finish strong. Because it's not. It's not common to. And. And then as I started getting going, I. Did you guys ever listen to that show? Oh, my gosh. Now I can't even remember the name of it. It's Hunter Bell's show. But there's that song. I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing than 100 people.

[Patti LuPone]

100 people's nine favorite things?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. I had so many people tell me that I was, like, their fourth favorite Alpha bar. I was like, their friend's favorite Alpha, and people are like, yeah, you're my fourth favorite Alphabet. I'm like, you know, I'm like, that's cheeky. And I'm acknowledging that because you should never tell someone that.

[Patti LuPone]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Like, that's ridiculous. And I get it. Like, love being in the lot. I love having Adina and Shoshana and Cynthia and all these people above me. I get it. It's. I love being fourth. Fourth I could take. But I remember thinking, like, as people started telling me, you're my favorite Elphaba, I was like, that is what I want. I want to be, like, a whole group of people's first favorite because I'm the one that they saw on Broadway. And so I wanted. That was one of my objectives, just by just doing a good job. And then my other objective was to just, like, try on the qualities of leadership that come with leading a big Broadway blockbuster like this and see how I respond and see what I can learn and see how malleable I can become and strong I can become in a role like that.

[Quincy]

Talk to us a little bit more about that. What does that leadership look like?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I mean, it's managing personalities. It's managing expectations and pressure. It's saying no to things. It's saying yes to things when you don't want to do it. It's getting your ass to the show, and it's knowing when to call out. It's supporting your standby, supporting, like, the other people in the roles. It's. I just felt like there was so much opportunity for interpersonal, dynamic, learning, being, like, the star of the show and also being able to be like, but I need to know everyone on the cruise name and also their wives name. And also, I want to know, like, what's happening to my friends in the ensemble, what auditions are they going to, what injuries do they have? You know what I mean? And sort of. And when you're not in that big role, it's different. You can still do all of those things, and you should.

[Patti LuPone]

But.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

But I think because there's so much on your back as it is to see how much you can carry at once.

[Patti LuPone]

And it's interesting because I feel like everybody says playing Elphaba, like, from the downbeat to the end of the show, can be so lonely because you're by yourself the whole show. You're isolated on stage, but the other 21 hours of the day, it's the opposite of that. You're saying you're, like, nothing but involved with people and, like, making sure that there's. That those connections are there.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. I will say, though, like, I don't feel lonely in the role at all. And I think the reason is because I have the best dresser in the world. Like Jessica Larson. I don't know if you guys have met her. She's literally with me offstage. Every single change, every single. Every single time I'm off stage, she is right there, and she is bright and, like, just so generous. You know what I mean? She always has whatever I need, but she's also always looking at me in my eyes and letting me know that I'm not alone doing this. You know what I mean? So I think that, like, her also. Look at my. This is like a metaphor for how I'm doing right now. This is a metaphor. But. But she is, like. I think she is the reason why I felt lonely on the road, because you're of a different dresser in every city. You know what I mean? But I think that Jessica Larson is, like, a gift to the Gershwin theater because of her involvement. And I'm really excited for Lencia and her to grow a relationship, like, from what Jess and I learned doing it together, you know, that's interesting.

[Patti LuPone]

We haven't had a lot of people talk about the value of your dresser and, like, the difference that that can make. As much as we've heard people say, like, how difficult it can be going from city to city and having to kind of like coach a dresser through this mammoth task.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I mean, she is like, best was.

[Quincy]

This principal run a walk in the park for you. It feels like you're very settled and dropped in right now.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Honestly, I. It wasn't okay. And I was presented with a lot of challenges that I had to work myself through. And I'm in therapy, which has been really, really, really good. Like, that has absolutely saved me, I think. Just to be like, okay, just to have someone be like, be angry about this and I'm like, I'm angry about it or whatever it is. You can't take that into work. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And so I feel like I figured out ways to really helpfully get through the run, but also I feel like I'm dropped in because my identity isn't rooted in playing Elphaba. Like, that is not the only interesting thing about me. And right now I love being like, you know, my friend's friend's favorite friend of a friend to talk about, you know, like, oh, yeah, our friend is playing Alpha. How cool is that? But I do think, like, afterwards, like, I'm trying to separate myself and not let that sort of the celebrity of it all and the all encompassing work of it all define me, you know, So I feel like that has been really helpful because I go to work and I can play this role, but I'm also like, this is my job and I'm going to be done in a month and I'm ready, like, and that's. And that's great, you know? Yeah.

[Quincy]

What? Because you are playing Elphaba at a time when it is like, arguably the most popular time to be playing Elphaba. What has it been like to be doing the stage show during this whole movie bonanza?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I mean, I think the biggest difference is that the ticket prices have changed. But, like, we don't, like, we don't benefit from the movie in a really super tangible way. Like, the audiences have always been psyched to see Wicked. Like, we have always had massive crowds seeing Wicked. Wicked has always been like 90% sold. Now we're 99% sold. Like, we are that girl. We've been that girl. And I think that I'm exc. What I'm noticing now that the holidays are over is that we're having first time viewers, which is really fun. And you can tell because the reactions in the second act are loud.

[Quincy]

Oh, that's interesting.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

That is different.

[Patti LuPone]

That Is interesting. And probably people who have only seen the movie coming.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yes.

[Quincy]

And like, whoa.

[Patti LuPone]

Learning that second act.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yes. Yes.

[Patti LuPone]

He turns into what?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Exactly. Where'd she go? You know? So that has been really, really fun. And, of course, there's been, like, so much opportunity for engagement this year because everyone is looking at Wicked. And it's not just the people who always were. It's a whole new group of people who love Wicked because of the movie.

[Quincy]

And because of all of the normal mainstream people.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Normal mainstream people. And that is really, really fun. So fun. But what is different is, like, I feel like, for me, personally, because I love social and love creating, I feel like I've had a lot more opportunity to let people into what it's like to play broadcast like Elphaba on Broadway. And people are interested in seeing that because they already, like, know the story from the movie.

[Quincy]

Yeah, let's talk about that. Because you have become a, like, main fixture of my fyp.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Crazy.

[Quincy]

A couple things. How did you decide to start really leaning into that? And also, it is such a touch point for Wicked on, like, how much we can document of our backstage life. What have those discussions been like?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Well, I've always loved to make content. I mean, like, if the real ones know, like, me and GC were, like, rewriting the lyrics to other musicals and putting them in Oz. Like, when we were on tour in 2017, like, we have been doing weird, funny stuff for us for forever. And then, like, last year with Ali, like, I love Ali so much. So we were like, all right, we're sitting around. Let's make some videos, do that kind of thing. But I feel like with. With this, I really wanted to. I think I got sick of people being like, you just work at night. And I was like, I feel like y'all don't know what goes into this. And so the first couple.

[Patti LuPone]

A football player only works at night too.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, exactly. So the first couple videos I made of, like, the ordinary day were received in such a way, especially by people I admire in other roles that I was like. Because they were like, you are showing something that we. That I know that is real, that I. I'm. I feel seen by watching her. And I was like, oh, I'm gonna keep doing this, because this is fun. And it's also something that I could do by myself, like, quietly. So I was like, love this. And then the. The degree in yap was just, like, always a part of those videos. And then I was like, I think people might actually just be interested in seeing me Talk about something. So some days I'm just like, if I, if I'm feeling good, I boop. Or if I have something to say, put my phone up. And then what's great is that I just edit them on my ride home and post them as soon as I off the train. That's like my. I give myself like a challenge. I have the 40, 40 minutes to edit it and then post it. And it just like takes me, gets me out of the show, gets me out of whatever I'm doing and into something else. It's been just like fun.

[Patti LuPone]

And then you're done with the show when you get home, you know, like, you. Yeah, that's nice. I am so jealous of like teenagers who are like experiencing Wicked with you as Elphaba for the first time. Because, like, if I had somebody like, pumping out this content of like, here's what it's like to be Elphaba, I would have eaten that. I mean, I'm 33 and I'm eating that shit up. You know what I mean? Like, so I'm like, on behalf of all of the youth, it's like, thank you for that. Because there is a kind of like Quincy was saying, there is a shroud of mystery around the off stage of Elphaba. And it's like been. I think one of my favorite parts of the movie experience has been all of those behind the scenes featurettes that we're getting of the costumes and the this and the that. And so then to be like, oh, and here's what it's like to be in the Broadway show too, is just amazing.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

People think that it's like glamour. People assume that it's like really glamorous. And what I think I wanted to show is that it's actually a lot of grit. Like, it's. It's grit and it's dedication and it's disciplined. It's not like you're. I'm not like flying high, going to parties and then can go and do the show. It's like so strictly. And I. And I wanted people to see that within the structure that you make for yourself, there is freedom. Because that can apply across so many different, different things.

[Quincy]

And what I've really appreciated about it all is there's such a lane of content for the consumer side of theater and they oftentimes we'll chime in about larger industry discussions, but there's always a missing layer of knowledge on the back end of things. And you have like, use your platform to kind of dispel some of the things that the larger discourse has taken and taken a hold of.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

For sure. For sure.

[Patti LuPone]

I would imagine it'll be nice for you a year from now, two years from now, 10 years from now, to have like a little diary of your time in this awesome experience.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, I keep thinking like, like, my friend Sam Gravett told me that I should be journaling all the time. And this is sort of like my way of. Of doing that because I like this better and I know that it feels like sometimes I'm like, wow, should I really be sharing all this stuff? Because some of this is private, but then it's a little bit like, who cares? You know what I mean? Like, I don't have anything to. I have only things to offer in this moment, and so why not share it?

[Patti LuPone]

Something I love that you bring to a lot of your content is like, like you were saying the specificity and the. What was the word that you just used? The, like, discipline of the role. And like, you'll make this content. I think, like in the last couple days where you were like, well, this feels better, but now, like, this ear feels weird and like, that's gonna affect my, you know, and it's like all of these things that, like, if you just watch the movie over Christmas break, you're not thinking, oh, yeah, like these little itty bitty things can be affecting this huge performance. Have you found any, like, increased grace being given to you because you're sharing so much of your day to day?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I think that I've had people say like, wow, I didn't realize it was like this. You know what I mean? But I do think I was hoping to be extended grace with some of this stuff, especially around sickness. Because like, everybody, anytime I would post about being sick or having my ears clogged or anything, I'd have like 150 people being like, oh my God, my ears clogged too. You share what you found or like, oh my gosh, I've had laryngitis for the last three weeks. Help. What are you doing? Blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, the. And so you have like that side of it that's like, oh, we're all sick, which is great. And then you have the other side of it, People being like, wow, you're sick a lot. And it's like, no, I'm sharing when I am. When you are sick, you can do your job. When you are. When you have a cold, you can do your job. When I had a cold, I could play Janice like you. You could you can do anything. But when I'm playing Elphaba, it is a different beast. And I am like losing my mind, getting myself well because I want to be in as many shows as possible. And so it's hard when people don't see that I'm sharing this to be like, I'm trying to get back. I'm trying to get back. I'm showing you what I'm doing to get back. I'm not showing you what I'm doing because I'm out.

[Quincy]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

You know what I mean?

[Patti LuPone]

Right.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And I've actually had like a very, very healthy run and haven't had like any major injury or any major sickness that has taken me like out of the show for an extended period of time. And I, I sometimes I worry about like sharing all of the hardship of it will define the my like, run long term legacy.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So I have to be a little bit careful about that. But it's also like so normal for people to like be sick in New York in the winter and that just like fucking is what it is. Yeah.

[Quincy]

And it's like you are an Elphaba who is in the show. It's not like you have this era around you of calling out.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, no, no. I mean, I hope not. I mean, I do like six or seven shows a week.

[Quincy]

So. What has been the high and low of this principal contract?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Oh, that's a good question. I think that the high has got to just like, be doing it and like be the girl in the chair and have the authority of that and be in like the, like, owning it, the ownership, like letting myself really feel the ownership of it and letting myself like, pat myself on the back for doing it and doing a good job. Because I do believe that I'm doing a good job. That's probably the other best part is that I actually truly believe that I'm doing a good job. And I go out there every night.

[Quincy]

Thinking, like, sounds so therapeutic.

[Patti LuPone]

That's such a shift. Yes. This is such a shift from the last time we spoke to you. It makes me so happy.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I. But I believe it. I believe it and I. And I feel like I'm really proud of that shift. It was a mindset shift. And I feel like once I started to like, let myself enjoy it and think, like, think like, no, I've got this, I felt like my show just got better and better and better and better and better. And I felt more comfortable and safe and grounded and real in it. And so I'm really, really proud of all of the work that has gone into that to make to get me to the place where I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm just gonna go do Wicked, you know.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And it's gonna be. And I know it's gonna be great. And I'm not, like, stressed about it. I think that that has been, like, the major highlight. I feel so confident and I feel so positive, and I feel like I have a. I feel like I'm riding a wave of opportunity right now. Like, some sort of, like, momentum has, like, unlocked inside of me that has made it so that I can operate at such a high level during the show and also do, like, a thousand other things. So I think that that has been, like, seeing that, like, again, like, seeing my. The limit that I set on myself pushed even further than what I thought I was capable of, I think, is.

[Quincy]

That, well, the self confidence you've grown has allowed you to be more hungry for work and opportunity.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

For sure. For sure. So that. And then I think that the pit has probably been. God, I've had such a good time. Honestly, the pit of this is that I had a couple opportunities to do it with GC and it didn't happen. I feel like that. I feel like is probably the pit that GC and I, @ the end of this, still haven't closed our loop, you know, as, like, very best friends in the whole world and something that, like, brought us together, we still haven't gotten to, like, sing for good on the Broadway stage.

[Quincy]

That'd be special.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, it'd be special, but. And it's probably not meant to happen, which is why it didn't.

[Quincy]

But listen, there's plenty of time. Who knows what the future will bring?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

That's fair. You never leave Wicked.

[Quincy]

Can we talk about your Glinda? And because Alex came in brand new, so was there any sort of, like, hey, girl, here's how we do things around here? I got you. Talk to us about that relationship.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Dosha's a pro. She has worked on Broadway so much. This is, I think, her fourth or fifth Broadway show. Like, she has. I think she encountered some, like, blocks when it came to, like, the. Or she encountered some resistance when it came to the way that Wicked does things. But she's a pro, and she adapted and is malleable and professional and, like, figured it out for herself. And I. I love doing the show with her. I think that she is a deeply moving Glinda. She's always.

[Quincy]

She's an inspired portrayal.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. Like, she is not there for the laughs at all. She is there for to connect every single night. And I'm really lucky that I got who's like that because that's how I feel too. And so at the end of the day, I think it was a really, really good pairing and I'm like really like happy to be a colleague of hers and know her and it's been really, it's been really great and I like our show so much.

[Quincy]

So you've told us that you believe you're an actor first Elphaba and Alex seems very much of that same ilk, 100%. So it is a very perfect pairing.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

To say nothing of your amazing vocals.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah, yeah, well, and you said like last time is like all of your vocals come from the acting. Like if the, if the belief is not there, the voice is not gonna be there. And that's so tangible between the two of you. You mentioned before having the wherewithal, this contract to like be doing all this other stuff outside of playing the role, one of which is becoming a golf influencer.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Right.

[Patti LuPone]

Which is insane. Insanely cool.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Random.

[Patti LuPone]

I love all the fits. So my two part question is like one, where did that come from? And two, what is that? What would your advice be to future Elphabas about having like a non. Wicked. Yeah, like a, an outlet.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Oh my God.

[Patti LuPone]

A nice quiet hobby.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I truly, I couldn't have set myself up for success better by picking up a hobby right before playing this role because otherwise I'd be in here just like, you know what I mean? And I had something else to go and learn and go and like escape to. And like golf is kind of like yoga. Like every single little movement is very, very specific. So like anything you do will change the whole shape. Just like in yoga as soon as like you're done with the pose, like change the shape step, step, step, step, step, like that. And I had so much to learn, so it was just like so fun. But I picked up the game because my mom wanted me to play and she was like, if you want to hang out with me, you got to learn how to play golf. And I was like, well, you're my best friend, so that's what we're doing. And so I like convinced a simulator in my neighborhood to give me lessons. I took a lesson every single week for like 25 weeks or something with the same instructor, Kyla Williams at Golfy2. And it was, it was really fun. And now I have this like, for me it was just like hobby, like how fun I can go and play outside. Like me And Libby Lloyd going to the pitch and putt on a Wednesday in the morning, instead of, like, sitting in bed and rotting all day, we would just go and go to the pitch and putt and be outside for a couple hours, like, swinging the golf club like it was. It's just been so fun. But the other part of it is, like, someone was watching me and was like, hey, she's golfing to golf people. And then golf people were like, she's. Who is this? You know, like, oh, a theater person golfing.

[Quincy]

How she can't do that.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah. Huh.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And then the Golf Digest article. So I did the whole Golf Digest article about. Because it really is. There's so much crossover between golf and theater. It's, like, absolutely insane. Like, when people are like, how do you play the same course every day and it's still fun for you? It's like, well, how do you do the same show every day? Well, the elements are always different. The way I feel is always different. The swing is just a little bit different. The way I'm singing is, like, it's all the same. So. So that has been so fun. And then since the Golf Digest article came out, everybody wants to talk to me. It's crazy. Yeah, I know. And it's like, be, like a girl in golf. And everyone's, like, sitting me. I have more golf clothes than I could ever, you know, want.

[Patti LuPone]

I know. They're gorgeous.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

They're gorgeous. And, like, my. My whole, like, March and April of this, like, upcoming year is just, like, all goth.

[Quincy]

That'll be nice to kind of close the Wicked chapter and then put your thoughts elsewhere for a little bit.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, I think so too. Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Anytime somebody's like, oh, yeah, I'm leaving Wicked and I'm starting Such and Such tour or, like, going right to a regional, I'm like, aren't you tired, though?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Like, aren't.

[Patti LuPone]

Aren't you craving a nap?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Couldn't be me. It's not even, like, the nap that I need. I need to, like, completely factory reset. Like, I need to not worry about laughing out loud and how that's gonna affect my performance that night. Like, I need to, like, laugh. I need to, like, laugh without fear. And I need to, like, have a couple cocktails with my friends, and I need to spend a couple nights with my husband. Like, I need to not be. And. And I don't like my value right now. I did this big, huge year and made all this money, and I've sucked it away, and I don't need to, like, move to something for fine. Like, financially, right now, like, I just. There's no. The only reason I would move is because of ego. And I don't need, like, a show to boost my ego. Right now. I feel like I'm on top of the world.

[Quincy]

Although you have said in a recent interview that you hope your next acting gig is harder than Elphaba.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I kind of hope it's six, but.

[Quincy]

That'S a cushy gig.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

It's 90 minutes. 90 minutes.

[Patti LuPone]

One song. One song. Which one? Which one?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Aragon.

[Quincy]

Wow.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I think it's so fun. So fun. Or Cleaves. I feel like Cleaves would be so fun too, if they'd let me play her.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd say my fever dream is like six Glint or six alphabets. Elphabas and Glindas as it's easy show.

[Quincy]

To cast with Elphabas.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Oh, yeah. I remember Jackie Burns was like, hey, can you teach me the dance call for this? And I was like, jackie.

[Quincy]

Or what about a short stint in Titanique? Just, like, as a fun little quickie?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Oh, that'd be fun too. Yeah, I would do that for sure. I feel like that's like the wicked Titanic pipeline, baby.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Yes. That's because everyone wants to go do something fun. Everyone's like, give me some giggles.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

It's funny. Everything that's been coming in has been, like, in a different country. It's like, do you want to go do Miss Saigon in, like, a UK tour? Do you want to do Gatsby in South Korea? And I'm like, so right now my agents are like, we are not doing anything outside of New York. You are prepared to not work on Broadway for the next year and prepare to, like, be boots on the ground building things from the ground up. And we are going to get you, like, we're going to. You're going to originate a role. You're going to work with teams that you really want to work with. And that is where we're going to put all of our focus and all of our energy.

[Quincy]

And does that feel aligned with your spirit right now?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, yeah. Because, like, that, I think would. That would be the next challenge.

[Patti LuPone]

Because you've not originated. Right. You've originated. Opened a tour, but not originated the role. Right?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. So I just need to, like, sit. I just want to sit down and just be here and keep myself in this, like, really positive, like, high vibrational place and see what happens and see what I can make, you know?

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

Okay. So let's talk about the movie of it all.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

What was your first experience seeing the movie?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

My first experience seeing the movie was at the. The one that they threw for all of us.

[Quincy]

The friends and family thing.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

You guys were there, right?

[Patti LuPone]

We weren't.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

No. You went to the premiere in la?

[Quincy]

Yeah, and then we went to this, like, private one at Universal, which was very. It was like, four other people and kind of like a tough audience be excited about.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Not that. Yeah.

[Quincy]

But Caroline gave us her debrief of the Friends and family premiere, and it was very hilarious. So please tell us your story.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I think that. I think that it was such a whirlwind. It was such a whirlwind. And it was also, like, a day off. Right. So, like, I think all of the other witches coming into it had a different. There's a different vibe than, like, me and Alexandra, who are looking at each other. Like, we just did two shows last night, and we still have to do a show tomorrow, so let's keep going.

[Quincy]

Watch three hours of act one.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, exactly. We were like. So. So that was kind of like, a part of my experience was that, okay, I just did this twice yesterday, and I have to go do it again tomorrow. And I think we may have had a matinee on the next day. It was, like, a weird schedule. And I threw a party beforehand for the Wicked company, which was so fun, so that we could all kind of, like, go over together. And I think the most. The best. Best part about it is that I was seeing the show, seeing the movie with people who cared as much as I did about how it was going to be done. And not in a way that I was, like, watching to criticize, but watching in a way that this meant something to me. This. I've been in this world for so long, and so have all these people that I know. So that when that first. Now I'm on the Wicked, we're all, like. Everyone is immediately tears, you know, and. And I. I got to sit right next to gc, and Social was right behind me. Like, I got to be surrounded by my Glindas, and that was really, really special. And then, you know, there's always, like, the weirdness of, like, all the photos in the beginning and stuff like that. That's not.

[Quincy]

Like, did you know that was happening? Caroline had no idea any of that was happening.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Walking in, I. I did know that it was happening. I knew that Getty was going to be there. I knew that, like, it. There was going to be, like, some. I knew that they. I knew that Cynthia and Aria, Ari were coming and they were going to take pictures with us too. But the vibe was like, it's so. I wish you guys could have seen, like, the difference of the vibe between the Glindas and the Elphabas. Because, like, it was like the. The Glendas were like, take another picture, you know, and then Kristen comes in and they're all like, even gc. It's like, I see, like, I'm like, what is happening? And then all the alphabets are like, literally, we're all in the corner just like. So, like, how are your rehearsals going? Are your rehearsals good? Like, or people being like, hey, are you okay? How's it going? Do you need any, like, truly people being like, how's. How are you? Are you okay right now? Can I get you anything? Like, there's just such a. There was such a different vibe. Oh, my God. I know. And I'm in, like, in the background of some of those photos, just like, you know. But it was really. I mean, it was sweet to meet Cynthia and Ari and that was all really cool. Something else that was funny about seeing the movie is that I feel like afterwards I was talking to the crew and they were like, we were running our cues the whole time. Like, they're like, oh, my God, I gotta get the statue down. But there's all this extra time. And so that was all really fun and funny. And obviously the movie is like, so special and so beautiful.

[Quincy]

Yeah. What were your immediate takeaways from the movie?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I think my immediate takeaway was that, like, I love that they showed Asta's Ballroom from Elphaba's perspective and not from Glinda's perspective. Because in the show, I feel like it's very much from Glinda's perspective. Like, Glinda's at the front of the stage. Elphaba comes down and we're watching her, watch her and we're watching everything through Glinda's eyes. We're seeing how, like, the audience is laughing when Alfie is dancing because, like.

[Quincy]

It'S very played for laughs on stage.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And. And then Glinda comes in and makes it all better. She takes like the hard hardness of it and she soft and makes it sweet and gets everybody on board. And that's like her. That is her superpower. That is what she does in the show. But in the movie, it's so different. It's told from. Elphaba has the power in that moment. And I thought that that was like a really, really interesting, bold, different, like, sort of change in the Storytelling of it. That was really cool.

[Patti LuPone]

Mk. You and Lyssa and a third person made like a trailer watch video. Like a first reaction video. And ingrained in my mind is your reaction to them hugging in that scene. I know. Me too. Me too. And it's like, I think something that's so beautiful about the movie and especially, like, thinking about the act or the singing coming from acting is there. Like you said, there's just so much more room for them to have this emotional journey. And then obviously they're two of, like, the sickest singers in the world. World.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. The voice is insane.

[Patti LuPone]

That then when the singing comes from that, it's like, oh, I wish the stage show could be six hours long. Not for you all, but for us.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

There's something that I wish that made it into. I wish would, like, make it into the state. The stage show will never change. But, like, one thing from Asda that I wish would make it in is not even the hug. It's when Ari says it's okay. Or doesn't she say something? Like, she reaches up and she's like. Like, it's okay. Yeah. And wipes the tear. Like that got. Because in that moment, I'm like, that.

[Patti LuPone]

When she says no to Fanny and Shenzhen, when they're like, what are you doing? She's like, no.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

It's like, I think that all of those little added moments really clarify the chunk of their friendship between Popular and Defying Gravity is so there's, like no book scenes in the show that, like, explore their friendship in that way. We just kind of are like, oh, she took her glasses off. She put a flower in her hair. Now they're friends. They're good now. But to see those moments really explored, I too wish that some of that could make it into the show.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Cause I feel like that all it's kind of unsaid on stage and can't always read because the house is so big. So when you put words to it, it's like. I'm like, yes, that's exactly what that actor should be thinking in that exact moment. And they're saying it. I wish that we could do that, you know?

[Quincy]

So then what was it like to see the movie? Know that the movie has turned into such this cultural moment and then be actively having to tell that same ish story on stage. Are you able to separate it? Do you feel pressure to incorporate some elements or are you doing your thing?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

No, I mean, it's. They really have ingrained in us that it's so Separate, but also like, and I've said this on my social, like, Cynthia had so much agency in creating Elphaba. Like she had so much say. She had so much. It was such a collaborative effort on her part. And like from the braids to the nails to the way she sung things to the like the way they dressed her. And that is not what happens on Broadway. And so like I could never play Cynthia Elphaba because that is not the Elphaba that we're doing. Do you know what I mean? It's just different and that is beautiful. And I'm so glad that we have the opportunity to have that like immortalized in the movie. Like, how cool that someone got to really step with their full self into it and have it fit them and catered to them. Whereas on Broadway I feel like we are finding ways to try on the qualities of Elphaba and use that in the story. You know what I mean? Not, not ourself in it, but actually just trying on like what we have from the text, what we have from the, the design. So like there, there is, there is no way for me to, to play that side of it because that's not the show that is every night on Broadway. Does that make sense?

[Quincy]

Yeah. No. Cynthia was offered, was allowed to bring so much of Cynthia to the role.

[Patti LuPone]

And I think too like a less self confident actress playing this role on Broadway when the movie came out could have gotten stuck in that pressure.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah.

[Patti LuPone]

A little easier. You know what I mean? Like, I think it would be easy to get into self comparison when like the biggest movie in the world is also your job every night.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, but they're still on their feet at every single curtain call. And I like, I truly, I can't do anything better than what I'm doing right now. Like I'm doing my very, very best every single show. And that they like, I'm in the track right now, so I'm who you're gonna see. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it's like that's just. And that just like kind of is what it is. So that. And that's something that I'm not in control of. And that's something that like I can't apologize for. I can only be like, hey, I have worked my entire career for this moment and I'm gonna do my very best for you. And that's like kind of enough, I think personally. And so I feel, I feel like, I don't feel like the comparison thing is something we've all like, oh my God, like, she doesn't sound like Jess Vosk. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So, like, that has been, like, the whole. The story the whole time. You have to sort of shake that off your back and not let it get to you as it is.

[Patti LuPone]

I guess it's just one more Alphabet to be compared to.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

It's just one more Alphabet.

[Patti LuPone]

Now you're the fifth instead of the fourth.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Exactly. I'm like, whatever. And hopefully. And you know what? I know, too, that, like, going down the line, people will be compared to me.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Like, and. And maybe, you know, maybe I'll get lost to the ether. Maybe, like, no one will remember. That will be like the Elphaba that no one remembers. And who cares? At the end of the day, who cares? But, like. But, like, I do know that, like, Lencia coming in will be compared to me for good or for bad or, like. Yeah, it just is what it is. It's just the. And she'll be compared to Cynthia, too. Like, it's all. This is what it is. Yeah.

[Quincy]

Okay, let's talk about this next duo coming in because we have Ali Trim, who you stood by with, and Lencia, which is, like, a major moment for Wicked. Broadway.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Massive. Massive.

[Quincy]

Have we talked to either of them since the announcement? I'm sure you found out ahead of time.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Lindsay is in the building now.

[Quincy]

Wow. Okay, tell us about that.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Which is, like, a whole nother thing.

[Patti LuPone]

That's early for her to be in the building. Yeah, yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

So they gave her, I think, five weeks.

[Patti LuPone]

Wow.

[Quincy]

Wow.

[Patti LuPone]

Usually it's two, right? Two or three.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I think I had three, but. And then they're taking Jordan out of a lot of shows to rehearse with her, which is tough for me because I'm like, that's my Fiyero. But they're taking him out of a lot of shows to rehearse, which is, like, is what it is.

[Quincy]

Is she shadowing you yet or is that later?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

No, but she's going to do a lot of shadowing, I think, which will be great. I. From what I have talked to her, just from voice notes and things like that, I couldn't be more excited and feel like safe passing the wand, the broom to her. Like, she is. First of all, she's, like, an immense talent. Like, I don't know if you guys have heard her sing, but she's an immense talent. She has led a major, like, show.

[Patti LuPone]

Before, a big corporate show. Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

She's used to this dynamic. It's not gonna. It's not gonna affect her in that way, I mean, it'll affect her, but she'll be, she'll know how to handle it. And also, like, she has all of us rooting for her. I think everybody in the world is rooting for her. Everybody in the world was ready for Wicked to have a black Elphaba, and now we do. And so I think everyone just wants her to succeed. And however I can help her succeed, that is what I want. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

I'm so excited.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I'm so excited. I'm psyched for her. I hope that she. I hope that she feels settled in the role as soon as possible so that she can let herself enjoy the rest of the ride, you know what I mean? And not have it just be about doing the show and so that she can, like. Because the whole second movie's gonna come out, she's gonna get to do all that stuff. Like, I bet you Cynthia's gonna come and see her in it. Like, yeah. She's like, people, people are gonna know her name. And that is amazing. And so it is such a crazy.

[Quincy]

Time to be taking on a new role, taking on Elphaba, brand new on Broadway, with all of the movie press happening as well.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I know. So that's why I feel like as many people as can be her cheerleaders and on her support team and rooting for her, that is like, what Wicked needs. You know what I mean? We all, we only want to see her fly and do the best job. We want her to be the best Elphaba ever. You know what I mean?

[Quincy]

And she has Alli, who's comfortable in this machine already.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah. And Allie is like, what? Like, if you're going to have someone next to you, it's like, to have Ali trim. Like, I think that I was a little bit heartbroken when I heard that Ali was gonna do it, because I was looking at Jordan going, wow, Oscapella could have been the trio on stage. You know what I mean? Like, it could have been Azcapella. I mean, I'm so lucky with Sosha. But I, I, when I, when I heard it was Ali, I was like, now Allie. I know, but I'm, I'm really, I, I think. And they're both really tall. Like, I think it's gonna look good. I think that Ali, I mean, they both seem like really like, cool vibey chicks too. So I feel like they're gonna be good friends. Content's gonna be there. Like, we're gonna have lots. We will be fed, you know, And.

[Quincy]

I just think the show is gonna feel so fresh with Lyncia. I think it's gonna be a really new, good chapter turn for the stage production.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Well, it has to, right? Because this will be the first time that there will be replacements who have all seen the movie. Like, this is the first time that the people doing the show will be influenced by the movie. Whereas everyone before their shows were built without it.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

And Lyncia's building it from scratch.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

You know what I mean? Like, we're the last of the old guard.

[Quincy]

Wow.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

You know, and so now the new guard is coming in, so I feel like I'm the end of a big chapter and I feel proud of that. And I also feel really excited and proud for, like the next chapter of Wicked to happen because, like, Lord knows it needed to really exciting. Yeah.

[Quincy]

Okay. Last time we spoke, you had told us that you were feeling like a defying gravity Elphaba, and. But that that had also evolved. And you, you. You started as a wizard in I Elphaba. Where do you feel like you land on the spectrum now as you close out your Broadway principal contract?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I have been a no good deed Elphaba for a couple months now. Like.

[Quincy]

Only a couple months.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, only a couple months. And just being like. And I like what you see is what you get. Like, this is. This is it. This is who I am. Make. I am wicked. I am not Wicked. Make your own. Make up your mind. Like, like, whatever. I'm just. I'm just literally gonna keep doing me. And so I've. And I love singing that song so much right now. Like, it's just like, I just feel like it's like, I love singing that. So. But I feel like I'm moving now into, like, I'm moving into for good Elphaba, which is like, because it's been so long, you guys. Like, it's been so long.

[Patti LuPone]

It's a big chunk of your life, like, and like early 20s to early 30s without playing. Elphaba is like a huge journey to.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Go on and to even like from like our last podcast to this one. I'm a different person.

[Quincy]

You are.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

And that is because of this gig and because of playing this part and being a part of the show. And so I feel like, ready to leave it very much ready to leave it. Ready to just like close it. Close to close the grimory. But I'm also like, wow. I'm like, true. I truly have been changed for good by the experience of it.

[Quincy]

And what a beautiful blessing to be able to leave proud of what You've done.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

I know. I feel really lucky. That's therapy for you.

[Quincy]

I mean, Mary Kate, like, my heart is warmed. Your journey has been so beautiful. It's so amazing to see where you have landed with it all after this time. Just congratulations on a amazing run.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Thank you so much.

[Patti LuPone]

Congratulations.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Congratulations.

[Quincy]

And that concludes the exit interview. You may leave.

[Patti LuPone]

Yes, you may leave.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

How did I do? What are my closing remarks from my what am I closing or my what's most improved?

[Quincy]

Most improved is the mental health. Like, I remember the last interview, we ended that and I was like, what? Where is this girl's head at? Like, she is like not seeing the reality of what she's serving. And it's like so beautiful to see that you are really living in it now.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah, thanks.

[Patti LuPone]

Yeah, yeah. It feels like you're able to step outside of the machine more now than the last time we spoke to you. Which, like, I mean, we speak to full spectrum of experiences with this role. There's people who like hang up with us and they're like, I'm never doing this fucking show again. And then there's people who are like, I will do this show for five years if they ask me to. And it's just like to see you go from one extreme to the other, not those two extremes, but to just to go on such a journey personally over this contract is really like Quincy said, it warms my heart to see.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Thank you.

[Quincy]

Now, what are your final remarks for the new guard of actresses going into Wicked?

[Kristin Chenoweth]

My final remarks for the new guard would be assemble your team of avengers. Only surround yourself with people who are rooting for you and, and find ways to enjoy it. I remember Talia Suskower said to me, I was like, wow, this feels really, really hard right now. During the summertime. I was like, I just feel like I'm all. I feel like I glued to sleep and I wake up and it's, no, it can't be Dr. Dillon. No, it can't be Dr. Dillon. No, it can't be Dr. Dillon. I was like, this feels really hard. And Talia was like, you are going to miss this. This. You at some point this is going to be over. And she had just, she had just left the year before. So at some point you were going to leave and you were going to miss this. And it's hard right now, but you're not going to remember that part. You're only going to remember the fun stuff. I was like, so I would just say, like, it's going to be so hard it's the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it's also. It can completely change and grow you, you know?

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

Thank you so much for coming back, Mary Kate.

[Patti LuPone]

Thank you.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Thank you. Thanks, you guys.

[Quincy]

Can't wait to see what's next for you after your golfing adventures.

[Patti LuPone]

U.S. open. No, that's Tennis Masters. That's it.

[Kristin Chenoweth]

Oops. All right, that other preppy sport you've.

[Quincy]

Been listening to, Sentimental Men.

[Patti LuPone]

We'd like to say a big thank you. Thank you to everyone at the Broadway.

[Quincy]

Podcast Network, and a special thanks to Mikayla Reynolds and Julia DiMarzo, our photographer and logo designer. You can find Sentimental men on Instagram, TikTok and Xentmenpod, or you can email.

[Patti LuPone]

[e-mail] till next time.

[Quincy]

I'm Quincy.

[Patti LuPone]

And I'm Kevin.