CHICAGO (CBS) — Could Broadway’s next star be waiting for their big break in Chicago?
Hundreds of hopefuls lined up Monday at Ballet Chicago, 17 N. State St., for their chance at a choice role on “Wicked.” The producers held an open casting call for singers and lead roles in both the New York and touring shows.
The line snaked around the corner onto Washington Street.
Those who auditioned were asked to sing 16 bars a cappella from a contemporary musical theater song to demonstrate their range. Sopranos were given the opportunity to sing 16 bars of a traditional legitimate musical theater song to extend their range.
Sydney Mistretta — who is from Louisiana and goes to school in Ohio — arrived in line around 9:45 a.m. She had been in line for a few hours when CBS 2 spoke to her – and she said she would be thrilled to get a role.
“It would mean everything,” she said. “This would be the first big show I would ever be on.”
Mistretta said she would love to star in “Wicked.” Tommie Billups, who was from Indiana, said the same thing.
“I just want to be part of this musical,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed watching.”
William Toney came from Milwaukee to audition.
“To be honest, I’m cool with just ensemble. I’m cool with ensemble work – it’s a big ensemble show,” he said. There aren’t many big leading roles for the boys.”
Toney said he planned to sing “Make Them Hear You” from “Ragtime” for his audition.
“I did children’s theater when I was younger, and ‘Defying Gravity’ [from ‘Wicked’] was one of the songs we did for one of our summer programs, so definitely kind of a full-circle moment,” he said.
Daja Smith, who goes by “Day Kay” on social media, said she hopes to get the role of Elphaba.
“Let’s manifest it,” she said. “You guys better take a look at me now – I know all my choruses.
“Wicked” is based on Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which in turn features L. Frank Baum’s iconic early 20th century novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz “, is reimagined. ,” and the 1939 film adaptation starring Judy Garland.
It tells the story of two witches from the Land of Oz: Elphaba, later the Wicked Witch of the West, and the good witch Glinda.
The original Broadway production opened in New York in 2003 and is still running at the Gershwin Theater, at 222 W. 51st St. in Midtown Manhattan. A run in Chicago began in 2005, originally starring Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba, at the Oriental Theater Ford Center for the Performing Arts – since renamed the James M. Nederlander Theater, at 24 W. Randolph St.
This Broadway in Chicago series “Wicked” broke box office records, running over 1,500 performances and grossing over $200 million.
While the Broadway show closed in Chicago in 2009, a touring production has returned to Chicago several times:most recently in 2022.
A London production of “Wicked” has also been running since 2006.
