Kristin Chenoweth is currently touring and I had the opportunity to see her in Virginia this summer. She is an incredibly talented singer and actress, probably best known as the original Glinda the Good Witch from "Wicked" on Broadway. Last summer I was able to see Idina Menzel, so it was as close to seeing the original production as I could get to see them both sing songs from the musical that made them legends. And let me tell you, it was an evening I will not soon forget!
In the outside amphitheater, Kristin’s voice filled the entire space and amazed the entire audience. While there were dedicated Broadway fans such as myself there, there were also people like my stepdad, who weren’t familiar with her work. She made the show great for everyone. The set was a great mix of Broadway songs, her originals and classic songs that anyone could enjoy when matched with her fantastic voice.
She sang “Popular” from "Wicked," which had the entire crowd erupting with applause. One of my favorite things about Kristin as a performer is her use of humor, which is clearly evident when she sings this song. She also sang “Taylor, the Latte Boy” and even though the song is over ten years old, the crowd still knew the words and got excited for her to sing it.
Kristin has a conversation with her audience the entire show and you learn a lot about her family, dog and past. They all provide context for the songs she chose to sing and transitioned from one to the next. Some had the crowd laughing until they cried, such as the story where she played in the “Oklahoma version of Chorus Line." She said there was a song called “Tits and Ass” but that you can’t say that in the South, so they changed it to “Boobs and Butt”. She then sang that rendition and had the audience in hysterics.
She also was able to bring us to tears with her passion and humbleness. She was truly grateful for the opportunity to perform and looked as if she could cry right there on stage after some songs, such as covers of Judy Garland classics. Her personality and ability to do such a variety of songs made the show enjoyable for many people.
As she cracked jokes between songs and told about her thankfulness for the country, the show went by very quickly. Thankfully, it won’t be long until I see Kristin Chenoweth again. At least through my television screen she will be playing Velma Von Tussle in "Hairspray Live!" on NBC December 7th. "Descendants 2" has also started production, so we can expect the Good Witch to reprise her role as Maleficent.
Whether it is in concert, on the stage or screen, Kristin Chenoweth has been amazing crowds for years and I expect that to last for years to come.
