‘Wicked’ in Philadelphia: A Show for All Generations
Wicked in Philadelphia is a show for all generations. That’s what Olivia Valli says. Valli plays the role of Elphaba in the stage production coming to Kimmel Cultural Campus for the…
Olivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked.
Joan MarcusWicked in Philadelphia is a show for all generations. That’s what Olivia Valli says. Valli plays the role of Elphaba in the stage production coming to Kimmel Cultural Campus for the month of November. (see so many beautiful photos below) And Valli knows all about generations. Her grandfather is Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons - the subject of another Broadway show, Jersey Boys.
(Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)Olivia and I spent some time together talking about her family, her career, and the gratification she gets out of seeing the Wicked audience full of kids, parents, and grandparents each night. The show speaks to everyone on some level because, as Olivia explains in our conversation, everybody has been the underdog.
Everybody has felt like they were different or misunderstood. Whether it be the color of their skin or their gender, or because of the things they like or the things they don't like that are really popular. And unfortunately, there are people who are bullies out there, but there are more people out there who root for somebody who rises above.
Wicked is the story of Oz long before Dorothy landed there. It is the story of two women who embody what it is to be female. They are strong in their own way. What makes it powerful, is that neither is wrong. They are both right, and they are both beautiful. Olivia said:
You see 2 very powerful women in really big roles, which is not something you see often. And I think that you get the opposite ends of the spectrum you get what womanhood means differently like, whether it's super feminine or it's very tough. And all are beautiful. And you get to see unconditional love through friendship, and you get to see understanding.
I liken the show to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. A stadium filled with tens of thousands of women of all shapes and sizes. People of all backgrounds and ethnicities. Individuals who may disagree with one another on many levels, but share a love that outweighs the rest. Taylor Swift brings them together, but their respect and appreciation for each other is what fills the stadium with love.
(Photo by Natasha Moustache/Getty Images)Back to Olivia:
Often we usually see an undertone of competition among women. And this is just 2 women who just love each other, no matter what, and they're going to be there for each other, no matter what, because that is what friendship is.
Tickets for Wicked can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusGlinda glares ahead with the National Touring Company of Wicked. The show is running at the Kimmel Cultural Campus through November.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusThe company point and dance in the National Tour of WICKED. See the show in Philadelphia through November at the Kimmel Cultural Campus.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusTara Kostmayer as Nessarose in the National Tour of WICKED. Nessarose is also known as ... the Wicked Witch of the East!
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusTara Kostmayer as Nessarose & Kyle McArthur as Boq. Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East and Boq becomes the Tin Man in the National Tour of WICKED.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusSharon Sachs as the character Madame Morrible. Morrible is the headmistress at Shiz University in the production WICKED.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Elphaba's character becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Elphaba's character becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Elphaba got her name from Frank L Baum's initials.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Elphaba's character becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Elphaba's character becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Joan MarcusOlivia Valli as Elphaba and Celia Hottenstein as Glinda in the National Tour of WICKED. Glinda is the "good witch."
Joan MarcusKyle McArthur as Boq in the National Tour of WICKED. Boq's character eventually becomes the Tin Man.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusTara Kostmayer as Nessarose & Kyle McArthur as Boq. Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East and Boq becomes the Tin Man in the National Tour of WICKED.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusChristian Thompson as Fiyero in the National Tour of WICKED. Fiyero has been romantically linked to both Glinda and Elphaba.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusChristian Thompson as Fiyero in the National Tour of WICKED. Fiyero has been romantically linked to both Glinda and Elphaba. Dirty Bird.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda in the National Tour of WICKED. Glinda is best friends with Elphaba.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda in the National Tour of WICKED. Glinda is best friends with Elphaba.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda and Olivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. They're supposed to be bffs!!!
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda and Olivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Bffs.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda and Olivia Valli as Elphaba in the National Tour of WICKED. Looks like trouble ...
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusCelia Hottenstein as Glinda and Company in the National Tour of WICKED.
Wicked Philadelphia
Joan MarcusBoise Holmes as Doctor Dillamond in the National Tour of WICKED. Dillamond is a talking goat.
