Buy Tickets to see Wicked!
WICKED Musical currently playing on tour in Los Angeles, CA (till Feb. 02, 2025) and moves to San Diego, CA (from Feb. 05, 2025)

Archive for August 26th, 2013

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Derek Klena, the California native joined the Wicked Broadway Musical show in late May, is putting his own spin on Fiyero, the Winkie prince who captures the heart of Glinda and Elphaba.

Derek Klena in Wicked Broadway as Fiyero

Derek Klena in Wicked as Fiyero

Broadway.com recently caught up with the 21-year-old actor to chat about leading the 10th anniversary cast, reuniting with his Dogfight co-star Lindsay Mendez and how he went from baseball player to Broadway star.

Read the chat below:

We love watching you on Fly Girl. How is acting on Broadway different than your experience leading an off-Broadway musicals?
The stakes are a lot higher on Broadway; there’s so much more going on and everything’s so much more intricate. It’s definitely more intimidating. And going into Wicked, I don’t have the privilege of originating my role like I did with Carrie and Dogfight.

What makes your Wicked and Dogfight leading lady Lindsay Mendez the ultimate co-star?
We just instantly clicked! We’ve developed this great friendship, and that’s been the key to us being compatible on stage. Anything that she does or anything that I do, we are there 100% for each other, and that’s all you can ask for in a co-star—trust and respect. That’s what makes this show so much more enjoyable, having someone like that by your side—a co-pilot.

Wasn’t Wicked your first Broadway show? How did it feel to make your debut in it?
Surreal. When I saw the show eight years ago, I had no idea I would get the opportunity to perform it someday. It was just a dream I had when I was younger. It’s kind of unbelievable to be working with Joe Mantello and the group at Wicked, which I’ve idolized all these years. Fiyero is a role I’ve always wanted to play, and I’m actually getting to experience that on the Broadway stage.

What would you have said if someone had told you eight years ago that you’d be playing Fiyero in the 10th anniversary cast of Wicked?
I would have said, “Yeah right, I want to play baseball.” [Laughs.] At the time, I was pretty into sports; I didn’t know yet that this is what I wanted to pursue. Seeing Wicked definitely sparked that in me and pushed me to pursue it as a career. It’s kind of bizarre that it took me to Wicked.

When you were growing up, was it hard to be the jock who also did theater?
Yeah, it was harder when I was younger because my friends didn’t understand yet. But once high school and college rolled around, my friends matured and understood it’s kind of a cool thing; they were were blown away with the theater side of me. They grew to respect it, which was really cool to see.

Was it difficult to give up baseball?
It was. I got into UCLA for theater, and I had to make a decision whether to let baseball go. I ended up switching out of theater; I figured I could still do theater outside of school. I played baseball my freshman year as a pitcher, but at the end of the year, I realized that my true love and passion is in acting and singing. I’m glad I made that choice. I play in the Broadway softball league and a restaurant league, so I still get that sports atmosphere. I feel like I get enough playing recreationally and casually.

What is the secret to wearing the infamous Fiyero pants?
Just being fearless. The first time I put them on I was a little doubtful, but you have to wear them with pride. A lot of people come to the show knowing those pants are coming, so you’ve just got to wear them with pride.

Read the complere interview {Via Broadway.com}

Buy Wicked Broadway Tickets Online and see Derek Klena as Fiyero in Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Wicked musical touring production will be in Oklahoma City OK from September 04 to September 22, 2013. Celebrity Attractions hopes to present a spellbinding Oklahoma City season-opener with the return of “Wicked,” Broadway’s acclaimed “untold story of the Witches of Oz.” The production is a return engagement at Civic Center Music Hall.

Buy Wicked Civic Center Music Hall Tickets Online!

Wicked Civic Center Music Hall Performances:
Tuesdays, Sept. 10, 17 – 7:30 PM
Wednesdays, Sept. 04, 11, 18 – 7:30 PM
Thursdays, Sept. 05, 12, 19 – 7:30 PM
Fridays, Sept. 06, 13, 20 – 8:00 PM
Saturdays, Sept. 07, 14, 21 – 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sundays, Sept. 08, 15, 22 – 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Addition matinee on Thursday, Sept. 05 at 2:00 PM

“We are thrilled to welcome the return of ‘Wicked’ to the Civic Center Music Hall this fall,” Celebrity Attractions CEO Ed L. Payton said. ” … To say Wicked is returning to Oklahoma City by ‘popular’ demand is an understatement and after seeing how quickly tickets flew out of the box office for our last Oklahoma City engagement, I am sure the three-week run in September will be the hottest ticket in town.”

Oklahoma native Joel Ingram, a member of the tour’s ensemble, said the show’s roots in the classic tale isn’t why the show stands out, and audiences don’t have to be familiar with the original story to be enchanted by the musical.

Wicked Civic Center Music Hall Tickets are on sale now for the production which runs from September 04 to 22, 2013. Buy Wicked Oklahoma City OK Tickets Online.

Wicked The Musical Show – Tickets, Cast, Tour News Blog directory Entertainment blog search directory Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs Blog Directory & Search engine blogarama - the blog directory On our way to 1,000,000 rss feeds - millionrss.com Wicked The Musical Show - Tickets, Cast, Tour News at Blogged


Buy Tickets to see Wicked!


Buy Tickets to see Wicked!