Erin Wilson's Page

By Alina Gutierrez

Erin Wilson, who is currently starring as Glinda's faithful sidekick and sometimes as Head Shiztress at Shiz University in Wicked, talks to us about her journey along the yellow brick road...

Full name: Erin Wilson
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Current town: Wherever the yellow brick road leads me
Current Gig: Shen-Shen and Madame Morrible understudy in the 2nd National Tour of Wicked
Special skills: Choreography, random voices, the ability to be drama-free (as a person that is)
Pop culture guilty pleasure: I have lots: The Bravo network , Gossip Girl and Twitter
Favorite Broadway show: I have a few: Gypsy, Ragtime, West Side Story, Parade, Hello Dolly
Favorite showtune to sing: Don't Rain on my Parade

TS: How did you first become interested in theater?
EW: It has been said that I came out of the womb dancing and singing. It was just in me from the beginning. I was constantly searching out everything I could see or do in the performing world from a very young age. My parent's were very supportive. I have taken dance classes since age 3 and so on....but being stage parents was never really their thing, which is a blessing in disguise.

TS: So true! So where did you receive your formal training from?
EW: I graduated from BYU with my BFA. They have such a great music dance theater program. It was very balanced study in vocal performance, acting and dance.

TS: Were you involved in any of their productions?
EW: We only did one musical a year, which was pretty stifling as a performer. I actually worked a lot with the Hale Center Theater (in Orem, Utah) and Syd Riggs (who has since passed away) instead creating and performing in theater all year long. It was really a great place to experiment and grow as an actor.

TS: The Hale does have a pretty great reputation (word on the street is that Will Swenson and Audra MacDonald are doing a show there next summer). What shows did you participate in there?
EW: I guess I spent a lot of time in those years choreographing and assisting the director. There were times when I thought I would take that route, but the love of performing always brought me back. I played Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun with Jacob ben Widmar (Xanadu, White Christmas) and Heather Ferguson (Les Mis, Jersey Boys). I also performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , choreographed A Christmas Carol every year, and some other projects which I am blanking on right now....

TS: Oh that's great! Heather, Jacob and you have all now been cast in shows.
EW: We were a little pack in college and now we get to support each other in our professional careers. It's really fun!

TS: When did you come to New York?
EW: I decided that for one summer I would go to New York City and do my own little version of an internship. I wanted to get to know the city, figure out the audition process, etc. So, instead of doing summer stock, I headed to NYC with my sister in 2001. It was one of the best summers of my life. I did very little auditioning, but enough to get my feet wet. Yet, this was the summer I fell in love with New York. I lived with four girls in a studio (don't ask me how I endured that) without an air conditioner and had the best summer experiencing NYC. After college I worked for Tuacahn Center of the Arts (in St. George, UT) in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and then headed to NY in December of 2003.

TS: How was the audition process for you?
EW: I was very determined from the beginning and pretty much went to EVERYTHING I could get into. As a non-equity performer, at the time, I knew the best way to move forward was to get in that room. I waited for HOURS and HOURS on some days for the chance to get in. Sometimes it paid off and sometimes it didn't. I didn't have an agent, I hadn't done a school showcase, and I was on my own breaking in. I had lots of callbacks which was encouraging, but it was an audition season that I worked my tail off. It was very worth it in the end. I made a lot of great contacts during this time which led to eventual work at regional theaters.

TS: That's great! It's good to hear that you still found success on your own! So tell me about some of the shows you worked in since arriving in NYC...
EW: I've only done one show in New York. It was called The Rockae (a rock musical based on The Bacchae) by Peter Mills for Prospect Theater. It was a fantastic experience working with a show from the ground up. We were creating numbers in the show that hadn't even been written yet, so the process was hand in hand. It was pretty cool.

TS: Were you, as a performer, able to contribute to the creative process then?
EW: Yes! My choreography background came out a lot when we were stuck in a problem. I offered a lot of advice in that and much of that ended up being in the show. Just small things really, but good stuff!

TS: It's great to hear that the creators were open to the input of the performers. So tell me about your journey with Wicked.
EW: My story is kind of random for Wicked. I went to an open dance call one day for Wicked assuming I would be cut. I had to go to work later so I told myself that I wasn't even going to be singing and I would leave my heavy audition book at home (bad, bad, bad... Never do this!) I just loved doing Wayne Cilento's choreography! I went in and Wayne was actually there. I danced and lo and behold, I got kept! Luckily, I had a friend there who was also kept and she kindly lent me her book to sing something from. I didn't know anything well enough in her book to pass off so I was getting really worried. I finally decided I would sing "What I Did for Love" from A Chorus Line (not remembering that was Wayne's show! ugh!). I don't know what came over me, but I sang the crap out of that song in the room and I knew it had left an impression. I got called back and sang for Stephen Oremus.

TS: So did you get cast that day?
EW: I didn't end up booking what they were casting that day, but I was put in their files and was called back a few times until Craig from Telsey & Co. so kindly mentioned that they were just waiting for the right company for me to be put into. When I saw that a second tour was announced, I got my postcards out that day and sent one to Craig. I was called in and that was that!

TS: That's amazing. Sometimes you have to wait it out, I guess?
EW: The frustrating part was knowing that I would eventually be cast but not knowing when. As an out of work actor that is torture!

TS: So how is it being on the road with Wicked?
EW: I didn't think I would like tour life, but honestly I have really taken to it. I like the change, I like seeing new places, I love my company, so it's quite a nice experience.

TS: What can you tell us about your character, Shen-Shen?
EW: I hear stories that once upon a time Shen-Shen and Pfanee (Galinda's other friend) had a song.....I would love for that to come back!!! My track also sings "Like a terrible green blizzard....." in the top of the second act.

TS: And you've gotten to go on as Madame Morrible a few times! How was that?
EW: I absolutely love playing that role. Madame Morrible is such a fantastic woman. She is so flawed and evil. She is the ultimate in what I call "climbers." People who will do anything to get to the top!

TS: Absolutely! Because she's willing to bring down Elphaba to get to Oz!
EW: Right! I was fortunate enough to have the associate director and managing choreographer see my second performance as Madame Morrible. They gave me the thumbs up, so I was pleased.

TS: What has beeen your favorite moment of being on the Wicked tour?
EW: I think the one of my favorite moments has to be our opening night. My dear friend Libby Servais (who is also in the show) and I just looked at each other with excitement and hugged after hearing the first chord of the orchestra play. I looked at her and said, "I can't believe this is finally happening!" It was a really great moment for both of us. I have loved lots of our cast fun as well. I organized a bowling tournament which was lots of fun, as well as our backstage shenanigans! We really have a gret camaraderie in the cast.

TS: Any stories you'd like to share about the cast?
EW: Last night we said goodbye to our first cast member. During the bows Marcie and Helene grabbed Shylo (Martinez) and let her bow with them at the end. I burst into tears, it was so nice of them to do. Very classy.

TS: Do you have any pre-stage rituals?
EW: We "bubble up" every night after Glinda goes up in the bubble. We usually cheer someone who is going on, or if someone has family or friends in the audience, we cheer them on too. Sometimes its random things, like last night was about a last show,

TS: Do you have any advice for people who are out there auditioning?
EW:: I always say, do your research--know what you are auditioning for, know who you are auditioning for. Get out there and get your face in the room. You never know what other projects they are working on and getting seen is the best way to stay fresh in their minds. Also, be honest with yourself. REALLY honest. Sometimes you know what you have to do, or know when to make changes, and where to work on things. Do the work and it will pay off.

TS: If you had 5 words to describe or sum up your “Theatre Story”, what would they be?
EW: I love theater, love Erin!