Harrison's big break

For the last 15 years, Amanda Harrison has been a regular feature on the theatre scene both in Australia and overseas, but she feels she has finally “made it” after securing the coveted role of Elphaba in the upcoming Australian premiere of Wicked, which opens at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in July.

Harrison, a Helpmann Award winner and Green Room Award nominee, has most recently appeared as Ellen in Miss Saigon, a role she saw as an important lead-in to the demanding nature of Elphaba.“When Wicked was rumoured to be coming a few years ago I was really keen, but I wasn’t going to put my family plans on hold,” Harrison said.“I ended up having my daughter Grace, and then I returned to work doing Miss Saigon so the timing really is perfect.”

The 33-year-old, who is in New York with co-star Lucy Durack, found out she had been cast just before Christmas, but privacy agreements meant she couldn’t discuss the role with anyone.“I told my immediate family but that was it – I had to go to ground and turn myself into a hermit,” she said.

While Harrison has known since December that she would turn green every night from July, she had to watch as rumours about other performers constantly popped up. A strong one suggested that Pippa Grandison had been signed, sealed and delivered. Another said Idina Menzel would come to Australia to perform the first eight weeks of the Melbourne season, but there was no sign of such an announcement today, when the key casting was finally let out of the bag.“It’s going to be such a smash, it’s such an amazing show,” Harrison said.“We’ve seen it twice since being here in New York and have been totally blown away by it.”

Harrison believes playing the role will be one of the most defining periods of her career.“I’ve worked for 15 years in this industry and done some amazing things but this is it – this is the biggest thing I have ever done,” she said.“I’ve had plenty of mini-breaks but this is the big one.”

Wicked co-producer John Frost said he firmly believed Harrison and Durack would become household names thanks to the show.

Aussietheatre.com