Rock of Ages

Shameless!

When Kristin Chenoweth's understudy, Laura Bell Bundy (Hairspray, Ruthless), plays Glinda, the simple
aspects of her character are played with perfection and humor.

Bundy's performance is nothing short of excellent. Her voice is captivating and she sings "Popular" as
wonderfully. Her portrayal was hysterically funny as a superficial and conceited blonde, while later maturing
into a clever initiator of public opinion. Bundy's great talent has allowed her to share her abilities in this
tear-jerking yet enlightening story.
- Student Press Review, The witches are flying high, by Keesha Clark

"I just saw the show again on Sunday," Holzman told Playbill On-Line at the annual Tony Nominees' Press
Reception on May 12. "I went to see [understudy] Laura Bell Bundy [as Glinda]. I had seen Kristin the night
before do Candide [in concert at the New York Philharmonic], and I wanted to see Laura Bell, and she was great..."
- Winnie Holzman Picks Her Favorite Wicked Moment by Andrew Gans

Since we last spoke, I got to see two of my favorite musical theater leading ladies show off
their versatility to the delight of audiences. The Sunday before the Tony nominations were
announced, I finally caught standby Laura Bell Bundy as Glinda in Wicked (Kristin Chenoweth
was glittering and being gay in Candide). I've always insisted that Bundy wasn't given the proper
chance to shine in the limited role of Amber in Hairspray, and it turns out that (phew!) I was right!
She was a delightful Glinda--not getting the immediate reaction that Chenoweth does for her
entrance but making up for it by turning in a performance that builds and builds as the show
progresses. I was concerned about the age difference between the leading ladies (Bundy was just hitting puberty
back when Idina Menzel made her splash in Rent), but Bundy is a polished performer who is wiser than her years.
Hers was an effortless, crowd-pleasing performance--she made them laugh, she made them cry and, best of all,
she made them jump to their feet during the curtain call. Who could ask for anything more?
- Broadway.com, Stage Notes, by Paul Wontorek, Editor-in-Chief

"It is particularly sad for the performers to have their best efforts diminished. The lead players in "Wicked"
(Laura Bell Bundy as Glinda the Good, Idina Menzel as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, Michelle Federer
as Elphaba's sister Nessarose, who is killed by Dorothy's house, Joel Gray as the Wizard, and Norbert Leo Butz
as Fiyero, loved by both Elphaba and Glinda) gave terrific performances. Laura Bell Bundy, standing in for
Kristen Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel as Elphaba were particularly good, but all of the principals were exciting
performers. Watching Joel Gray as the Wizard, I realized I would pay almost any amount to see him as Koko,
or the Major General, or the Lord Chancellor, or in any of the other Gilbert and Sullivan comic roles.