Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth is excited to be working on a new American musical called The Queen of Versailles. She expresses her gratitude for being able to participate in such a large-scale production at this point in her career. Chenoweth is enthusiastic about the opportunity to play a new role and be a part of a fresh project that is different from her previous experiences on stage. The show is set to make its Broadway debut in 2025, and Chenoweth is excited to be a part of this new venture.
Chenoweth discusses how she got involved in The Queen of Versailles project, revealing that the idea for the musical came from writer Lindsey, who had met the real-life Jackie at a beach club in Florida. Lindsey felt that Jackie’s story was captivating and deserved to be turned into a musical. The idea was brought to Stephen Schwartz, the composer, who then approached Chenoweth to be a part of the project. Chenoweth initially had reservations about whether Jackie’s story could work as a musical but was eventually won over by director Michael Arden’s vision for the production.
Despite her initial doubts, Chenoweth found herself falling in love with her character, Jackie, during rehearsals for The Queen of Versailles. She draws parallels between this experience and her time working on the hit musical Wicked, where her character Glinda initially played a supporting role but eventually became a central figure in the show. Chenoweth appreciates the opportunity to dive into a new character and explore Jackie’s story on stage. She is impressed by the creative team’s dedication to bringing this story to life and is excited to see how the show will come together as it prepares for its Broadway debut.
One of the challenges of working on The Queen of Versailles for Chenoweth is the multiple costume changes she has to make every night during the show. She reveals that she has to do 18 costume changes throughout the performance, which requires quick changes backstage to transition between different scenes and moments in the musical. Despite the demanding nature of these quick changes, Chenoweth embraces the challenge and views it as an exciting aspect of bringing Jackie’s story to life on stage. She appreciates the attention to detail and the commitment to creating a visually stunning production for audiences to enjoy.
Chenoweth reflects on her experience of meeting the real-life Jackie, who inspired the musical. She highlights the connection she felt to Jackie’s story and the impact it had on her portrayal of the character on stage. Chenoweth’s meeting with Jackie helped her to better understand the complexities of Jackie’s life and the challenges she faced, which informed her performance in The Queen of Versailles. By immersing herself in Jackie’s world and gaining insights from the real person behind the character, Chenoweth was able to bring authenticity and depth to her portrayal, enriching the overall storytelling of the musical.
As The Queen of Versailles prepares for its Broadway debut in 2025, Chenoweth is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this new and exciting project. She is inspired by the creative team’s vision for the musical and is eager to share Jackie’s story with audiences. Chenoweth’s enthusiasm for the show’s development and her dedication to bringing the character of Jackie to life on stage demonstrate her passion for storytelling and her commitment to creating memorable and impactful performances for theatergoers to enjoy.
