Broadway Stars from the Hit Musical Wicked Fill in for an Ailing Kristin Chenoweth

·         Kristin Chenoweth is not able to perform due to illness

·         Megan Hilty and Julia Murney, who have each performed in Wicked on Broadway, join Steven Reineke and the Pops for a fantastic program of diva showstoppers

CINCINNATI—Due to illness, celebrated actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is not able to perform as scheduled for the November 13, 14 and 15 Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performances at Music Hall. Megan Hilty and Julia Murney, who have performed the signature roles of Glinda and Elphaba respectively in the Broadway hit musical Wicked, have graciously agreed to step in and perform in a program dubbed “Wicked Divas” with Steven Reineke and the Pops.  The three concerts will take place as originally scheduled.

After a year as standby (during which she made her Broadway debut opposite Tony winner Idina Menzel), Megan Hilty took over as principal Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked in May 2005, and later joined the show’s touring company, performing in Portland, Seattle and Toronto.  Ms. Hilty then joined Eden Espinosa as lead in Wicked's standing Los Angeles production at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood in 2007.  She also starred in 9 to 5: The Musical on Broadway.

Ms. Hilty has made guest appearances on numerous televisions series: Shark, The Closer, CSI, Desperate Housewives, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, and Ugly Betty. On that series, she performed as Glinda, alongside Eden Espinosa's Elphaba, in an episode entitled "Something Wicked this Way Comes." She also provided the singing voice for Snow White in Shrek The Third and the voice of Miss Lee in the Disney film The Secret of the Magic Gourd.

For more information, visit www.meganhiltyonline.com.

Julia Murney last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked after playing the role on the national tour for which she received an Acclaim Award.  Other New York credits include Lennon, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (Drama Desk nomination), The Vagina Monologues, A Class Act, Saved, Crimes of the Heart, First Lady Suite, and Time and Again (Lucille Lortel nomination). Among her television credits are 30 Rock, Sex and the City, Ed, NYPD Blue, all three Law and Orders and “about a gazillion voiceovers.”  A Syracuse University graduate, her recordings include the original cast albums of The Wild Party and A Class Act, the Grammy nominated Actor’s Fund Benefit of Hair and her first solo album, I’m Not Waiting which is available on Sh-K-Boom records.

For more information, visit www.juliamurney.com.

These Broadway divas will join Maestro Reineke and the world class musicians of the Cincinnati Pops for an unforgettable concert of showstoppers from the Great White Way, including popular favorites from Wicked.

Tickets start at $20.

Due to the artist and program change, exchanges will be offered through the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra Box Office at Music Hall with no fee.  Patrons must vist the Box Office prior to the concert they have tickets for or call (513) 381-3300.

The Cincinnati Pops is grateful to Towers Perrin for sponsoring these concerts.