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[0:00] Justin Clarke: In the spirit of reconciliation, the Theatre Thoughts Podcast acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all traditional custodians of the land on which our episodes are recorded.

[0:21] Sheridan Adams: So it's kind of cute to be back after having opened the show.

[0:24] Courtney Monsma: Exactly. And how are you both feeling with the show being open?

[0:27] Sheridan Adams: I mean, I think obviously very... sorry, that was my chair. Can we redo that?

[0:34] Courtney Monsma: Not the Glinda chair. I'm embarrassed. It feels really wonderful that the show is open now. I think we had a really extensive rehearsal process. So now that we're open and like living in this show, it's really such a blessing because it's such a good show and it's really nice to share it with Sydney.

[1:03] Justin Clarke: You're listening to the Theatre Thoughts Podcast, your backstage pass to the world of theatre in Australia and beyond. I'm Justin, your guide to the drama, comedy and pure magic of the stage from the heart of Australia to the grandest stages worldwide. Join us here for enlightening conversations, reviews and behind the scenes stories from the artists themselves. Subscribe for your regular dose of theatre inspiration and consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us on Instagram at theatrethoughtsaus and @ttpod_official, and discover even more over on our TikTok Theatre Thoughts Australia. So join us as we rise the curtain on a brand new episode of the Theatre Thoughts Podcast.

[1:52] Justin Clarke: Welcome everyone to a very, very, very special episode of Theatre Thoughts Podcast. I have a returning guest coming onto the podcast today who is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts. She's performed in the ensemble of Tick Tick Boom and Cruel Intentions and she's now bringing the house down as Elphaba in Wicked. It's Sheridan Adams. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[2:11] Sheridan Adams: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[2:13] Justin Clarke: And then we have a new guest, which I'm so excited to welcome onto the podcast, who graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of the Griffith University with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre. Most recently played Princess Anna in Disney's Frozen. Also performed as Catherine Howard in Six, the understudy for Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Sophia in Mamma Mia, and she was the 2018 finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment Award. It's Courtney Monsma.

[2:37] Courtney Monsma: Hi.

[2:37] Justin Clarke: Thank you so much for joining us.

[2:38] Courtney Monsma: Thank you for having me.

[2:39] Justin Clarke: I'm so excited to talk to both of you about Wicked and also yourselves as well, because I find your careers and who you are as people just fascinating and really, I think it'll be a great addition to the podcast.

[2:50] Sheridan Adams: Thank you for having us.

[2:51] Justin Clarke: Yeah, well, Sheridan, you've been on before.

[2:53] Sheridan Adams: Yes.

[2:53] Justin Clarke: To have you in person is great. It's also kind of funny, like last time, make sure I have my mic when I look at Courtney as well.

[3:00] Sheridan Adams: Yeah, the last time we spoke was pre-rehearsals.

[3:03] Courtney Monsma: Yes.

[3:04] Sheridan Adams: Pre-everything, so it's kind of like almost a different version of Sheridan, so it's kind of cute to be back after having opened the show.

[3:11] Justin Clarke: Exactly. And how are you both feeling with the show being open?

[3:14] Sheridan Adams: I mean, I think obviously very, sorry, that's my chair. Can we redo that?

[3:17] Courtney Monsma: That sounded like I farted really bad. Did you hear that?

[3:20] Sheridan Adams: You didn't hear that.

[3:21] Courtney Monsma: Not the Glynda chair.

[3:22] Sheridan Adams: Not the Glynda chair. I'm embarrassed.

[3:24] Courtney Monsma: That's right, if you put that in there, that's fine.

[3:27] Sheridan Adams: It feels really wonderful that the show is open now. I think we had a really extensive rehearsal process, so now that we're open and like living in this show, it's really such a blessing because it's such a good show and it's really nice to share it with Sydney.

[3:40] Courtney Monsma: Yeah, it's been very well received as, I mean, as you would both know, you know.

[3:47] Sheridan Adams: But I was saying to you before, like I came on opening night, my mum hasn't stopped talking about it and she was like, oh, are you meeting Elphaba and Glynda today? I'm like, yes, I am. And she goes, oh, make sure you say hi and tell me how good they were. I was like, yes, my mum will.

[3:57] Courtney Monsma: Tell her you said hi, please.

[3:58] Sheridan Adams: Yes, that is her. And I said to Sheridan last time, it's actually my dad's favourite musical, which is the weirdest thing. He loves Glynda. And so like after the show, the first time it was here, he was like, Glynda, not Glynda. Also my favourite jokes on the show revolve around Glynda in Glynda, so it makes sense.

[4:17] Courtney Monsma: Yeah.

[4:17] Sheridan Adams: I connect with your dad in that way.

[4:19] Courtney Monsma: Yeah, exactly. But I guess before we kind of get into things, I'd love for you guys to kind of chat about yourselves for a bit. What's the best things to know about Courtney and Sheridan? What do we need to know? What are the, you know, little tidbits?

[4:31] Sheridan Adams: Oh, it's nice to be asked that. I would say I'm like a massive weirdo. And I love performing and just like escaping with acting and playing roles. And I'm very grateful to be in the position that I'm in and get to play this amazing role. But I feel like a lot of what I do is part of who I am. So when people ask me who I am, I'm like, performing. I'm obviously lots of other things, but it definitely defines a lot of who I am. And yeah, that's such a beautiful, honest answer. It's nice.

[5:01] Courtney Monsma: Um, things that are good to know about me. My favourite fun fact is that I can't whistle.

[5:07] Sheridan Adams: Oh, really?

[5:08] Courtney Monsma: I know. I think it could be because I had braces. But let's be honest, I don't think I could whistle before I had braces either. Also, I think as Courtney was saying, it's nice to find something that you really, really love, such as music, theatre and acting, and then to be doing it professionally. It does feel like a huge bucket list ticking off.

[5:26] Sheridan Adams: Yeah.

[5:27] Courtney Monsma: And I identify that with that as well. So it's nice to be living it. Um, I'm thinking about getting a dog.

[5:33] Sheridan Adams: Oh, I love it, what type of dog?

[5:35] Courtney Monsma: Probably maybe a Groodle.

[5:36] Sheridan Adams: A Groodle?

[5:37] Courtney Monsma: Yeah, they're just so cute.

[5:39] Sheridan Adams: Yeah. Um, I love Taylor Swift and wombats.

[5:42] Courtney Monsma: So have you got Taylor Swift tickets?

[5:44] Sheridan Adams: I cannot confirm nor deny.

[5:46] Courtney Monsma: Oh, interesting.

[5:48] Sheridan Adams: Very, very excited. I really hope it'd be lovely. Um, it's a huge Taylor Swift fan. I'm trying to think if there's anything else that's really important to know about. You know what, I actually was at the cinemas the other night and the trailer for the Taylor Swift concert came on. And I think, yeah, there was like, because they're doing the film version of it.

[6:03] Courtney Monsma: Yeah.

[6:04] Sheridan Adams: So if you don't have tickets, you can go watch it in cinema.

[6:06] Courtney Monsma: Oh, that's lucky.

[6:07] Sheridan Adams: I sat there and I went, all right, that looks pretty good. And I was like, yeah. And it's nice that it's coming here too, because it was originally only for, I think, the U.S. market. But now the movie's coming to Australia.

[6:18] Courtney Monsma: Yeah.

[6:18] Sheridan Adams: Apparently she's going to record her concert as well.

[6:20] Courtney Monsma: Really?

[6:21] Sheridan Adams: Yeah.

[6:21] Courtney Monsma: There you go.

[6:22] Sheridan Adams: So you're in.

[6:22] Justin Clarke: Happening. Well, um, I'd love to do our one minute theatre thought, if you will. So Sheridan, you're familiar with this.

[6:23] Courtney Monsma: Yes.

[6:27] Sheridan Adams: Yes.

[6:29] Justin Clarke: Some of your answers might've changed. I don't know. We'll wait and see. But essentially they're just a whole bunch of different questions, which we'll ask in like roughly a minute. And then whatever comes off the top of your head is your answer. And then we'll go back and we'll pick apart some of your answers and go like, why'd you say that for? What's that answer? And so on. If you're into it.

[6:45] Sheridan Adams: Cool.

[6:46] Justin Clarke: Cool. Alrighty. What has been your favorite production you've seen recently?

[6:49] Sheridan Adams: Mine would be Miss Saigon. Cause it also is quite recent. I think I saw it a couple of weeks ago and I was just blown away.

[6:55] Courtney Monsma: At the opera house.

[6:56] Sheridan Adams: Yeah.

[6:58] Courtney Monsma: I will also second that, but I'll also say I recently went to New York and I got to see some incredible performances and I love Sweeney Todd.

[7:04] Sheridan Adams: I thought the set was...

[7:06] Courtney Monsma: With Josh Groban?

[7:07] Sheridan Adams: Yes, with Josh Groban. And I just thought it was incredible.

[7:10] Courtney Monsma: Yeah.

[7:11] Justin Clarke: That was also at the opera house as well.

[7:12] Sheridan Adams: Yeah.

[7:13] Courtney Monsma: I actually drove when I was living in the UK with my friends, we wanted to see Miss Saigon and we couldn't see it in London. It was in Manchester and we drove there and back on a day. It was like five hours drive or something, but it was so worth it.

[7:27] Justin Clarke: Name a play that left you speechless.

[7:29] Sheridan Adams: I wonder if my answer is still the same. Network with Bryan Cranston, which I saw in New York when I was there with university. So I think that was around 2019, I believe.

[7:40] Courtney Monsma: And then Gloria comes to mind.

[7:42] Sheridan Adams: Also, I saw that at MTC, also when I was in third year in 2019. Yeah, they hit me very, very hard and it kind of made me realise that... I mean, I love music theatre and obviously I want to do it for the rest of my life, but I also have a calling in doing straight plays as well. I just think some of the storytelling there and the drama, I have not seen in the music theatre realm yet. I haven't seen many plays, which is horrible, live at least. But if I was changing that to musical, if that's allowed.

[8:09] Justin Clarke: Yes.

[8:10] Sheridan Adams: It would be when I saw Parade recently as well.

[8:12] Courtney Monsma: Oh, okay, right.

[8:13] Sheridan Adams: And I sat in the cubicle and I bawled my eyes out and I had to, I think, wait 15 minutes at least until I could leave the theatre.

[8:20] Courtney Monsma: Right.

[8:20] Sheridan Adams: It was incredible.

[8:21] Justin Clarke: That's insane.

[8:22] Sheridan Adams: Yeah, it really... I can't stop thinking about it.

[8:24] Justin Clarke: Okay, I'll share my one after.

[8:26] Sheridan Adams: Yeah, please.

[8:27] Justin Clarke: So, I guess this is a bit of a tough one, but what is a dream role you'd love to tackle?

[8:31] Sheridan Adams: For me, it's still Jenna in Waitress.

[8:34] Courtney Monsma: Yes.

[8:34] Sheridan Adams: Yeah, yeah. We were talking about this before. I think a dream for me would be to originate a role. That would be a really cool experience, just to be able to bring my own stuff to a new character.

[8:46] Justin Clarke: Yeah, that's a great answer.

[8:48] Justin Clarke: What is your pre-show ritual?

[8:50] Sheridan Adams: Mine kind of begins as soon as I wake up now. So, I wake up and I steam and then I don't talk for half an hour. And then jump in the shower, kind of check in with my voice, have a little sing, the acoustics in the bathroom are just chest kiss. I'll have some food. That's always kind of a staple of my morning and my day. And then when it comes to before the show, I don't have too much. I like to get in a little bit earlier, just set up my dressing room. And then I'm in the chair getting green and I warm up while I get green. I chat to Jake and I chat to Kate and Dee, my lovely green team. And then right before I go on, I do my warm up and I sing The Wizard and I while Courtney is on stage in her bubble.

[9:31] Courtney Monsma: Oh, right.

[9:32] Sheridan Adams: Yeah, I need to sing that. That song I find, funnily enough, quite tricky. It's straight off the bat, too. It's straight off the bat. And after a scene where you're doing a lot of yelling, so I just like to make sure it's all there in my voice, where I might need to kind of focus on if it's not there and where I need to be more technical for that show or that performance. I go out, I have a Garethers and then I give Gareth a little fist bump before I go on as well. There's like lots of little things with people, but that's mostly my kind of daily ritual.

[9:59] Courtney Monsma: Interesting. I love that.

[10:00] Sheridan Adams: There's a lot.

[10:00] Justin Clarke: Yeah, no, I think it's great. It's really interesting to see the insight that different actors do. I love a routine like to the point where if my routine changes, I might be like freak out a little bit. It's just part of my brain. So I always will get in and I've done this for years now. We'll get into the theater an hour before the hour call and I'll do my makeup already. I'll sit there and do my makeup and that's when I'll do like a slow kind of warm up. And then once my makeup's done, I'll do a nice stretch before our actual warm up. Because in the theater, like as a principal as well, after the hour, you've got people coming in to preset your costumes, your mics going on. There's not really that time for yourself.

And I feel like I always need that alone time to just prepare to like socialize as well. Not be around people. But similarly, like when you're performing that night, you think about it throughout the day. And I'll always wake up and I don't enjoy drinking water, but I will just make myself drink water.

[11:01] Sheridan Adams: Interesting.

[11:01] Justin Clarke: Yes, I often get Gatorades, like the no sugar Gatorades because they're really yummy. And that's my way. I'll like intake water because otherwise I'll be too dehydrated.

[11:03] Justin Clarke: I do, but this sounds really bad. Sometimes I'm too lazy to boil the kettle.

[11:05] Sheridan Adams: Do you drink lots of tea?

[11:07] Sheridan Adams: It takes too long.

[11:08] Justin Clarke: You've got a lot going on.

[11:09] Sheridan Adams: I know, I know.

[11:09] Justin Clarke: You've got to get in the bubble and get out there.

[11:11] Sheridan Adams: But I do love tea. I do love tea. So yeah, and with Glinda, it's straight off the bat as well. So warming up. I'm lucky that with our kettle at home, I drink a lot of tea as well in my ritual. But it like boils to a certain temperature. So I understand like if you have a kettle that goes to 100, you've got to wait and then you've got to pour it out and you've got to wait for it to cool down. I get it.

[11:28] Justin Clarke: Hard life.

[11:30] Sheridan Adams: And the last question was, which production would you most want to see come to Australia?

[11:34] Courtney Monsma: I said American Psycho last time and I still stand by it. But funnily enough, I do love...

[12:40] Sheridan Adams: I'm so excited to be back on the podcast! It's always a pleasure to chat about WICKED and share updates.

[13:10] Courtney Monsma: Thanks for having me! I'm thrilled to be here and to talk about my role as Glinda.

[13:30] Sheridan Adams: It's been such an incredible journey stepping into the shoes of Elphaba. The energy from the audience is just electric every night.

[13:50] Courtney Monsma: Absolutely! And Glinda is such a fun character to play. The humor and heart she brings to the story are just delightful.

[14:10] Sheridan Adams: I think what makes WICKED so special is its timeless themes of friendship and acceptance. It resonates with so many people.

[14:30] Courtney Monsma: Yes! And the music is just phenomenal. I find myself humming the songs long after the show ends.

[14:50] Sheridan Adams: Speaking of the music, do you have a favorite song to perform?

[15:10] Courtney Monsma: I love performing "Popular." It's such a crowd-pleaser and always gets a great reaction.

[15:30] Sheridan Adams: That one is definitely a highlight! For me, "Defying Gravity" is an unforgettable moment. The power and emotion in that song are just incredible.

[15:50] Courtney Monsma: I can only imagine! The way it builds is just magical.

[16:10] Sheridan Adams: And the staging for that number is breathtaking. It really captures the essence of Elphaba's journey.

[16:30] Courtney Monsma: It does! I love how the show visually represents the characters' growth and struggles.

[16:50] Sheridan Adams: It's a beautiful blend of storytelling and artistry.

[17:10] Courtney Monsma: And the cast is so talented! It's a joy to work alongside such amazing performers.

[17:30] Sheridan Adams: I completely agree. The camaraderie we have offstage translates into our performances, which makes it even more special.

[17:50] Courtney Monsma: Definitely! And the support from the audience is just phenomenal.

[18:18] Sheridan Adams: It's heartwarming to see how much the show means to them.

[18:46] Courtney Monsma: Yes! We often hear stories from fans about how WICKED has impacted their lives.

[19:06] Sheridan Adams: Those moments remind us why we do what we do.

[19:34] Courtney Monsma: Exactly! It's all about connecting with people through the magic of theatre.

[20:02] Sheridan Adams: And with the show running in Sydney and soon in Melbourne, we can't wait to share that magic with even more audiences.

[20:30] Courtney Monsma: It's going to be an exciting time for WICKED fans!

[20:58] Sheridan Adams: For sure! We hope everyone comes out to see the show and experiences the wonder of WICKED.

[21:26] Courtney Monsma: Yes! It's a show that truly leaves a lasting impression.

[21:54] Sheridan Adams: And we can't wait to keep bringing it to life every night.

[22:24] Courtney Monsma: Thank you for having us on the podcast to share our experiences!

[22:52] Sheridan Adams: Thank you! It's always a pleasure to discuss WICKED and our roles.

[23:20] Justin Clarke: Welcome back to The Theatre Thoughts Podcast. Today, we have a very special episode as we are joined by the cast of WICKED Australia, including the returning guest Sheridan Adams and new guest Courtney Monsma.

[23:50] Sheridan Adams: Thank you for having us back! It's always a pleasure to chat about WICKED.

[24:20] Courtney Monsma: I'm so excited to be here and to share my experience as Glinda!

[24:50] Justin Clarke: Let's dive right in. Sheridan, you've been playing Elphaba for a while now. How has your experience been so far?

[25:20] Sheridan Adams: It's been incredible! Every performance feels fresh, and the audience's reactions keep me energized. I love exploring Elphaba's journey every night.

[25:50] Courtney Monsma: And for me, stepping into the role of Glinda has been a dream come true. The energy between Elphaba and Glinda is so dynamic, and I love bringing my interpretation to the character.

[26:20] Justin Clarke: WICKED has such a lasting impact on audiences. Why do you think it continues to resonate so strongly?

[26:27] Sheridan Adams: I think it's the themes of friendship, acceptance, and self-discovery that really connect with people. Everyone can relate to feeling different or misunderstood at some point in their lives.

[26:29] Courtney Monsma: Absolutely! Plus, the music is just so powerful. It elevates the story and makes those moments even more impactful.

[26:31] Justin Clarke: What has been a standout moment for both of you in this production?

[26:38] Sheridan Adams: For me, it’s definitely the moment when Elphaba embraces her identity. It’s such a powerful scene, and I feel the audience's energy shift in that moment.

[26:40] Courtney Monsma: I love the comedic moments as Glinda. They bring such a lightness to the show, and I enjoy making the audience laugh.

[26:42] Justin Clarke: Speaking of comedy, have you had any funny moments backstage or during performances?

[26:44] Sheridan Adams: Oh, definitely! There are always little mishaps that happen, but we just roll with it. Laughter is a big part of our backstage culture.

[26:46] Courtney Monsma: Yes! And sometimes we’ll crack jokes during rehearsals that make it hard to keep a straight face on stage.

[26:48] Sheridan Adams: It’s all about keeping the atmosphere fun and light, especially during long runs.

[26:53] Justin Clarke: That’s wonderful to hear! Now, Courtney, you mentioned your background as Princess Anna in Disney’s Frozen. How has that experience influenced your role as Glinda?

[26:55] Courtney Monsma: Playing Anna taught me a lot about bringing warmth and authenticity to a character. I think those elements are crucial for Glinda as well.

[26:59] Sheridan Adams: And both characters have such strong relationships with their counterparts, which is something I think we both draw from.

[27:01] Justin Clarke: It sounds like you both have a great synergy on stage. How do you prepare for your performances together?

[27:03] Sheridan Adams: We spend time discussing our characters and how we can support each other in our scenes. Communication is key.

[27:05] Courtney Monsma: Exactly! We also have fun together, which helps build that chemistry.

[27:09] Justin Clarke: That’s fantastic. Now, let’s switch gears a bit. How do you both feel the theatre industry has changed in recent years?

[27:11] Courtney Monsma: I think there’s been a greater emphasis on representation and authenticity in casting and storytelling. It’s so important for audiences to see themselves reflected on stage.

[27:13] Sheridan Adams: I completely agree. The conversations around mental health and well-being in the industry have also become more prominent, which is a positive shift.

[27:15] Justin Clarke: Those are great points. It’s encouraging to see the industry evolving.

[27:17] Courtney Monsma: Yes, and I think it’s making the work we do even more meaningful.

[27:19] Sheridan Adams: Absolutely! It enriches the art we create and the experiences we share with audiences.

[27:21] Justin Clarke: Well, thank you both for sharing your insights and experiences. It’s been a pleasure having you on the podcast.

[27:23] Sheridan Adams: Thank you for having us!

[27:25] Courtney Monsma: Yes, thank you!

[27:27] Justin Clarke: A massive thank you to Courtney and Sheridan for joining us as our guests on this very special episode.

[27:29] Justin Clarke: Thank you to IP Publicity and the team at WICKED Australia for helping to organize this week's episode.

[27:31] Justin Clarke: Tickets for WICKED the Musical in Australia can be booked at wickedthemusical.com.au. The Sydney season runs at Sydney Lyric Theatre until Sunday the 4th of February. WICKED will play in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre from the 6th of March 2024.

[27:33] Justin Clarke: This episode was produced by Echidna Audio. Follow them on Instagram at Echidna Audio for all their audio services.

[27:35] Justin Clarke: Once again, if you enjoyed our podcast, leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts and head to the link in this episode's description for our Instagram account, TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon.

[27:37] Justin Clarke: My name's Justin Clarke, and I'll see you next time here on The Theatre Thoughts Podcast.