So I'm thinking far ahead, to when the show is released to regional/community theaters. I belong to a large community theater with a pretty large pool of talent and resources. However, I don't think I know anyone in our company who can belt all the way up to the high notes in DG and NGD. Can you guys envision the role still working with a powerfully sung middle or head voice on the high end, or does it simply require a high belter?

1) The show won't close (giving leeway for regional/comunity theatres) for YEARS and YEARS. It also depends on the age of the girls who can belt... If their young teens, I don't suggest it (as I've been told by my voice teacher, past teacher, and choir director).

2) I can't imagine someone singing fully, then switching to headvoice, even a strong headvoice mix, for those high notes. It, to me, would just make all the emotion drop. As I'm sure you know, belting is used when a character is full of emotion, be it joy or anger or whatnot. Just hear it in your head... "No good deed, will I doooo" switch to headvoice ot more headvoice-y mix "again!" Deff not a headvoice... Then what will you suggest Glinda do? Belt? Role-reversion vocally?

And 3) So you can't belt to an F? So what? Nowadays, every girl it seems is all, "I'm a belter and..." (myself included, but then again, I wanted a cute nickname) I want to hear more sopranos in soprano roles... Not a soprano wanting to be Elphaba solely because of the magnitude of the show.

Yeah, I agree, if you're a soprano, play Glinda. If you're a mezzo who can't belt those top notes, play Nessa. Otherwise, you have absolutely no business playing Elphaba. ANYONE can head voice those top notes. Belting, them, however, is a different story.

I will say, however, that Shoshana mixes her ass off in the role. She doesn't "belt" one note, BUT, her mix is probably one of the strongest in all of MT EVER. So she's the exception.

Elphaba is a belting role. The actress needs to have a solid upper-chest voice. There are some Elphaba's who "mix" on the top notes (Shoshana Bean) but she's still a "belter". To be honest, whenever I hear an Elphaba chicken out and go into head voice it just sounds weak (especially as most high-school girls have weak middle-ranges/lower head voices). If you don't have the cast you shouldn't do the show but to be honest Elphaba shouldn't be too hard to sing for a natural belter (which aren't that hard to find).

Shoshana Bean has mixing DOWN to the point if you're just kinda listening, you'd think she was belting.

However, now I want to add: If said soprano has a STRONG mix and doesn't switch to head voice on high notes, then it's fine. Julie Reiber, Eden Espinosa (well... she's said), Kristy Cates, Coleen Sexton, Shoshana Bean... Mixers. Insane, incredible mixers. My voice teacher even says Idina Menzel is a mixer because of how high she goes.

Also I agree- I hate hearing a girl sing a belting song so well, then switch to some beautiful soprano at the end. It's like, "You're a soprano clearly. Go sing a soprano song and NAIL IT!"

Idina Menzel isn't a mixer. She's a full-on shouter lol (and I love it)

She does have a gorgeous head voice though.

Let's say I live in a small town, ok? Not a lot of belters around (I don't move to Seattle for a month...)

Yes, you're all probably right. I am just disappointed to think of the show as being impossible to put on without a singer like that. I have much more of a voice for Galinda but would really covet Elphaba... you caught me.

No, Idina is a mixer. Just not in Wicked. Listen to SWIWS. She mixes a CRAPload in that. And it's genius.

I know she can mix but she isn't a 'mixer' in general, she usually sings full belt - especially in Wicked.

She belted -or screamed- in almost every show except SWIWS (which is love) and I think she mixes in "Our Story So Far" from <i>Summer of 42'</i>.

Honestly, I think her mixing is stronger sounding than her belting... More controled and a bit warmer... It isn't screetchy.

Ever since Wicked on Broadway, she's been pretty a much a solid mixer. Her belt is kinda ruined

Her belt got stronger after Wicked on Broadway. Look at the Rent movie, Wicked London and her album 'I Stand'.