Will Wicked's Chenoweth Become a "West Wing" Regular? | Playbill

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News Will Wicked's Chenoweth Become a "West Wing" Regular? It's been a busy year for Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, the former Wicked star whose upcoming films include "The Pink Panther," "Bewitched," "Asphalt Beach" and the animated Disney picture "Rapunzel Unbraided."

Chenoweth, who departed the hit musical Wicked in July, quickly landed a recurring role on the NBC series "West Wing" as a shrewd media adviser named Annabeth Schott. About her work on the long-running drama, Chenoweth told zap2it.com, "'The West Wing' has changed my life.They love that I can be a little funny, while I love that they are writing Annabeth to be very, very smart. The character already has evolved to the point where the other characters really rely on her. With my height and the way I look, it's easy for people to cast me as silly characters no one pays attention to, but not here."

Whether Chenoweth's character will succeed Allison Janney's C.J. Cregg as the White House press secretary, however, remains a secret. Says Chenoweth, "They're grooming me for something big, but they're making me keep my mouth shut. . . . This job certainly has awakened me to the here and the now, to what's happening, but I am constantly asking people to explain things about the script because I'm not by nature a political person. Allison said, 'Oh, you should have seen me my first year; I had no idea what I was doing or saying.' As long as I understand what Annabeth is talking about, I have no trouble doing the walk-and-talks."

Chenoweth will also be seen this week on PBS' airing of last season's Candide concerts. The broadcast will air at 8 PM ET on Jan. 12. Chenoweth stars as Cunegonde with Tony winner Patti LuPone as the Old Lady. Chenoweth will also star in the City Center Encores! mounting of The Apple Tree in May.

 
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