Fairy Tale Spin: Wicked Star Chenoweth Up for Disney's "Rapunzel" with Tesori Songs

By Ernio Hernandez
14 Jul 2004

Kristin Chenoweth in Wicked.
Kristin Chenoweth in Wicked.
Photo by Joan Marcus

Wicked witch Kristin Chenoweth is up for a role as another fairy tale diva in the upcoming Walt Disney animated film "Rapunzel: Unbraided," possibly featuring songs by Caroline, or Change composer Jeanine Tesori, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The trade magazine purports that the Broadway blonde would voice the long-locked, tower beauty opposite film's "Legally Blonde" actress Reese Witherspoon. Glen Keane (supervising animator "Tarzan" and "Beauty and the Beast") is set to direct the project.

"Rapunzel: Unbraided" reportedly follows the modern-day fairy tale of a girl (Witherspoon) and boy thrown into the world of the title character filled with ogres, fairy tale characters and, yes, witches.

Chenoweth ends her reign as Glinda the Good in Wicked July 18. The actress will be seen on the big screen in the upcoming films "The Pink Panther" and "Bewitched." She has previously appeared on Broadway in Steel Pier, Epic Proportions and her Tony Award-winning turn in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Her television movie turns include the ABC musicals "Annie" and "The Music Man."

Composer Tesori, who penned Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie and Caroline, or Change, previously worked with Disney on the yet-to-be-released sequels to "Mulan" and "Lilo and Stitch". She has also teamed with Chenoweth on the NBC series "Kristin" and the song "The Girl in 14-G" featured on her solo album, "Let Yourself Go With Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra."