Sheridan Adams defies gravity with leading Wicked role

Two decades have passed, and yet the popularity and relevance of the beloved Broadway hit Wicked continues to defy gravity! Returning to Australia with a brand new cast, this musical masterpiece is set to dazzle Perth audiences at Crown Theatre from Sunday, December 15 to Sunday, February 2—with tickets on sale now! BEC WELDON sat down with Sheridan Adams, who stars as Elphaba, to talk all things Wicked, musicals, self-care and chasing dreams.

It’s so exciting to have Wicked coming to Perth! If you’re not familiar with the Perth anguish, actually getting big musical productions from the eastern states is a huge deal! Have you been to Perth before? Is this your first time coming over?

No, I’ve been to Perth a number of times! My long-term partner, we’ve been together for, like, eight and a half years now; he is from Perth. So I like to joke, but not really joke; it’s like Perth is my second home. And I spent a considerable amount of time there during 2020, when we had lockdowns in Melbourne. My partner and I thought, oh, well, now is a really good time to go and visit the family while there obviously wasn’t any work available as actors, and there wasn’t any need to stay in Melbourne.

So we thought, hey, let’s go visit the family. And then when we got over, then that’s when all the lockdowns started kicking in. So we didn’t necessarily get stuck there, but we chose to stay there. And I was there for a number of months and. Yeah, I definitely called Perth home for a little while there. It was really lovely. Obviously very different from Melbourne. You guys didn’t have any restrictions or anything. So I walked along the beach every morning, and I went to the gym, and I was very, very grateful for that time. So yeah, definitely not my first time.

Oh, amazing, well welcome back in that case! So, for a lot of Perth people, this will probably be their first time seeing Wicked on stage. It’s known for being incredible. High-octane production value, the special effects are amazing, the costumes are just gorgeous, and everything in between. Do you have anything in store for Perth audiences? What can we expect?

Oh, what a beautiful question! What can audiences expect from Wicked? I think audiences can expect probably one of the greatest musicals ever written, and it feels really exciting as an actress to be able to say that and be within a show that I love and value so dearly and that I hold so close to my heart.

But they can also expect an emotional journey. Like you said, there was that spectacle. There are beautifully designed costumes and incredibly designed sets. But I think at its heart, Wicked has just a really moving and transformative story to tell. And I know audiences will hopefully laugh and hopefully cry. And, I think that they will leave the theatre with maybe even a little piece of Wicked that they can carry with them for the rest of their life.

I know I talk to so many people who have seen the show, whether it’s for the first time or the 50th time; it leaves such an impact and impression on people, and I like to hope that we’re doing that with our production as well.

That’s such a beautiful answer. It’s really nice as well to hear people in the arts talk so passionately, you know, at such a high level. It’s amazing. People who are making it and doing it and at a level that people aspire to, hearing them still be so passionate is so special. And moving on from that, it’s really clear from your public socials and posts that you have this overwhelming sense of, like, excitement and, like, humbleness about playing Elphaba. Can you tell me a little bit about what she means to you?

Yeah, well, she means a lot of things that I know that might sound really cliché, but she really does like, from a purely career perspective, she’s the first leading role, first role, I’ve ever played, and she’s allowed me to be employed in my first-ever professional musical.

And she has completely changed my life, and I’ve always wanted to be a leading lady of Australian stages, and I always thought that it would take a long time or a good chunk of my career to work my way up to a role like this. But Elphaba has really just completely blown my expectations out of the water for what my life and what my career could even be.

So there’s that perspective of it, and obviously Elphaba has been a dream role since I was a little girl. So she also means so much to me from a creative perspective because I’ve fallen in love with her songs, I’ve fallen in love with her story, and Wicked has always been a dream show, so I hold her really close to my heart.

And then from a personal perspective, I’ve learned so much throughout this journey as an actress and as the creative and as a person, whether it be about how I approach a character or how I deal with stress or anxiety or how I manage a big show schedule. So she means a lot to me in so many different ways because she’s forced me to learn so many lessons. I’m grateful for her. Very grateful.

What initially drew you to her?

It was actually the music, the songs. So I've always sung since I was a little girl. And I fell in love with pop music, and I never really realised until I grew up and I looked back that I fell in love with contemporary music that had a storyline and beautiful lyricism. So I loved Taylor Swift. I still love her to this day, and it's kind of funny to look back at that. I loved the musical theatre qualities of the music.

And so I've always sung, and then I discovered Elphaba songs when I was little, when I was just discovering what musical theatre was, and I grew up singing her repertoire to learn and better myself on how to be a better singer, really.

There’s an article from the Wyndham Star Weekly that I think was when you were quite young, and it talked about musical theatre being in your blood, and it was something you always wanted to do. Can you tell us a little bit about your musical theatre journey from childhood?

I've loved music and singing ever since I was little. When I got into high school, I was just looking for opportunities to perform. I actually went to the high school that I went to because they had a recording program, like recording studios and a really incredible kind of music department.

And I was just looking for opportunities to sing, and I heard of the school musical. I'd never done a musical prior, and it was, funnily enough, The Wizard of Oz. And I always joke that I’m a publicist’s dream. And so I auditioned for The Wizard of Oz, and I remember singing Somewhere over the Rainbow in my living room, and I just remember putting singing and acting together for the first time.

And it was just this indescribable feeling. It's magic. It really is magic. And I just knew from then on I was like, this is what I want to do. I didn't think necessarily at that point that I wanted it to be my career. I probably discovered that maybe another six months later. I really knew after I'd done The Wizard of Oz that that's what I wanted to chase.

I didn't know it was possible, but I just knew that I wanted to perform in musicals as much as I possibly could because I just loved it so much. And then I did all of the school musicals, and I'm really grateful to all the teachers there and all my mentors. And I was given lead roles and able to kind of like, just flex those muscles.

I was given comedic roles and dramatic roles and a soprano role and, you know, so I got to experience the breadth of what musical theatre can be, and after each and every single one, it just kind of solidified my love and solidified that that was what I want to do.

And now you’re doing it! Moving from community theatre into a fully blown career as a leading lady, can you talk us through the moment where you got the call that you were Elphaba and how that kind of happened and what it meant to you?

Ah, the memories! So I was at Southern Cross Station, which is an incredibly Melbourne thing to say, but I was at the train station, and I got a call from my agent, and I didn't know that I was seriously being considered for Elphaba. Really, throughout all of my auditions, because I didn't have what we call in our industry an ‘agent’ or ‘representation.’ So it was just me going into the auditions. So I didn't necessarily have any open communication with producers or anyone to kind of say, ‘Hey, what's going on? What are you looking at her for?’

So I just wanted to be Wicked in any capacity, and I thought maybe towards the end I could tell they were taking me seriously. I was like, maybe alternate, like maybe the standby. So I had no idea, so when I got the call, I promptly dropped to my knees and started crying. It was not what I expected at all.

It was a career-defining and life-changing moment. And I remember being on the train thinking like, it's so cliché, but ‘did that really just happen?’ like you’re in that moment of shock and it just kind of feels like a dream, it really does, I don't think ever had one of those moments in life, it was a really, really fascinating and obviously really beautiful to experience. You don't know until it happens. Like, I never thought it would, but it did!

And now it is, and it's happening, and you're literally doing it! So you’re Elphaba; can you talk us through a bit of the process of turning into Elphaba each night for audiences?

Yeah, of course. I’m sure the secrets everyone wants to know about is the ‘greenifying’ process. So many people ask me questions about the greening, and rightfully so. I watched so many YouTube videos of performers and actresses getting green in their dressing rooms, hoping one day that that would one day be me, so I totally get the hoo-ha!

So I rock up to the theatre an hour before the show begins. I mean, I actually get here a little bit earlier than that, so maybe an hour and 20. I just roll out my back, and I just do some physical things and some other things to warm up my body and just get ready because as soon as the hour begins, I have to be in the chair, and I'm getting green! So it takes around… I mean, we could get it down to 30 minutes if we wanted to, but we like to take the full amount of time. It just allows us to relax and kind of get into character and calm down before a show. So we take the full hour; we get green.

And then in act two we have a bit of a transformation. I won't spoil anything, but during the interval I get back into this chair, and I get green again, and we kind of do a completely different makeup look. And it's incredible, but it's not as painstaking or hard as people might think it is.

It’s matte chromacake, which is like a water-based, kind of like a watercolour, or a water paint. And then we have a green foundation. I mean, that's what I like to explain it as. So it's kind of just like green makeup.

Amazing. And with all that effort, you probably have the de-Elphaba-ing down to an art as well?

Yeah, look, it's definitely not difficult to get off, but it just takes a little bit of time. So I'm normally in the shower for around about 10 to 15 minutes. Because I've got to do my hands, my décolletage, my ears and my face. And my hairline, so just making sure I get it all out. So again, it's not too difficult, but it takes a little bit of time.

While we’re already on the topic of aftercare, Elphaba is a pretty intense role. It is emotional. People are going to cry, and they're going to experience the highs and lows with you. When you’re embodying that and going through it for everyone, how do you then step off stage and decompress and practice self-care to come down from that?

Self-care kind of comes under a huge umbrella for me, because when it comes to looking after myself so I can play Elphaba, it's kind of changed every single aspect of my life.

But specifically, I can answer the question, like when the show comes down and I kind of ‘de-greenify’ and I de-Elphaba, as you said, I kind of just make sure I'm really present, and I try to take my time now. I think earlier on I was very, very quick because I wanted to get out and say hello to everyone and get home to rest.

But I really take that time in the shower to take off the green and kind of say goodbye to her. And then I put on my jewellery and I say hello to Sheridan. It's a really nice way to distinguish between Sheridan and Elphaba, so I don’t take too much of it home. And that was actually some advice that I got from a fellow music theatre performer, which really, really helped me.

And then when it comes to self-care, you know, I make sure I get a nice ten hours of sleep. I don't drink. I'm careful with what I eat. I drink a lot of water. I take my vitamins, my hydrolite. If I'm particularly tired, or even if I’m not, I love the sauna and the steam room; it's really, really nice for my muscles and relaxing.

I'm often warming up and testing my voice, checking in with it, and saying no to social events and gatherings. Try to speak less. I mean, I'm a lot better at getting that work-life balance now. But it's still something I have to be thoughtful of. And then on top of that, I've also got making sure I look after my mental health and taking that time to recover and rest when I need, because that's just as important as getting out there and performing.

And just looking after myself from that perspective, making sure my well-being is in check. Whether that's through journaling or therapy or reading, like, kind of finding those self-care activities in a more literal sense as well. So, yeah, there's a lot that goes on!

So you've been performing across a couple of cities now, doing awesome things. Have you formed quite a close sort of family cast bond? Or are you all sick of each other by now?

No, we’re not sick of each other at all! Again, funnily enough, as Elphaba, I’m quite kind of… I wouldn’t say isolated, but, you know, I don’t go to cast warm-ups with everyone, and my plot is very, very demanding, so I spend a lot of my time alone.

But I do get to spend a beautiful amount of time with my ‘green team,’ as I call them—the lovely people who dress me and do my makeup. They're always around me and always in my dressing room. So we definitely share a bond.

And then when it comes to the cast, it's really funny; like, there's no company drama, there's no issues. It's just pure love and excitement, and we all kind of work together to put this show on, and that sometimes can be a rarity in any workplace, right? But I think Wicked has something special about it, and I'm really grateful to have formed some really beautiful connections with, obviously, Courtney and Liam and other people who I share the stage with as well.

Speaking of Courtney, X-Press interviewed her a couple of weeks ago and asked this question, and it was beautiful, so putting it to you too… Wicked addresses themes of social justice, power, and the consequences of standing up for what you believe is right. How do you think the musical speaks to audiences today? And what do you hope that they take away from the story?

I find that question really interesting, and I get asked it a lot. And what I find really interesting about it is that section that's like, ‘How does the Wicked speak to audiences today?’ And it's almost as if, like that part of the question, it's always spoken to audiences for 21 years. It doesn't need to even speak to the audience of today like it just does. I know that makes sense. It's always been relevant, I think, because it explores themes that really are timeless and classic.

Like, what is good? What is evil? What is power? The things you just listed. And I mean, from my personal perspective, sometimes I think it's a little sad, sometimes that it is so relevant. I feel like as humans we are not very good at learning from history. So I really love that, as a piece of theatre and a piece of art, it speaks to justice, and I think it really lends a voice to things that are needed today still. And I think we'll continue to speak to audiences for generations to come.

And not only on, you know, the political side of it. It obviously speaks to things that we all question and search for as humans. You know, what it is to be loved and accepted? What is good? What is evil? What is it to speak up for yourself and to do what is right, no matter the consequences? There is that hero's journey. And I feel really grateful that I get to tell a story that is so incredible but also is such a classic. It has that emotional impact but is also entertaining. And don't get me wrong; I love an entertaining show, but I'm so proud to be a part of a show that can possibly, maybe make a bit of a difference.

Addressing the elephant in the room, the Wicked movie is currently premiering in cinemas across the world! Are you excited? How will it feel seeing it on the silver screen while you’re also playing the character?

Oh, I'm very excited! I can't wait to see it! There's been so much publicity around it. Like there’s Wicked everything. The merchandise just surrounds me. Like, maybe it's my algorithm, but it feels like Wicked is taking over the world. And I just think they've cast it so intelligently and also brilliantly.

And I think audiences are going to see a version of Wicked that they've never seen before, but that will also kind of stay true to the source material. Because, you know, if you're going to do a film, you don't want to put everything that you can just see on stage on the screen. I like the idea that it is going to be that bit different.

So you're going to have moments of nostalgia, but you're also going to have moments of awe and experiencing something for the first time again. And I just can't wait to hear Cynthia’s voice singing everything! So yeah, I'm really, really excited, and there are two parts, so double the fun.

So, one final question for you, which feels a little cliché, but is something that’s so relevant for you at the start of what we’re all sure is going to be a wonderful, long career. You’re literally living your dream role, and it’s certain to pave the way for new beloved characters and experiences. What’s next after Elphaba—as far in the future as that may be—or what would be next after Wicked if you could pick?

Well, a simple answer would be Jenna in Waitress. She’s an absolute dream role of mine, and I saw the late Gavin Creel, and I saw Sara Bareilles, in New York with my partner, and I had never seen it before, and I didn't really know much about it, and I was just sobbing my eyes out, and it changed my life. Like how Wicked did to me, Waitress also did the same. So that's just one role that comes to mind. But I mean, in music theatre, I think we have this ability to kind of mould and adapt ourselves and picture ourselves in anything that may be able to come to Australia.

So besides Jenna, I'm just so open to any opportunity, and I don't even know where my career could go, so I think this is the true answer. Maybe I just need more ego. An ideal would be telling stories that I think really, really matter to me and being in projects that I'm really proud of. Also new Australian works. And I’d love to perform internationally or in film and TV. Like I'm definitely not limiting myself because I don't think I thought Elphaba would ever be possible.