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as a completely obsessed fan of both, i would say that it's because they both have unusual music for broadway, they're both about living on teh edge and how much the characters put at risk, for elphaba it's a choice, for all the AIDS and HIV effected, hardly. but they both play to a youngish audience and have a lot of energy and as so many of you have said, share Idina in their OBCs.
Out of curiosity, when did Kendra Kassebaum play in rent and who did she play??? I saw her in wicked last year and met her on a backstage tour (cackles) she was pretty good. Nothing on Kristin obviously.
I don't like the way wicked has been all hyped up, but it is a genuinly good musical, as is rent. What are the antiwickeders reasons for their dislike?? (i'm interested because most of the people i've spoken to are either fans or antibroadway.)