You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked and won a Tony for 1999's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV -- The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Sesame Street...oh, and her Huge Hit Sitcom Kristin on NBC. (Huge hit. L.A. breast-implant huge. Ask either of the people who watched it.) Or maybe you saw her sexy spread in FHM magazine? Or her appearance on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club? Kristin is a wonderful collection of contradictions -- but everyone who's ever met her remembers her as the little girl with the big voice. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package.
In this lively, laugh-out-loud book, Kristin shares her journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to Broadway leading lady, reflecting on how faith and family have kept her grounded in the dysfunctional rodeo of show biz. The daughter of an engineer and a nurse, Kristin was singing in front of thousands at Baptist conventions by age twelve and winning beauty pageants by age twenty-two. (Well, actually she was second runner-up almost every freaking time. But, hey, she's not bitter.) On her way to a career as a professional opera singer, she stopped in New York to visit a friend and went on a whim to an audition. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall.
Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep; it's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams -- over the rainbow and beyond.
Kristin Chenoweth's autobiography, A Little Bit Wicked, is a fun, funny, sometimes self-deprecating look at this hugely talented vocalist/actress' career thus far. The Tony winner (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and star of Wicked (as Glenda, the 'good' witch), among many other Broadway shows tells of her life with candor and honesty, with many a backstage tale about her route to the top of Broadway's echelon and her experiences on network television - from her little known sitcom, Kristin, to The West Wing and Pushing Up Daisies.
This is an enjoyable, fun read. If you're a fan of this talented lady or just a fan of Broadway and musicals, you will find A Little Bit Wicked to be a lot of fun. Highly recommended.
NOTE TO PUBLISHER/EDITOR! -- Typo on page 176 (today instead of toady) which really affects the meaning of the sentence...
Those who are a fan of Kristin Chenoweth are sure to love A LITTLE BIT WICKED. Much like Kristin herself, this is a very funny and entertaining memoir.
It is very fast paced. You can hear Kristin's distinctive voice on every page. There is even a section written by Kristin's close friend, SPORTS NIGHT / WEST WING creator Aaron Sorkin (who based a character in one of his TV shows on her). Sorkin's section makes you wish he would write his own memoir.
There are parts of the book I wish had been a bit longer (WICKED seems to be rushed through) and it does seem to skip around a bit. But I'm not complaining.
Obviously, Kristin Chenoweth is far too young for an autobiography, but this is the perfect moment in her life and career for a "so far, so good" memoir, and I was happy to help her do that. I've never worked with anyone who has more talent or tries harder, and I've never had so much fun on a ghostwriting project. Kristin is such a what-you-see-is-what-you-get person, it was easy to catch her unique voice on the page. I think you'll enjoy hanging out with her as much as I did. (And you won't have to work as hard to keep up!)
If you're looking for a fusty mug of theatre history, this ain't it. "A Little Bit Wicked" is more like a fizzy champagne flute of laughter and tears, offering a delicious slice of Kristin's not-always-charmed life, including her thoughts on adoption, faith, and family, the ins and outs of show biz, and the ups and downs of love. (She even gives famously on/off romantic interest Aaron Sorkin the opportunity to add his own "He Said" to the story, which he does with trademark humor, warmth, and style.)
Kristin Chenoweth radiates the joy of an artist at work. She can raise the ceiling seven inches in a symphony hall, blow the doors off Broadway, or melt a movie camera. Offstage and behind the scenes, she's smart, funny, ridiculously generous, and genuinely sweet. An amazing performer and an extraordinary human being...with just enough of a wicked streak to keep things interesting.
