No One Morns The “Wicked”…

According to my friends, Hell must have officially frozen over, as, in my continued efforts to raise money for grad school, I have posted the lion’s share of my “Wicked” collectibles on eBay.

Actually, the only pieces I have decided to keep are the program from the London production, signed by Idina Menzel, Helen Dallimore, Kerry Ellis, and a few other members of the Original London cast, a poster from the London production, and an extremely rare custom made replica of Idina’s Elphaba hat from the London production.

The auction is here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110360716112

That being said, up for auction I have placed:

An original poster from the Broadway production of “Wicked” with Idina as “Elphaba”, Jennifer Laura Thompson as “G(a)linda,” and George Hearn as “the Wizard.”

A Playbill from that same period, (the last week of Idina Menzel’s run on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater).

An authentic signed head shot sent to me from Idina herself.
From the Chicago production:

A signed Playbill from August 2007 I had signed by Dee Roscoli (Elphaba), Erin Mackey (Glinda), Derrick Williams (Fiyero), Barbara Robertson (Madame Morrible), and Peter Kevoian (The Wizard),

Two, unsigned, programs from the same date.

Also, from this same date (August 15th, 2007) I have included a ticket from “Behind the Emerald Curtain” signed by Don Richard (The Witch’s Father).

Also from the Chicago production are two programs featuring Dee Roscoli and Annaleigh Ashford as Elphaba and Glinda alongside Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, and Gene Weygandt as The Wizard.

From the Chicago production, is the original poster featuring the “Ford Center for the Performing Arts: Oriental Theatre” at the base of the poster, along with a program from the Chicago production including an insert with the August 2007 cast.

A copy of the Wicked “Grimmerie” “making of Wicked” book signed by members of the Chicago production in April 2006. The book is signed by Kristoffer Cusick (Fiyero), Heidi Kettering (Nesserose), Kate Lapost (Glinda understudy), Telly Lung (Boq), among others.

From the London production, I have included three fliers given out for “Wicked Day” in London in October 2006. I picked these up, on that day, in London, and are extremelly rare. They read “Wicked Day, Sunday 29 October 1-4pm” and have a scavenger hunt type activity on the reverse.

Also from the London production is a “Which Witch Are You?” flyer, given out only on 29 October 2006 in London, during Idina Menzel’s short reprise of Elphaba. The leaflet features  photos of Menzel and Helen Dallimore above a short quiz. On the flyer’s reverse is a map of London’s Covent Garden, indicated with the day’s “Wicked” activities.

Lastly from the London production is a set of 30 rare photographs taken during Idina’s run as Elphaba. (7 September – 30 December 2006)

Lastly, a softcover, American, copy of the original novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” along with a first edition (2006) British copy of “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” along with a first edition (2005), hardcover, copy of “Son of a Witch,” a first edition (2008) copy of the second “Wicked” sequel “A Lion Among Men. ”

Personally, I am doubtful that the auction will sell at this point, but I’m hopeful!

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Goodbye, dear collectables…

Recently, I was told by a friend that iReport (of which I was previously unaware) is currently looking for stories of people who are parting with their collectables due to the economy. Anyone who has read my blog before, or knows me in person, will know that while I’m not a huge collector, I do have my vices, them being, in order of importance, “Titanic” (1997), “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) (and other works affiliated) and “I Dream of Jeannie.” In none of these areas are my collections vast.

With regards to “Oz,” I have a fair number of snow globe/ music boxes from the San Francisco Music Box Company, a number of books about the film, a signed (and personalized) photograph of Jerry Maren (the munchkin who gave Judy Garland the lollipop), a copy of the screenplay, and a small collection of books about Judy Garland one of which, Judy Garland: World’s Greatest Entertainer, I was lucky enough to have signed by Judy’s daughter Lorna Luft when I had the chance to meet her around five years ago.

“Titanic” I was fanatical about as soon as it was released, having a preexisting interest in the disaster. Over the years, I have been able to procure a signed photo from nearly the entire cast (including Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron, Kathy Bates, among others), the J. Peterman copy of Rose’s “Heart of the Ocean” necklace, a copy of her butterfly comb, a first class dining place (also by Peterman), a rare film cell, a music box, a small collection of books, the Franklin Mint “Rose” doll, and a copy of the screenplay. This entire collection, except the Rose doll and screenplay, I have recently placed on eBay as “Titanic Heart of the Ocean, Cast Signed Photo, + MORE!”,

here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110357233275

I also have a small, but growing, collection of memorabilia from “I Dream of Jeannie” a show I have adored ever since I can remember. In my small collection I have: two copies of Jeannie’s bottle, one from the 1st season (the golden vines design) with a replica Old Grand Dad crystal stopper, and a second season (purple) bottle, which I was recently lucky enough to have signed by Barbara Eden (Jeannie), the “Jeannie” Barbie from 2000, and a special edition set of the mini Jeannie and her bottle sculptures, in black and white. As I said, this collection is easily my smallest, but, especially after meeting Barbara, it is the dearest to me, especially my signed bottle.

But, given the state of the economy, and my possible admittance to graduate school in the U.K., I have decided to part with the lion’s share of my collection, and if my eBay auction for much of my Titanic collection is successful, I have determined to auction off the whole of my “Wizard of Oz” collection as a set on eBay as well. My Jeannie collection is far too dear to me to ever consider parting with, so it will be staying with me for a good long time to come!

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