Wicked musical stars’ special performance

While they were referring to their show’s fictional land, Sydney’s sparkling harbour, busy theatre scene, great beaches and restaurants make our own emerald city an equally exciting place to work and live, said Courtney Monsma and Sheridan Adams.

“The first time I saw Wicked was in Sydney,” Gold Coast native Monsma said.

“It’s very exciting to now be performing here in the show.”

“You can be who you are (in Sydney) and that is key to what Wicked is all about.”

Monsma plays Glinda in the hit show which is playing at The Star’s Lyric theatre until February.

Tomorrow she and co-star Adams, who plays Elphaba, will perform a medley of songs at 10th Future Sydney Bradfield Oration at the MCA.

The event is the culmination of a two week advocacy campaign that The Daily Telegraph has been running. The campaign seeks to inspire the city’s leaders to keep driving Sydney, and its people, forward with big ideas and projects to ensure the city remains truly international.

Neither performer is from Sydney but both are relishing their leading roles and their chance to live here.

Even Adams, who hails from Melbourne.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said. “The theatre scene isn’t comparable. There are a lot more smaller theatre companies putting on smaller plays and immersive theatre. I think that’s something we’re missing in Melbourne.”

The international blockbuster, inspired by The Wizard of Oz, has been running on Broadway for 20 years. It tells the story of Oz’s witches, university roommates who become unlikely friends long before Dorothy arrives.

It last ran in Australia from 2008-2011.