‘Wicked’ star spices up Holiday Pops! concerts

A truly “Wicked” star is helping the Modesto Symphony Orchestra spread holiday cheer.

Broadway singer Alli Mauzey, who has portrayed Glinda in “Wicked,” will be the featured vocalist at the orchestra’s annual Holiday Pops! concerts this weekend at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The seasonal show will be led by associate conductor Ryan Murray and include performances by the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus and well as the Turlock High School Cantate.

Anaheim-native Mauzey made her Broadway debut in the company of the show “Hairspray” in 2003, not long after it opened. Then in 2007 she began her mutli-year association with “Wicked,” the Tony Award-winning, re-imagined prequel to the “The Wizard of Oz.” She has played the “Good Witch” Glinda in the New York, San Francisco and national tour productions. Her most recent stint with the company was in 2013, when she reprised her role as Glinda for the special 10th anniversary presentation.

“What’s neat about that role is there is such a wide vocal range, and on top of that she has to have a good sense of humor. I think in general I fit that role well; I like to be silly and can sing really high,” Mauzey said while on break at her family’s Southern California home for the Thanksgiving holiday. “I also got to sing with amazing girls; I had 12 to 13 different Elphabas (her “Wicked Witch” counterpart) I performed with. One of them became one of my best friends and was in my wedding party, and then I was in hers.”

Mauzey’s other Broadway credit includes originating the leading role of Lenora in the first production of “Cry Baby,” based on the John Waters movie, in 2008. Earlier this year she was also in a production of “Showboat” presented live at Lincoln Center that was then broadcast on PBS last month.

In addition to her work on the stage in musicals, the New York-based singer performs several symphony concerts across the country each year. Her Holiday Pops! appearance will be her Modesto Symphony Orchestra debut.

The Modesto program will feature classic Christmas and seasonal songs as well as two Broadway numbers: one from “Wicked” and one from “Phantom of the Opera.”

“It’s a very cool show; we have some really cool arrangements and jazzy standards,” Mauzey said. “There’s a beautiful arrangement of ‘O Holy Night,’ which I can’t wait to hear with the choir.”

Part of the appeal of the symphony shows, she said, is getting to work with new musicians each time and experiencing crowds across the country.

“We don’t usually get a lot of rehearsal time, but it always come together. It’s really neat to visit different towns in the United States and get a different vibe of what the people are like in different cities. I get to meet all kinds of people,” she said.

Still, Mauzey said she has a particularly soft spot for the holiday symphony shows she does, such as her Modesto appearances.

“Christmas is actually my favorite holiday and favorite time of year. For me, what I love about Christmas is sharing those songs with everyone, the songs people grew up on,” she said. “It brings back memories of traditions we had as kids and new traditions we’re making as adults. It is music people know and connect with such vivid visions – me as well.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "‘Wicked’ star spices up Holiday Pops! concerts."