It’s the final day of WICKED’s run here at Juanita K. Hammons Hall in Springfield, Missouri. Jada Temple, the face of Nessarose in the North American tour of WICKED, spoke to us about challenges, rituals, advice, and more in this interview! Read the full interview below:

WICKED is such an iconic musical. What was your first connection to it (seeing the tour years ago, cast recording, first show you saw on Broadway, etc.)?

I saw the Pantages production in LA in 2009 on a school field trip! Megan Hilty as Glinda and Eden Espinosa as Elphaba. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. It really changed my life, and I became obsessed.

What excites you most about performing in WICKED every night?

Thinking about all the people who are about to experience it for the first time, like I once did.

What’s the most challenging part of performing in WICKED?

Occasionally wondering if I’m even doing it all right! Or making a mistake onstage and desperately trying to cover it up and not laugh or trigger any of your cast members to laugh.

Touring means lots of travel. What’s your go-to way to make each new city feel like home?

Getting an airbnb, especially with friends, is a good way to feel settled quickly. Either way, I travel a kettle and loads of teas that I love which is a home comfort for me. Also cozy house shoes! Just a fun pair from amazon! Otherwise, I embrace how not every city may feel like home. This work is inherently transient, and there is beauty in that.

Do you have any backstage rituals or pre-show routines that help you get ready for the show?

Pre show routine starts early in the day. Making sure I’m eating well, and working out. I check in with my body and voice throughout the day, but very seriously in the late in the afternoon. For example if I’m feeling particularly tired one day, I will make sure I steam and/or nebulize. That isn’t a daily thing, but if needs be! Eating well, working out, and warming up are daily non-negotiable rituals, the rest are dependent upon how I’m feeling on that particular day!

If you could swap roles with another character in WICKED for one night, who would it be and why?

One of our ensemble members (shout-out Densky) gets to ride a scooter in One Short Day every night. And in the most lusciously curly wig at that. That’d be my pick.

What’s one small detail in the show that audiences might not notice, but you love?

That the green bottles are actual glass!

If you weren’t an actor, what profession would you pursue?

I’d work in fashion or in music, as a songwriter. I’ve only ever wanted to be an actor, but I do have a real love for music and fashion.

If you could give advice to young performers dreaming of being on a Broadway national tour, what would you tell them?

Be tenacious, don’t be afraid to say no to things that aren’t in alignment with your highest self/goals/dreams, remember that rejection is redirection, keep practicing (literally, practice singing and the like as much as you can). Also, chill out! Whatever is meant for you won’t pass you by. Enjoy your life outside auditioning and theatre.

What is your dream role?

Hmmm…a few. Any of the women in The Light in the Piazza, any of the women in LaChiusa’s The Wild Party, Elle Woods, Katherine in Taming of the Shrew, absolutely anything Sondheim.

Tickets to WICKED are on sale now online at HammonsHall.com, by phone at 417-836-7678 or at the Hammons Hall box office at 525 S John Q. Hammons Parkway. The show is recommended for audiences ages 8+. Performances are made possible through generous support from Great Southern Bank.

Ticket buyers are reminded that for Juanita K. Hammons Hall productions, HammonsHall.com is the only official retail ticket outlet and the only way to guarantee that you are paying face value for legitimate tickets for all performances at Hammons Hall. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should also be aware that Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Missouri State TIX, and/or Celebrity Attractions are unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and are unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.