Famous actor has a ‘Wicked’ fun time at Upstate NY movie theater

A famous actor had a “Wicked” fun time in Upstate New York over the weekend.
Alan Cumming, a Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran who’s appeared in more than 140 movies and TV shows, revealed in an Instagram Story that he saw a matinee screening of the new movie musical Sunday at The Little Theatre in Rochester.
“We saw @wickedmovie at 11.45am on a Sunday in Rochester!” Cumming exclaimed in photos outside the theater.
Cumming appeared to be accompanied by Ari Shapiro (NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Pink Martini) and Henry Koperski. Cumming and Shapiro were in town together to perform “Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret,” with musical direction by Koperski, at The Theater at Innovation Square in Rochester on Sunday night.
“There aren’t enough exclamation points available for this, but we were honored to have Alan Cumming, Ari Shapiro, and friends stop by Sunday to watch a WICKED matinee,” the Little Theatre wrote on Facebook.
Cumming is an actor whose credits include “X2: X-Men United,” “GoldenEye,” “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” “Josie and the Pussycats,” “Burlesque,” “The Smurfs,” “The Good Wife,” “Instinct,” “Schmigadoon!” and “Spy Kids.” He recently won two Emmy Awards for hosting the reality TV show “The Traitors.”
Cumming is no stranger to the world of Oz. He played a Scarecrow-like character named Glitch in the Syfy series “Tin Man,” starring Zooey Deschanel as DG (a descendant of Dorothy Gale).
“Wicked,” “Tin Man” and the classic “The Wizard of Oz” are all based on Chittenango native L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The author’s hometown celebrates his life annually with the Oz-Stravaganza festival, and the Syracuse home where he met his future wife, Maud Gage, is a protected city landmark.
“Wicked” is currently in theaters, grossing $164.2 million globally in its debut weekend — a record for a Broadway musical adaptation. Singalong versions of the movie musical, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, will hit theaters Dec. 25.
“The Traitors,” hosted by Cumming, returns for season 3 on Jan. 9, 2025, on Peacock. Contestants will include Bob Harper (“The Biggest Loser”), Chrishell Stause (“Selling Sunset”), Gabby Windey (“The Bachelorette”), Nikki Garcia (WWE Hall of Famer), Rob Mariano (“Survivor”), and Tom Sandoval (“Vanderpump Rules”).
Cumming will return to the Rochester area on Sunday, Dec. 1, for a performance of “Alan Cumming: Uncut,” at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Tickets for the solo cabaret show, with Koperski at the piano, are on sale at troymusichall.org.
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