Chenoweth to play in ‘Candide’

Kristin Chenoweth, the diminutive star of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” is moving ever closer to the high arts.

The 5-foot Chenoweth -- who won a Tony for playing Sally in the 1999 revival of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and starred opposite Matthew Broderick last year in ABC-TV’s “The Music Man” -- will next appear with the New York Philharmonic in a May 3-5 concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide.” She will sing Cunegonde opposite Patti LuPone as the Old Lady and Paul Groves in the title role. And last week, Los Angeles Opera officials confirmed that Chenoweth will sing the title role in the new Unsuk Chin opera, “Alice in Wonderland,” commissioned by the company for its 2005-06 season.

Also on Chenoweth’s plate: a solo concert at Carnegie Hall on Sept. 10.

-- Chris Pasles