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Boston Conservatory student has ‘Wicked’ good duet

Kristin Chenoweth (left) and Kellie McKay in LA.Callanan & Klein Communications Inc./Callanan & Klein Communications

If Kellie McKay ever has grandchildren, she's got at least one great story to tell them. The musical theater major at the Boston Conservatory went to see Kristin Chenoweth perform the other night at the Hollywood Bowl in LA, and found herself sharing the stage with the Tony winner. That's right, at some point during the show, Chenoweth asked for a volunteer to join her on "For Good," a song from the musical "Wicked," and McKay was in the right place at the right time when she raised her hand. Chenoweth brought her up on stage and soon McKay, who had listened to the "Wicked" soundtrack over and over as a fourth-grader, was holding a microphone in front of 15,000 people. "The music started, Kristin squeezed my hand and winked at me. I heard the swell of the 66-piece orchestra behind me and I felt overwhelmed with emotion," McKay wrote afterward on BroadwayWorld.com. "I watched her in awe as she sang the first verse, then she grabbed me and we shared the spotlight together. My turn came and she stepped back, gesturing for me to take the stage. I was practically breathless when I began, but I just looked at Kristin and sang it to her." As she basked in the standing ovation, McKay said Chenoweth gave her a big hug. "She whispered in my ear, 'You just knocked that out of the park! How do you feel?' I was speechless. As I made my way back to my seat, the only thing I remember her saying was, 'I'm glad I won't be in New York when she graduates.' "