Elphaba
The Wicked Years character
Myra Ruiz as Elphaba in the original Brazilian production of the musical version of Wicked.
First appearanceWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)
Created byGregory Maguire
Based onWicked Witch of the West
by L. Frank Baum
Portrayed byIdina Menzel (musical adaptation)
Cynthia Erivo (two-part film adaptation)
Others (see below)
In-universe information
Full nameElphaba Thropp
AliasWicked Witch of the West
FamilyOscar Diggs (father)
Nessarose Thropp (half-sister)
Significant otherFiyero Tigelaar
ChildrenLiir Thropp (son)
NationalityOzian

Elphaba Thropp /ˈɛlfəbə ˈθrɒp/ is the protagonist in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, and in its musical theatre adaptation Wicked. The character is identified with the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In the Baum novel, the Witch is unnamed and little is explained about her life; Wicked creates a backstory for her and explores the world of The Wizard of Oz from her perspective. Elphaba is modeled after Margaret Hamilton's portrayal in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz: green-skinned, clad entirely in black and wearing a tall peaked hat. Maguire formulated the name "Elphaba" from the pronunciation of Baum's initials — "L.F.B.".

Actresses who have portrayed Elphaba

The role was originated on Broadway and the West End by Idina Menzel, who won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The role is currently slated to be played by Cynthia Erivo in the upcoming two-part film adaptation of the musical.

Actresses billed in the lead role in various productions include:

North America

Broadway[edit]

Sara Lu (2026-2028)

1st U.S. National Tour (Emerald City Tour)[edit]

2nd U.S. National Tour (Munchkinland Tour)[edit]

  • Marcie Dodd (March 2009 - April 2010)
  • Vicki Noon (April 2010 - January 2011)
  • Anne Brummel (January 2011 - April 2012)
  • Christine Dwyer (May 2012 - March 2013)
  • Jennifer DiNoia (April 2013 - March 2014)
  • Laurel Harris (April 2014 - January 2015)
  • Alyssa Fox[25] (October 2014; January - December 2015)
  • Emily Koch[26] (December 2015 - September 2016)
  • Jessica Vosk[27] (September 2016 - September 2017)
  • Mary Kate Morrissey (September 2017 - October 2018)
  • Jackie Burns[28] (October 2018 - February 2019)
  • Mariand Torres[29] (February 2019 - September 2019)
  • Talia Suskauer[30] (September 2019 - March 2020; August 2021 - March 2022)
  • Lissa deGuzman (March 2022 - April 2023)
  • Olivia Valli[31] (May 2023 - Current)

Mexico City

Chicago, Illinois

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco, California

Europe

West End (London) Production

UK & Ireland Tour

Stuttgart, Germany

Oberhausen, Germany

Scheveningen, The Netherlands

Gothenburg, Sweden

Asia Pacific

Tokyo, JapanMelbourne, AustraliaSydney, AustraliaOsaka, JapanBrisbane, AustraliaAuckland, New ZealandFukuoka, Japan

South Korea

The Actors in Korean production shared performances of the role [54]

South America

Brazil

References

  1. ^ "Complete Cast Set for Wicked's SF Tryout". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  2. ^ "Shoshana Bean to Play Green Girl Elphaba in Wicked Starting 1/11". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  3. ^ "Eden Espinosa to Star as Wicked's Next Elphaba; Kane & Williams Join Cast". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  4. ^ "Ana Gasteyer Headed for Broadway as Wicked's Elphaba 10/10". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  5. ^ "Murney, Kassebaum and Arcelus to Join B'way Cast of Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  6. ^ "Annaleigh Ashford and Stephanie J. Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  7. ^ "London Elphaba Kerry Ellis Headed to Broadway in Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  8. ^ "Marcie Dodd & Alli Mauzey to Headline New Cast of Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  9. ^ "Nicole Parker to Join Broadway Company of Wicked as Elphaba". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  10. ^ "Dee Roscioli to Land on Broadway as Wicked's New Elphaba". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  11. ^ "Mandy Gonzalez to Star in Broadway's Wicked as Elphaba". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  12. ^ "Teal Wicks and Kyle Dean Massey Will Head to Oz as Wicked's New Elphaba and Fiyero". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  13. ^ "Jackie Burns and Chandra Lee Schwartz Will be Broadway's Next Wicked Witches". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  14. ^ "Wicked to Welcome the Return of Jackie Burns as Elphaba; Amanda Jane Cooper, Ashley Parker Angel & Rondi Reed Join Long-Running Hit". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  15. ^ "Willemijn Verkaik to Make Her Broadway Debut as Wicked's New Elphaba". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  16. ^ "Lindsay Mendez to Defy Gravity as Broadway's Next Elphaba in Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  17. ^ . Broadway.com https://www.broadway.com/buzz/174667/christine-dwyer-jenni-barber-justin-guarini-mary-testa-fly-into-wicked-on-broadway//. Retrieved 2020-10-01. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ "Caroline Bowman & Kara Lindsay Are the Next Witches of Wicked; New Cast Members Announced". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  19. ^ "Rachel Tucker and Jonah Platt Set to Star in Wicked on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  20. ^ "Rejoicify! Jennifer DiNoia Will Play Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  21. ^ "Jessica Vosk Will Fly into Wicked on Broadway: 'Excited Doesn't Even Begin to Describe It!'". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  22. ^ "Hannah Corneau Is Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked Beginning May 14". playbill.com. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  23. ^ "Glee Alum Lindsay Pearce and Sam Gravitte Join Wicked on Broadway". playbill.com. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  24. ^ "Wicked Tour — with Kristy Cates as Elphaba — Begins March 9". playbill.com. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  25. ^ "WICKED's Munchkinland Tour to Welcome New 'Elphaba' and 'Nessarose' for 2015". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  26. ^ "Wicked National Tour Names New Elphaba and Glinda". Playbill.com. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  27. ^ "See Jessica Vosk Go Green For Wicked National Tour". Playbill.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  28. ^ "Jackie Burns and Kara Lindsay To Lead WICKED in Los Angeles". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  29. ^ "Mariand Torres, Erin Mackey, and More Fly Into National Tour of Wicked". playbill.com. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  30. ^ "Talia Suskauer, Allison Bailey, and Tony Winner Cleavant Derricks Will Join Wicked Tour". playbill.com. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  31. ^ . playbill.com. 2 May 2023 https://playbill.com/article/olivia-valli-and-celia-hottenstein-to-become-new-leads-in-national-tour-of-wicked. Retrieved 2023-05-09. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ "Idina Menzel to Star in London's Wicked". playbill.com. Playbill. April 21, 2006. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  33. ^ "Kerry Ellis returns to Wicked from 4 Aug 2014". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  34. ^ "Alexia Khadime to star as 'Elphaba' in Wicked, at Apollo Victoria Theatre from Monday 9 June 2008". Londontheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  35. ^ "Alexia Khadime returns as 'Elphaba' 11 May 2009". Londontheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  36. ^ "Wicked announces London cast for 2023". LondonTheatreDirect.com. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  37. ^ "Rachel Tucker & Louise Dearman cast in Wicked 29 March". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  38. ^ "Wicked announces 10th Anniversary Cast". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  39. ^ "Dearman who played Glinda in Wicked to return as Elphaba". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  40. ^ "Willemijn Verkaik 'Elphaba' in Wicked from 18 Nov 2013". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  41. ^ "Willemijn Verkaik returns to Wicked in London from 30 January 2017". Londontheatre.co.uk. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  42. ^ "Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba in Wicked from 27 Oct 2014". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  43. ^ "Emma Hatton as Elphaba in Wicked from 02 Feb 2015". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  44. ^ "Alice Fearn and Sophie Evans to lead new Wicked cast". britishtheatre.com. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  45. ^ BWW News Desk. "Nikki Bentley, Helen Woolf, and More Join WICKED". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  46. ^ "Wicked releases character photos". WhatsOnStage.com. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  47. ^ "Wicked announces London cast for 2023". LondonTheatreDirect.com. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  48. ^ "Emily Tierney, Nikki Davis-Jones and Liam Doyle lead Wicked tour". WhatsOnStage.com. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  49. ^ "Nikki Davis-Jones pulls out of Wicked". WhatsOnStage.com. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  50. ^ "Casting news: Nikki Davis-Jones joins West End cast of Wicked and Ashleigh Gray goes on tour". WhatsOnStage.com. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  51. ^ "Full cast announced for Wicked UK and Ireland tour". WhatsOnStage.com. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  52. ^ "Wicked tour announces lead casting". WhatsOnStage.com. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  53. ^ "Feline Andersson won the dream role in "Wicked" at the Gothenburg Opera". Göteborgs-Posten. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  54. ^ "Get a first look at WICKED in South Korea". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
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