Theater News

Willemijn Verkaik Will Defy Gravity in Broadway’s Wicked

Popular European Elphaba to join the Broadway megahit in February.

Willemijn Verkaik
Willemijn Verkaik
Courtesy of the company

Willemijn Verkaik will fly into the Broadway cast of Wicked as Elphaba on February 12 for a 15-week run. She replaces Jackie Burns, who play her final performance on Sunday, February 10.

Verkaik, who is making her Broadway debut, comes to New York from the Dutch production of Wicked, in which she is starring until January 13. She has previously played Elphaba for more than 1,000 performances in Germany and Holland. In a statement, producer David Stone said: “As soon as we saw Willemijn’s astonishing debut as Elphaba in 2007, we knew we wanted to bring her to New York one day.” Her other musical credits include Elisabeth, We Will Rock You, and Aida.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, and how they grew to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The musical features a score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.

The show currently stars Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, Tom Flynn as Dr. Dillamond, and F. Michael Haynie as Boq.

For more information and tickets to Wicked, click here.

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