Theater News

Derek Klena to Take on the Role of Fiyero in Broadway’s Wicked

Klena will join former Dogfight castmate Lindsay Mendez, who is assuming the role of Elphaba.

Bethany Rickwald

New York City

May 14, 2013

Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena
(© David Gordon)

Derek Klena is set to join former Dogfight castmates Lindsay Mendez and F. Michael Haynie as well as the rest of the cast of Broadway’s Wicked in the role of Fiyero beginning May 28. Wicked plays the Gershwin Theatre.

Based on the eponymous novel by Gregory Maguire and set in the land of Oz, Wicked is the story of two schooltime frenemies, Galinda and Elphaba, who grow up to become Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. But appearances are not always what they seem in this musical spectacular that features hit songs like “Popular,” “For Good,” and “Defying Gravity.”

Klena, who will be making his Broadway debut in Wicked, has previously appeared as Eddie Birdlace in off-Broadway’s Dogfight and as Tommy Ross in Carrie at MCC. Regionally, he has appeared in productions of Hairspray, Glory Days, Happy Days, and more.

In addition to Mendez, who also begins May 28, Klena joins a cast that includes Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, F. Michael Haynie as Boq, and John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond. Kyle Dean Massey, who is currently playing the role of Fiyero, will play his final performance on May 26th.

For more information and tickets to Wicked, click here.