So according to the Oz Wiki, a very reliable source for all things Wicked, some new, or should I say old, cast members are rejoining the Wicked cast. Now I know what you’re thinking. “It’s a Wikipedia page, anyone can edit it,” but this site is actually very reliable. Now while I would be stoked if Stephanie J. Block were to return as Elphaba, and I would jump at the chance to see her live, I’m hoping praying that these casting announcements are false. (Read why below the cut-off.)
IT PISSES ME OFF! THAT’S WHY! Not a single one of these people are fresh-blooded (meaning they haven’t done the show in any capacity whatsoever.) There are so many amazing women who would excel in the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, but the producers only recycle old cast members. It is getting really annoying. Especially because if they keep doing this all the amazing women who can play these roles will age out! The last fresh blooded Elphaba on Broadway was Lindsay Mendez in 2013 and for Glinda, it was Jenni Barber in 2014. For the 2nd US tour, Jessica Vosk was the last fresh blooded Elphaba in 2016, so they’re good, but for Glinda’s their last fresh blooded Glinda was Carrie St. Louis in 2014. Meanwhile, the last fresh blooded Elphaba on the West End was Louise Dearman in 2012, although current Glinda, Sophie Evans, is a fresh blood, so props to the West End.
I’m just very annoyed because, as I previously stated, there are so many talented women who could do these roles. In fact, in order to help the producers, I’ll state most of my dream Elphaba’s and Glinda’s below...
Elphaba: Barrett Wilbert Weed, Charlotte Wakefield, Cynthia Erivo, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Lena Hall, Mara Davi, Rachelle Ann Go, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Shannon Conley
Glinda: Ali Ewoldt, Anna O'Byrne, Ashley Park, Carolyn Maitland, Denée Benton, Katie Hall, Laura Osnes, Samantha Hill, Sierra Boggess and Viveca Chow
And I’m sure there are hundreds of other women who could do these roles justice, but Wicked keeps casting the same people over and over again. Feel free to shout out your dream Elphaba’s and Glinda’s in the comments! I’m all for discussions!
Sophie Linder-Lee and Sam Lupton singing Frozen’s Do You Want to Build a Snowman but as a jazz song and in Russian accents gives me life. Bless everything for West End Switched Off
