The Characters
Wicked has about 8 significant characters. However, due to the fact that this is Broadway, the actors and actresses who play the roles of these characters change constantly. Not only this, but as Wicked has gained popularity, it is commonplace for touring productions and permanent out-of-country shows to be performed at the same grand scale as the original. In an effort to minimize the lists upon lists of the actors and actresses involved with this show throughout the years, here is a list of the original cast.
Elpheba Thropp
Idina Menzel
The Wicked Witch of The West, and the main protagonist of this story. Elpheba is strong-headed. She is green-skinned due to an elixir that was given to her mother in an affair. Elpheba consistently stands up for what she believes in, like Animal rights. She discovers that she has powers unlike anything Oz has ever seen before. While at the beginning all Elpheba wants to due is blend in, she quickly discovers that she must make her own way and be true to herself.
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Glinda Arduenna Upland
Kristin Chenoweth
Elpheba's roomate at Shiz, who hates her at first. However, later they become close friends. While Elpheba is in hiding, Glinda takes on the role of a public figure. Originally Galinda, she changes her name to fit the way that Dr. Dillamond pronounced it before his arrest, to "honor" him. Though seemingly snobbish and mean at first, as the story progresses Glinda slowly realizes that there is more to life than what others may think of you. Her character is jealous of Elpheba's easy way of getting through life (Elpheba is more talented at magic and has the attention of Glinda's school-yard crush and fiancé), but eventually comes to terms with the fact that she cant beat everyone at everything.
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Nessarose (Nessa) Thropp
Michelle Federer
Nessa is Elpheba's younger sister. In the book she is born without arms, meaning Elpheba must help her. However, in Broadway hand movement is essential to character acting, and her legs are paralyzed instead. She is the favorite of their father, due to her beauty and goodness. Her father gifts Nessa a pair of sparkling glass-covered shoes. In the book Glinda enchants them giving Nessa the ability to walk, but in the Broadway show it is Elpheba who enchants them. When Elpheba declines her right as heir to be Eminent Thropp of Munchkinland, Nessa takes power. Her strong political views earn her the title of "The Wicked Witch of the East, subsequently giving her sister the title of "The Wicked Witch of the East". When a house falls on top of her, Elpheba only wishes to get the shoes of her now dead sister. They also represent her father's love, something which she always yearned for.
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Fiyero Tigelar
Norbert Leo Butz
Fiyero is the Prince of the Arjiki Tribe in the Vinkus. He is the romantic interest of both Glinda and Elpheba. However, he has eyes only for Elpheba, which, while originally heartbreaking to Glinda, eventually dooms himself. He prevents guards from capturing Elpheba, for which is sentenced to be put on a post in a cornfield to hang until he dies. Elpheba uses a spell that makes it so nothing can hurt him. However, she merely succeeds in turning him into a scarecrow (the very one in The Wizard of Oz). He still loves her though, and comes back to save her after she fakes her death.
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The Wizard Of Oz
Joel Grey
The Wizard of Oz is a human, but he originates from outside of Oz (presumably our world). He climbed to power through his knowledge of information that was commonplace where he came from. He also became a public figure through power conquests, most noticeably his repression of the Animals of Oz. At the end of the musical, it is revealed that he is the father of Elpheba. Thus is why her power was so great- She was a child of both worlds. Seeing as he was the one who ordered her death (remember Dorothy?) in one of his attempts at heroic actions, he is distraught. Glinda gives him an ultimatum- leave Oz immediately or rot in jail as his Ozian empire is overthrown. He, just as in the movie that inspired it all, chooses to leave in his hot-air balloon.
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Madame Morrible
Carole Shelley
Madame Morrible is the main antagonist of Wicked. She is the headmistress of Shiz. While undetermined, it is assumed that she was the one responsible for the death of Dr. Dillamond. She encourages Galinda, Elpheba, and Nessarose to become rulers of Oz, working behind the scenes to create a "perfect" society. The three refuse to rule in the overpowering way of the government, going their own paths. Glinda is the most influenced by Morrible, due to the fact that being an Ozian public figure requires the constant supervision of Madame Morrible, who is the secretary to the Wizard.
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Dr. Dillamond
William Youmans
Dr. Dillamond is a Professor at Shiz. He is an Animal (the A is capitalized due to his status as a talking animal). In Oz, the Wizard has been suppressing the Animals, and slowly eliminating them through isolation, which reverts them back to their non-talking-and, in the Wizard's mind, harmless- state.
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Boq
Christopher Fitzgerald
Boq begins his story with a HUGE crush on Glinda. In an attempt to evade his doting affections, Glinda tells him that "she would love a man who would be brave enough to ask Nessa out on a date. Despite the fact that Nessa obviously adores him, he never truly stops loving Glinda. Nessa forces him to come with her when she leaves to go rule over Munchkinland, his native land. When he tries to leave Nessa to try and win Glinda's heart one last time before her looming marriage to Fiyero, Nessa casts a spell to make him lose his heart to her. However, he ends up actually losing his heart, and Elpheba can only keep him alive by turning him to metal, creating the Tin Man from the Wizard Of Oz.
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