Wicked Wiki
Advertisement
Wicked Wiki

I'm the other daughter, Elphaba. I'm beautifully tragic.
— Elphaba's signature utterance[src]

Elphaba Thropp, later known as the Wicked Witch of the West, is the main protagonist of the Broadway musical, Wicked.

History[]

Act I[]

Elphaba, the believed daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, is ostracized for her electric-green skin. She attends the university of Shiz in the magical land of Oz. When Elphaba arrives she is mercilessly shunned for being different. Soon she meets Galinda Upland, the spoiled and popular girl who becomes her roommate. The two young girls take an immediate dislike and loathe for each other. Not even Elphaba knows why she is green but it is explained that Elphaba was born with green skin because her mother drank green elixir on the night Elphaba was conceived. In a moment of anger, trying to help her sister Nessarose, Elphaba reveals an innate magical talent, which impresses Madame Morrible, the "Head Shiztress" of Shiz; she notes that Elphaba's talents may be of use to the Wizard of Oz, and promises to ask him for an audience. Elphaba is ecstatic! (''The Wizard and I'') Galinda and Elphaba, meanwhile, espouse their mutual loathing in a duet (''What is this Feeling'').

Carrie-manolakos-2009-photjpg-3cb747eda5b2f84e medium

Elphaba at Shiz

Elphaba attends history classes taught by Dr. Dillamond, a Goat and the only Animal professor at Shiz. He confides in Elphaba that things in Oz are not what they seem to be (''Something Bad'').

Galinda, while preparing for a party arranged by a carefree student named Fiyero, receives a black pointed hat in a box and gives it to Elphaba as a “present”; Elphaba arrives wearing the hat, only to be ridiculed. Defiant, she proceeds to dance alone and without musical accompaniment. Feeling guilty, Galinda joins her on the dance floor, marking the start of a new friendship between the two. (''Dancing Through Life'') After the dance, Galinda and Elphaba talk in their room; Galinda decides to give her new friend a makeover (''Popular'').

The next day,  Ozian officials take away Doctor Dillamond. The new history teacher arrives with a caged lion cub as the subject of an in-class experiment, revealing that Animals that are kept in cages never will learn how to speak. Outraged, Elphaba's magical abilities show themselves, and she and Fiyero are able to rescue the cub themselves. The two realize that they may have feelings for each other, but Fiyero leaves, embarrassed. Elphaba takes refuge under a bridge and states that it would be impossible for someone like Fiyero to have feelings for someone like her (''I'm Not That Girl''). It begins to rain, and Madame Morrible finds her and announces that she has been granted an audience with the Wizard. Morrible stops the rain, in order to keep Elphaba from getting too wet, announcing that weather is her specialty. At the train station, Galinda and Fiyero see Elphaba off to the Emerald City. In an attempt to impress Fiyero, Galinda announces that she will change her name to "Glinda" in honor of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation. Fiyero seems not to notice, focusing his attention instead on Elphaba, and Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to see the Wizard.

WillemijnVerkaaikDG

Defying Gravity

After a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City (''One Short Day''), Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard. Eschewing the special effects that he employs for the benefit of most visitors, he invites Elphaba to join him. As a test, he asks that Elphaba give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly using the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells. Elphaba demonstrates an innate understanding of the lost language and successfully gives Chistery wings. Showing her how powerful she really is, the Wizard reveals a cage full of winged monkeys, and remarks that they will make good spies to report any subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the Wizard has no power of his own, Elphaba runs away with the Grimmerie, pursued by Glinda and eventually the palace guards.

Elphaba and Glinda run into the tallest tower, where they hear Madame Morrible declaring to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch" and is to be distrusted. Elphaba enchants a broomstick to fly and tries to convince Glinda to join her in her cause, but Glinda cannot resist the call of popularity and refuses. Leaving Glinda behind, Elphaba flies off, promising to fight the Wizard with all of her power (''Defying Gravity'').

Act II[]

A few years pass, and Elphaba's exploits have earned her the title "The Wicked Witch of the West". Elphaba arrives at the governor's residence in Munchkinland seeking refuge; Nessarose, now the governess, criticizes Elphaba for not using her new-found powers to help her sister. Guilty, Elphaba enchants Nessarose's jewelled shoes, enabling her to walk. Boq, Nessarose's servant, is summoned and reveals that his affection for Nessarose was put on and his heart lies with Glinda. Furious, Nessarose miscasts a spell from the Grimmerie, accidentally causing Boq's heart to shrink. While Elphaba attempts to save him, Nessarose reflects on how her obsession with Boq has led her to oppress the Munchkins. Elphaba saves Boq by turning him into a Tin Man; horrified, Nessarose lays the blame with Elphaba. (''The Wicked Witch of the East'')

SJBWonderful

Elphaba with the Wizard

Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace in order to free the rest of the winged monkeys. The Wizard attempts to regain her favor by agreeing to set them free. (''Wonderful'') Upon discovering a now-speechless Doctor Dillamond among the monkeys, Elphaba rejects his offer and attempts to escape, but runs into Fiyero. Confirming his true love for Elphaba, he runs off with her. Glinda instructs Madame Morrible and the Wizard of Oz to spread a rumor about Elphaba's sister. They both agree a rumor is not enough, and once Glinda is gone, Madame Morrible decides a "change in the weather" would suffice. Hidden away in a natural setting, Elphaba and Fiyero profess their love for each other. (''As Long As You're Mine'') They are interrupted when Elphaba hears strange noises and sees a house flying through the sky. She leaves, and goes off to find her sister.

Once Dorothy is gone, Glinda falls to her knees and places flowers near where Nessa had been crushed by the house. Suddenly Elphaba appears, and soon finds out that Nessa's death was no accident. She and Glinda get into a fierce fight, and the Gale Force guards intercede, grabbing Elphaba under the Wizard's commands. Elphaba can't believe Glinda would use such a trick to capture her, and Fiyero arrives, telling the guards to "let the green girl go." Or else he would kill Glinda, and Fiyero convinces Elphaba to leave without him. He is taken out to a distant field, and it is implied he is beaten viciously.

As long as you're mine

Elphaba and Fiyero

Back at Kiamo Ko Castle, Elphaba tries to cast a spell to protect Fiyero from harm. She reflects on all of her past actions, and on how they have affected the people she has loved. She finally discovers that it is not worth trying to do good anymore and accepts her reputation as wicked. (''No Good Deed'')

Elphaba captures Dorothy and holds her captive at the castle, refusing to let her go until she relinquishes Nessa's slippers, the only things left of her deceased sister. Glinda arrives to persuade her to let the little girl go and her dog, whom she incorrectly refers to as "Dodo" go as well. All though Elphaba refuses, she finally realizes what she has done wrong and how to fix it. She makes Glinda promise not to clear her name and to take charge in Oz, and the two realize how much they have changed because they knew each other (''For Good''). As the mob arrives at the castle, Elphaba orders Glinda to hide and she watches from the shadows as Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, supposedly 'melting' her. Elphaba's voice is heard shrieking and her shadow then shrinks away into the floor and disappears in a cloud of smoke.

Later on, Fiyero (now having been transformed into the Scarecrow) arrives at the castle and opens a trapdoor in the floor. Elphaba pops up from underneath and they reunite. Elphaba wishes that Glinda could know that she's alive, but Fiyero tells he that no one can know if they want to be safe. They leave Oz forever.

Musical Numbers[]

Solos[]

Solos (In A Duet)[]

Solos (In A Group Number)[]

Others[]

Trivia[]

C

Caroline Bowman as Elphaba

  • The idea for Elphaba's Act 2 dress was as if she was from the centre of the Earth.
  • The fabric for Elphaba’s Wicked Witch bodice is not actually one fabric. It is as many as 20 different fabrics, cut into pieces no bigger than 3” and quilted, cut, stitched, and quilted together.
  • The ruffles in the skirt of Elphaba’s Wicked Witch dress require 40 yards of fabric to complete.
  • It takes one person 2 weeks to sew the entire Act 2 dress together.
  • The Act 2 dress is said to weigh around 25 lbs, worth anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, and has a zipper down the back that can be easily replaced.
  • There are 20 shades of Elphaba's green skin (although the production only regularly use a few).
  • It usually takes about half an hour (depending on actress experience) for Elphaba to “greenify” every night.
  • The most famous actress to play Elphaba is Idina Menzel. She was the original actress to play the role of Elphaba. Idina Menzel won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role (Musical) for her role as Elphaba in 2004. Idina Menzel returned to the role of Elphaba in the original West End cast in 2006, making her the first actress to perform in the West End and on Broadway.
  • On matinee days (days where there are two shows) the actress who plays Elphaba has to de-greenify herself in-between shows because between acts the green skin becomes more defined.
  • The fastest time for applying Elphaba's green make up was 7 minutes.
  • Most actresses playing Elphaba are mostly mezzo-sopranos (a soprano in a lower range or an alto in a higher range)
  • Danna Paola in the Mexican production is the youngest actress to play Elphaba at 18 years old.
  • Stephanie J. Block read for Elphaba in the early workshop staging's for Wicked.
  • Kerry Ellis is the only actress who has portrayed Elphaba four separate times (throughout her time in the West End and Broadway). Kerry Ellis returned to the role of Elphaba in 2014, five years after her initial departure.
  • Jennifer DiNoia portrayed Elphaba on the West End, and is the fourth actress to have played the role in the West End and Broadway.
  • Jemma Rix starred in a 30-minute shortened version of the show at Universal Studios Japan. This required her to speak some lines in Japanese.
  • Willemijn Verkaik is the longest-running Elphaba, having played over 2,000 performances in Wicked internationally. She originated the role in Germany and the Netherlands, and also played it on Broadway and in the West End.  Verkaik is the only actress who has played Elphaba in three different languages (German, Dutch, and English).
  • Victoria Matlock is the tallest ever Elphaba being 5’11.

Portrayers[]

Broadway Production[]

Lindsay dg

Lindsay Mendez as Elphaba

Broadway Standbys[]

  • Eden Espinosa (October 2003-September 2004; also Nessarose u/s)
  • Shoshana Bean (September 2004-January 2005; also Nessarose u/s)
  • Saycon Sengbloh (January 2005-February 2007)
  • Lisa Brescia (February 2007-May 2008)
  • Julie Reiber (May 2008-December 2009)
  • Jennifer DiNoia (December 2009-August 2011; October-November 2012; August-September 2014; June 2019-October 2021; December 2021-July 2022) 
  • Donna Vivino (August 2011-October 2012; November 2012-November 2013)
  • Carla Stickler (November 2013; temporary) (Emergency cover)
  • Christine Dwyer (November 2013-February 2014, November 2015-January 2016)
  • Anne Brummel (February-August 2014)
  • Lilli Cooper (September 2014-June 2015)
  • Emily Koch (June-November 2015)
  • Alyssa Fox (February 2016-June 2017; October-December 2021, temporary; July 2022-February 2023)
  • Mariand Torres (June 2017-September 2018)
  • Laurel Harris (March-April 2018; September 2018-June 2019)
  • Mary Kate Morrissey (March 2023-January 2024)
  • Lissa deGuzman (January 2024-Current)

Broadway Understudies[]

  • Kristy Cates (October 2003-May 2005)
  • Brandi Chavonne Massey (May 2005-December 2006)
  • Caissie Levy (December 2006-October 2007)
  • Chelsea Krombach (October 2007-July 2009; August 2009-February 2010)
  • Maria Eberline (temporary) (July 2009)
  • Stephanie Torns (February 2010-November 2011; June 2014-August 2014)
  • Caroline Bowman (November 2011-August 2012)
  • Vicki Noon (August 2012-May 2013)
  • Anne Eilinsfeld (temporary) (November 2013-January 2014)
  • Carla Stickler (May 2013-June 2015; temp 2018) 
  • Desi Oakley (June-September 2015; May-June 2016) 
  • Hannah Shankman (September 2015-May 2016; July 2016-December 2018; also u/s Nessarose) 
  • Emily Rogers (December 2018-Current) 

1st National Tour[]

1st National Tour Standbys[]

  • Victoria Matlock (March 2006-January 2007)
  • Coleen Sexton (January-October 2007)
  • Donna Vivino (October 2007-November 2008)
  • Merideth Kaye Clark (November 2008-May 2010)
  • Mariand Torres (May 2010-February 2012)
  • Carla Stickler (February 2012-February 2013; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Laurel Harris (February 2013-February 2014; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Emmy Raver-Lampman (February 2014-March 2015)

1st National Tour Understudies[]

  • Jenna Leigh Green (also Nessarose) (March 2005-March 2006)
  • Maria Eberline (also u/s Nessarose) (March 2005-December 2006)
  • Marcie Dodd (also u/s Nessarose) (December 2006-December 2007)
  • Merideth Kaye Clark (December 2007-November 2008)
  • Stephanie Torns (November 2008-February 2010)
  • Carla Stickler (also u/s Nessarose) (February 2010-February 2012)
  • Ashley Dawn Mortensen (February 2012-February 2013; August 2014-January 2015)
  • Shayla Beck (also u/s Nessarose) (February 2013-August 2014; January-March 2015)

Chicago Production[]

Chicago Standbys[]

Chicago Understudies[]

  • Courtney Corey (2005-2006)
  • Dan'yelle Williamson (2006-2008)
  • Anne Brummel (2008-2009)

West End Production[]

West End Standbys[]

West End Understudies[]

  • Cassidy Janson (September 2006-July 2007; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Ashleigh Gray (July 2007-June 2008)
  • Shona White (Emergency Cover;2009)
  • Sabrina Carter (June 2008-March 2010)
  • Stevie Tate-Bauer (March 2010-February 2011; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Jennifer Tierney (February-December 2011; also u/s Madame Morrible)
  • Gemma Atkins (February 2011-October 2012; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Michelle Pentecost (December 2011-November 2013)
  • Katie Rowley Jones (October 2012-November 2013; also Nessarose)
  • Jacqueline Hughes (November 2013-September 2014; 2nd u/s)
  • Natalie McQueen (November 2013-September 2016; 1st u/s; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Laura Emmitt (October 2014-September 2016; 2nd u/s)
  • Jessamy Stoddart (September 2016-July 2017)
  • Alexandra Grierson (September 2016-July 2018)
  • Aimee Fisher (July 2017-July 2019; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Rebecca Botterill (July 2018-January 2022)
  • Rebecca Gilliland (July 2019-January 2022; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Laura Harrison (February 2022-March 2023; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Nicola Espallardo (February 2022-March 2024)
  • Kate Leiper (March 2023-Present; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Charlotte Anne Steen (March 2024-Present)
  • Jessica Aubrey (March 2024-Present; also u/s Nessarose)

Los Angeles Production[]

Los Angeles Standbys[]

Los Angeles Understudies[]

  • Courtney Corey (February 2007-March 2008; May-August 2008)
  • Marcie Dodd (March-May 2008, temporary; also Nessarose)
  • Angel Reda (August 2008- January 2009)

Stuttgart Production[]

Stuttgart Alternates[]

Stuttgart Understudies[]

  • Roberta Valentini (October 2007-November 2008)
  • Melanie Gebhard (November 2008-January 2010)
  • Maria Walter (November 2008-January 2010)

Melbourne Production[]

Melbourne Standbys[]

Melbourne Understudies[]

  • Patrice Tipoki (June 2008-June-2009)
  • Zoe Gertz (June-August 2009; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Japan Production[]

  • Hamada Megumi(Original)
  • Higuchi Asami
  • Imai Minori
  • Kimura Chiaki
  • Ebata Masae
  • Miyahara Kei

San Francisco Production[]

San Francisco Standbys[]

  • Vicki Noon (January-March 2009, May 2009-March 2010)
  • Merideth Kaye Clark (March-April 2009; temporary)
  • Dee Roscioli (April-May 2009; temporary)
  • Carrie Manolakos (March 9-30, 2010; temporary)
  • Felicia Ricci (March-September 2010)

San Francisco Understudies[]

AlyssaFox

Alyssa Fox as Elphaba

2nd National Tour[]

2nd National Tour Standbys[]

  • Carrie Manolakos (March 2009-March 2010)
  • Anne Brummel (March 2010-January 2011)
  • Christine Dwyer (January-December 2011)
  • Stephanie Torns (December 2011-October 2012)
  • Alyssa Fox (October 2012- January 2015)
  • Lilli Cooper (August 2014; temporary)
  • Madeline Trumble (October 2014-January 2015; temporary)
  • Emily Koch (January-June 2015)
  • Kennedy Caughell (June 18-29, 2016; temporary)
  • Mary Kate Morrissey (June 2015-August 2016)
  • Emily Schultheis (August 2016-August 2017)
  • Chelsea Emma Franko (August 2017-October 2018)
  • Cecelia Ticktin (October 2018- September 2019)
  • Natalia Vivino (September 2019-September 2022)
  • Emily Kristen Morris (September 2022-September 2023)
  • Laurel Harris (September 2023-May 2024)
  • Carly Augenstein (May 2024-Present)

2nd National Tour Understudies[]

  • Natalie Weiss (March-April 2009)
  • Anne Brummel (April 2009- March 2010)
  • Christine Dwyer (March 2010- January 2011)
  • Laurel Harris (also u/s Nessarose) (January 2011-January 2012)
  • Anna Eilinsfeld (January 2012-February 2013; also u/s Nessarose)
  • Lilli Cooper (February 2013-February 2014)
  • Madeline Trumble (February-November 2014)
  • Shayla Beck (October 2014; temporary)
  • Kennedy Caughell (November 2014-June 2016)
  • Olivia Valli (June 2016-January 2019)
  • Sarah Anne Fernandez (January 2019-September 2019; November 2019-January 2020)
  • Marie Eife (September-November 2019; January 2020-March 2024)
  • Adelina Mitchell (March 2024 - Current)

Tokyo Revival[]

  • Okamura Minami  

​1st UK/Ireland Tour[]

1st UK/Ireland Tour Standby[]

  • Jemma Alexander (September 2013 - August 2014)
  • Jacqueline Hughes (September 2014-July 2015)

1st UK/Ireland Tour Understudies[]

  • Zoë George (September 2013-July 2015) (also 2nd cover Nessarose)
  • Natasha Ferguson (September 2013-July 2015) (also 1st cover Nessarose)

2nd UK/Ireland Tour[]

2nd UK Tour Standby[]

2nd UK Tour Understudies[]

  • Amy Webb (November 2017-January 2019)
  • Amy Goodwin (November 2017-January 2019) (also 2nd cover Glinda)

3rd UK/Ireland Tour[]

3rd UK tour Standby[]

  • Casey Al-Shaqsy (December 2023-January 2025)

3rd UK Tour Understudies[]

  • Maddison Firth (December 2023-January 2025; also 2nd cover Nessarose)
  • Jade Davies (December 2023-January 2025)

Mexico City[]

  • Ana Cecilia Anzaldúa (October 2013- January 2015)
  • Danna Paola (October 2013- January 2015)

Mexico City Understudies[]

  • Edén Pintos (October 2013- January 2015)
  • Viviana Barrera (October 2013- January 2015)

Seoul, South Korea[]

  • Oak Joo Hyun (November 2013-May 2014)
  • Park Hye Na (November 2013-May 2014)
  • Kim Sun-Young (May-October 2014)

Seoul Understudy[]

  • Kim Ga Hee (November 2013- October 2014)

Sydney Production[]

Sydney Standbys[]

Sydney Understudies[]

  • Zoe Jarret (September 2009-September 2010; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Australian Tour[]

Australian Tour Standby[]

  • Laura Bunting (January-September 2011)

​Australian Tour Understudy[]

  • Zoe Jarrett (January-September 2011; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Oberhausen Production[]

Oberhausen Understudies[]

  • Melanie Gebhard (March 2010-September 2011)

Scheveningen (Dutch) Production[]

  • Willemijn Verkaik (October 2011-January 2013)
  • Renée van Wegberg (October 2011-January 2013)

Scheveningen Understudies[]

  • Bettina Holwerda (October 2011-July 2012)
  • Suzanne de Heij (July 2012-January 2013)

Asian Tour Production[]

Asian Tour Standbys[]

  • Zoe Jarrett (December 2011-May 2012)
  • Jennifer DiNoia (May 2012-October 2012)

Asian Tour Understudies[]

  • Gretel Scarlett (December 2011-October 2012; also u/s Nessarose)

Helsinki City Theatre Production (Non-Replica)[]

  • Maria Ylipää (2010-2011)

Helsinki Understudy[]

  • Raili Ruutu

Copenhagen Production (Non-Replica)[]

  • Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg (2011)

Copenhagen Understudy[]

  • Christina Elisabeth Mørkøre (1st u/s)
  • Caroline Glomnes Johansen (2nd u/s)

Czech Republic Production (Non-Replica)[]

  • Markéta Pešková (September 2019-March 2020)
  • Elis Ochmanová (September 2019-March 2020)
  • Kateřina Herčíková (September 2019-March 2020)

Australia/Asian Tour[]

Australia/Asian Tour Standby []

  • Ali Calder (September 2013-May 2014; June 2014-June 2015) 
  • Lilli Cooper (May-June 2014;temporary) 

Australia/Asian Tour Understudy []

  • Sophie Wright (September 2013-June 2015)

Brazil Production[]

Brazil Standby[]

  • Talita Real (February-October 2016)

Brazil Understudy[]

  • Roberta Jafet (February-December 2016)

International Tour[]

International Tour Standby[]

International Tour Understudy[]

  • Natasha Ferguson (July 2016-June 2017; 1st u/s, also u/s Nessarose)
  • Zoë George (July 2016-June 2017; 2nd u/s, also u/s Nessarose)

Hamburg (Non Replica)[]

  • Vajen van den Bosch (August 2021-August 2022)
  • Lois van den Ven (August 2021-August 2022; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Hamburg (Non Replica) Understudy[]

  • Chiara Fuhrmann (August 2021-August 2022)

Sydney Revival[]

  • Sheridan Adams (August 2023- February 2024)

Sydney Revival Standby[]

  • Zoe Coopinger (August 2023- February 2024)

Sydney Revival Understudy[]

  • Jessica Vellucci (August 2023- February 2024)

Melbourne Revival[]

  • Sheridan Adams (March 2024)

Melbourne Revival Standby[]

  • Zoe Coppinger (March 2024)

Melbourne Revival Understudy[]

  • Jessica Vellucci (March 2024)

São Paulo Brazil (Non Replica)[]

  • Myra Ruiz (March 2023- July 2023)

São Paulo Brazil (Non Replica) Understudies[]

  • Bia Castro (March 2023- July 2023) (Also temporary lead)
  • Pamela Rossini (March 2023- July 2023)

Tokyo, Japan Revival[]

  • Mitsui Rhio (October 2023- January 2024)
  • KOBAYASHi Misaki (October 2023- January 2024)

Gottenburg, Sweden (Non-Replica)[]

  • Feline Anderrson (September 2023-April 2024)

Gottenburg, Sweden (Non-Replica) Understudy[]

  • Marie Gathe (September 2023- January 2024)
Advertisement