Elphaba ethnicity casting

[Gamiller46204]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 12:34am

Updated On: 12/3/20 at 12:34 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:27am

I believe Eden, Mandy and Lindsay are all of Mexican descent.  

Updated On: 12/3/20 at 01:27 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:32am

Tag said: "I believe Eden, Mandy and Lindsay are all of Mexican descent. "

Right, they all identify as Latinx.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 2:16am

None of those actresses have been black or Asian, or any non Caucasian race,

Your Wikipedia page must be different than everyone else's in the world! 

Eden Espinosa

Lindsay Mendez

Mandy Gonzalez

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 7:19am

Saycon Sengbloh - Elphaba standby

Brandi Chavonne Massey - Elphaba understudy

There have been other black women and women of color to play the role internationally, too.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 8:04am

She’s green.

[Owen22]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 9:13am

Didn't Lilli Cooper play Elphaba?

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 9:41am

Owen22 said: "Didn't Lilli Cooper play Elphaba?"

She did. She was a standby both on Broadway and the national tour.

[Owen22]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 9:48am

My movie Elphaba remains Cynthia Erivo.  And Anna Kendrick for Glinda if she has the soprano...

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 10:15am

I want Brittany Johnson for Glinda in the film 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 11:49am

Damn I would've loved to have read the original post.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 12:34pm

To be fair to the OP, "Hispanic/Latinx" is not a race, it's an ethnicity, and many identify as Caucasian, including, most likely, the 3 actresses that were mentioned. I read the post last night before it was deleted, and, while I didn't think it was well-thought-out, I didn't think it was particularly offensive. However, it is true that no non-Caucasian actress has played the principal Elphaba in the U.S. Standby, yes; principal, no.

Updated On: 12/3/20 at 12:34 PM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 12:53pm

Alexia Khadime is the only Black woman to be the principal Elphaba in any WICKED company.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 12:58pm

CT2NYC said: "To be fair to the OP, "Hispanic/Latinx" is not a race, it's an ethnicity, and many identify as Caucasian, including, most likely, the 3 actresses that were mentioned.I read the post last night before it was deleted, and, while I didn't think it was well-thought-out, I didn't think it was particularly offensive. However, it is true that no non-Caucasian actress has played theprincipalElphaba in the U.S. Standby, yes; principal, no."

Eden Espinosa and Mandy Gonzalez identify as Latinx.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:07pm

blaxx said: "CT2NYC said: "To be fair to the OP, "Hispanic/Latinx" is not a race, it's an ethnicity, and many identify as Caucasian, including, most likely, the 3 actresses that were mentioned.I read the post last night before it was deleted, and, while I didn't think it was well-thought-out, I didn't think it was particularly offensive. However, it is true that no non-Caucasian actress has played theprincipalElphaba in the U.S. Standby, yes; principal, no."

Eden Espinosa and Mandy Gonzalez identify as Latinx."

I just said that Latinx isn't a race, and the OP said "None of those actresses have been black or Asian, or any non Caucasian race."  They also specified "principal" (although they spelled it "principle), and that is an accurate statement. I get that the OP was confusing by using "ethnicity" in the thread title, but "race" in the post, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they meant race.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:13pm

For example, my mother and her sisters are all of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised on the island, yet they look and identify as Caucasian, as do I.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:17pm

CT2NYC said: "For example, my mother and her sisters are all of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised on the island, yet they look and identify as Caucasian, as do I."

Weeepaaaaa, Boriqua!! Sorry, I just get excited when I see one of my people on this message board! 

[hayleyann]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:22pm

LarryD2 said: "Alexia Khadime is the only Black woman to be the principal Elphaba in any WICKED company."

Alexia was a fantastic Elphaba. I always wished she had made the jump across the pond a la Rachel Tucker, Kerry Ellis, Willemijn Verkaik, and Gina Beck (Glinda).  

While I agree we should be more diverse in casting, I just hope the "forced diversity" doesn't prevent us from getting some great Elphabas-in-waiting who happen to be white.  I would give my left "pinkie" for Mary Kate Morrissey to do a Broadway run as she is a sensational Elphaba (especially with Ginna Claire Mason as her Glinda).  

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:43pm

identify as Caucasian, including, most likely, the 3 actresses that were mentioned. 

All three women are women of color, and identify as such. 

[FlyHigh523]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 1:55pm

I am still waiting for Emmy Raver Lampman to be lead Elphaba on Broadway. She was FANTASTIC on the 1st National Tour.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 2:23pm

Man, I bet Saycon Sengbloh was an amazing Elphaba. I remember I first heard her name in connection with Wicked way back in the day, but nowadays I mostly associate her with her performances in "Eclipsed," "In the Blood" and "Secret Life of Bees," all 3 of which were absolutely phenomenal. She's an incredible actor. 

 

hayleyann said: "While I agree we should be more diverse in casting, I just hope the "forced diversity" doesn't prevent us from getting some great Elphabas-in-waiting who happen to be white." 

 

Don't you worry! The white people, as always, will be fine.

Especially with a show like Wicked that has 4+ productions running at the same time, with 3 Elphabas in each cast, getting cycled out every 6 months or so, for however many years Wicked continues to run.

[hayleyann]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 2:43pm

JBroadway said: "Man, I bet Saycon Sengbloh was an amazing Elphaba. I remember I first heard her name in connection with Wicked way back in the day, but nowadays I mostly associate her with her performances in "Eclipsed," "In the Blood" and "Secret Life of Bees," all 3 of which were absolutely phenomenal. She's an incredible actor.



hayleyann said: "While I agree we should be more diverse in casting, I just hope the "forced diversity" doesn't prevent us from getting some great Elphabas-in-waiting who happen to be white."



Don't youworry!The white people, as always, will be fine.

Especially with a show like Wicked that has 4+ productions running at the same time, with 3 Elphabas in each cast, getting cycled out every 6 months or so, for however many years Wicked continues to run."

I know it'll be fine. I'm just a big Mary Kate stan lol.  And Saycon was an awesome Elphie!  

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 12/3/20 at 3:27pm

Alyssa Fox (whose father is Japanese) played Elphaba on tour and standby on Broadway.