Favorite actress to play Elphaba?

Who is/was your favorite actress to play Elphaba? Why?

I'm curious.

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 12:39 AM

Willemijn Verkaik. Putting aside the fact that she has performed the role for 7 years, has been in 5 productions in 4 countries and has sung and spoken in 3 languages, I find that she has best embodied who Elphaba really is, although that could be chalked up to the consistency that she had to maintain for each production.

Can't wait to see her back on London's West End and see what, if any, new interpretations or choices she brings.

Donna Vivino

Guess I'll be the one to make an argument for the original. To me, no one has really touched Idina. She had this subtlety about her, in a show that's anything but subtle. She wasn't afraid to scale her performance back when it was called for. Not every moment was treated like a Performance, with a capital P. It was a skillfully nuanced performance. And in No Good Deed, she had this frighteningly maniac energy that legitimately scared me a bit.

Given the recent limelight, I know people are sick of hearing about her, but her Elphaba is definitely my favorite.

BroadwayConcierge said: "Shoshana Bean, for sure. Followed by Christine Dwyer.



"

Always Shoshana Bean. For me, there's something about Alyssa Fox's performance. I don't know why, she just makes me feel elphabas character.

Eden Espinosa

I've only seen one, but Alison Luff gave such a stunning performance.

In order of my favorite Elphaba: Idina Menzel, Carman Cusack, then Christine Dwyer.

I love Wicked.....my biggest problem with it since the original cast is the character of Glinda. Every time I've seen it since Kristin played the character, it is played like Glinda is almost crazy, while Kristin played her as zany, but not quite as over the top as the following actresses.

I've seen Idina, Eden, Ana Gasteyer, Stephanie Torns, Jackie Burns, Christine Dwyer, Rachel Tucker and Jennifer DiNoia. All of them were fantastic. If I had to pick, I'd say Idina, Ana and Jenn DiNoia are my favorites.

I recently saw the tour at the Kennedy Center and Jessica Vosk played Elphaba. I am not a huge fan of this musical, but Vosk was absolutely breathtaking in the role. Acting-wise and vocally, she was magnificent. You can find her "Defying Gravity" on YouTube. She sticks to the melody as written in the score, for the most part, but her voice is so powerful, you don't miss any of the runs and riffs that other women have brought to the role. It was refreshing in its purity and power.

I like different women for different reasons.

I like Eden Espinosa for shear mind bending vocals.

I liked the warmth Rachel Tucker brought to the role.

I have a tie for my top all around choices:

Christine Dwyer, literally gave a flawless performance and her ease of vocal ability and acting choices made her a surprise hit for me as I was not familiar with her prior to seeing her in Wicked, and I love seeing new talent and watching their careers take off.

Finally, Lindsay Mendez, fresh new choices, great vocals tailored to her abilities, a master class in reinventing a role and not pure duplication. She also was so likeable and easy to root for.

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 01:03 PM

Of the four actresses I've seen, Julia Murney is my favorite. She reminded me the most of the book Elphaba. She had that bitterness and jadedness of growing up being green, whereas the others had too much "pluck," and were too spunky. For example in the scene where she first meets the students, it was a sarcastic, guarded "Yes, I'm green, no I didn't eat grass as a child," etc whereas I've seen Elphabas who literally run up to the students waving their hands, yelling YES I KNOW I'M GREEN NO I DIDN'T EAT GRASS AS A CHILD!!


That1GirlAnnettee: "I love Wicked.....my biggest problem with it since the original cast is the character of Glinda. Every time I've seen it since Kristin played the character, it is played like Glinda is almost crazy, while Kristin played her as zany, but not quite as over the top as the following actresses."

I'm so glad someone else noticed this. In the original production she was a snobby upper crust girl who got a bit silly on a party night, but some of these actresses play her like she's completely out of her mind the entire first act (sometimes even beyond) and it's odd. I remember years ago hearing rumors that some of the actresses got in trouble for pulling stunts (namely Ashford and Hilty) and taking it too far.

1) Eden wins for me for her unbelievable vocals, fierce acting and ability to cry on cue every time she learns the wizard has no power...

2) Loved Teal Wicks nuanced performance and emotion when performing elphaba

3) Idina because, well she's Idina

4) have only seen Rachel Tucker and Jackie Burns on video and was amazed by both for their vocal variations and embodyment of the role

Honestly they have done a great job protecting the franchise with amazing leads both on bway and tours, Ive seen 14 elphabas live and many more via youtube and they were all excellent