Photo Coverage: Willemijn Verkaik Takes First Bow as WICKED's 'Elphaba'

Willemijn Verkaik was born in The Netherlands. She studied both performance and teaching of vocal technique at the Rotterdam Conservatory. Willemijn's professional singing career began as a lead vocalist for many pop bands. After ten years on the road, she turned her attention to musical theatre and appeared in the ensemble of the dutch Joop van de Ende produced musical Elisabeth. In 2001-2002 she toured with the theatre group 'JEANS', in which she was one of a company of eight players. In 2003, Willemijn understudied and played 'Queen Anna' in the world premiere of the musical 3 Musketiers.

Broadway's #1 show for an unprecedented eight consecutive years, Wicked has been declared "A Cultural Phenomenon" by Variety and "The Best Musical of the Decade" by Entertainment Weekly. There are currently 7 productions worldwide: New York, London, Japan, Holland, Seoul and two concurrent North American National Tours. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Winner of 35 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

To get tickets and more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com. Wicked is performed at the Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue.

Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia