A New Witch Flies in to Theatreland

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Idina Menzel gave her final performance as the unusually green witch, Elphaba, in the London production of the hit musical Wicked on the 30th December at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Her contract, which paid her a record-breaking $30,000 per week, is now over and Kerry Ellis takes over the role from 1st January 2007.

Menzel played her first performance in London to a wildly enthusiastic audience on 7th September 2006 and since then over a quarter of a million people have seen the production. She also performed in front of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall with the London cast, as part of The Royal Variety Performance in December, which was later broadcast by the BBC. Prior to her London stint, Menzel had created the role of Elphaba in 2003 as part of the original Broadway cast winning her a Tony award.

Kerry Ellis, part of the original London cast as the Standby for Elphaba, has already had the opportunity to perform the role several times when illness struck Menzel down in November. Prior to joining this cast, Kerry played 'Fantine' in Boublil and Schönberg's musical Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre and 'Ellen' in the national UK tour of Miss Saigon. Kerry created the role of 'Meat' in the original London cast of the Queen/Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre and took part in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. In 2001, Kerry understudied the role of 'Eliza Dolittle' in Trevor Nunn's production of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady at The National Theatre and Drury Lane, playing the role opposite Jonathan Pryce on many occasions. Other credits include the national tour of Magic of the Musicals and 'Mary' in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

The current principal London cast of Wicked is now: Kerry Ellis as Elphaba, Helen Dallimore as Glinda, Adam Garcia as Fiyero, Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible, Nigel Planer as The Wizard, Martin Ball as Doctor Dillamond, James Gillan as Boq and Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose. 

Wicked is presented in London by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. UK General Management: Nick Salmon / ACT Productions, Executive Producer: Michael McCabe.

For more information on the London production, please visit www.wickedthemusical.co.uk