The Broadway's biggest blockbuster musical 'Wicked' has revealed its cast ahead of its opening in July. The anticipation for the long-awaited performance, which has been 13 years in the making, is heightened with a top-notch cast of 33 members.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere in 2023, the tour has successfully led to performances in Singapore after Australia, receiving acclaim for nearly three years. The actors, with their already established chemistry, add to the trust in the production. The cast selected through a comprehensive audition process are the main characters who complete the fantastical world. With remarkable synchronization and talent, Elphaba and Glinda, along with veteran actors with solid acting backgrounds and energetic newcomers, create an emerald synergy. They are expected to present a more refined and high-quality stage through their strong teamwork, conveying the essence of the work.
The role of the ambitious blonde good witch 'Glinda' is played by the outstanding entertainer Courtney Monsma, who is gaining attention as an actor and artist in various fields. He fell in love with the message of the musical 'Wicked', which he saw for the first time, considering it a life-changing work. He is praised as 'the epitome of Glinda' for his acting skills that perfectly embody the character and his clear voice, surpassing his own dreams. Captivating the audience with his lovely eyes and witty vivacity, he has gained recognition as 'Anna' in 'Frozen' and is successfully leading the tour of 'Wicked'.
Sheridan Adams, who dramatically meets the role of the clever, passionate, and justice-defying green witch Elphaba, is coming to the stage. He has nurtured his dream after watching the video of Idina Menzel, the original Broadway Elphaba and global star, performing 'Defying Gravity'. He was immediately cast in the lead role after receiving praise from the creators for his audition performance of 'Defying Gravity', stating, "We found our Elphaba." He has announced the birth of a new star by perfectly performing over 400 shows in his first lead role as Elphaba.
The popular womanizing prince Fiyero is played by rising star Liam Head. He has made a name for himself through productions like 'Grease' and 'Legally Blonde', and is an actor with exceptional emotional expressiveness based on solid vocal skills. With a charming voice and soft tone, he has also worked as a dancer in 'Elvis', making him a versatile artist who not only acts on stage and in films but also writes, directs, and produces.
Veteran actors who make the production even more solid and three-dimensional join the cast. The role of the wizard, who holds power through deceit, is played by renowned actor Simon Burke, who has excelled in musicals, plays, and films. He has played roles such as 'Captain von Trapp' in 'The Sound of Music' and 'Raoul' in 'The Phantom of the Opera' in the West End, and won a Best Supporting Actor award for his three-year role as 'Harold Zidler' in 'Moulin Rouge!'. With over 50 years of experience on stage, he has been active in various cultural and artistic fields, including film and television. He is a master of stage arts who has been awarded the Order of Australia for his contributions to the performing arts. The role of Madame Morrible, who oscillates between good and evil, joy and eeriness, is played by Jennifer Vuletic. He has received perfect ratings at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has a dazzling award history, including the Sydney Theatre Critics Award and the Green Room Award. He also works as a voice actor, changing the atmosphere of the stage with his charismatic voice. The role of Dr. Dillamond, the goat professor at Shiz University, is taken on by Paul Hanlon, who has built a career of over 30 years between stage and screen.
The talented newcomers discovered by the 'Wicked' production, which is considered a dream for all actors, also join the cast. Chelsea Dean successfully made her stage debut as Elphaba's sister Nessarose with her charming performance, while Kurtis Papadinis, who has gained attention on stage and screen in productions like 'Les Misérables' and 'Love Never Dies', takes on the role of Boq. Zoe Coppinger, with her powerful singing ability, will play the alternate Elphaba.
The amazing ensemble and swing cast that complete the world of Emerald City includes: Brittany Carter, Olivia Castagna, Matt Cranleigh, Madison Green, Morag Hamilton, Matt Holly, Todd Jacobsson, Elisha Zion Lee, Chloe Malek, Emily Monsma, Thomas Norman, Jayden Prelc, Declan Stewart Ryan, Amelia Sanzo, Antony Sheppard, Ryan Smith, Ksenia Teliatnikova, Lucas Van Rhijn, Regan Walker, Paul Watson, Mietta White, Sebastian Witt, Jun Woodfield, and Kate Yaxley.
The musical 'Wicked' has broken the weekly box office record of $5 million on Broadway in 2024, and in January 2025, it shattered the West End's weekly box office record, attracting over 70 million viewers in 16 countries worldwide. It has been creating a continuous box office sensation for 22 years since its Broadway premiere. With a massive time dragon of 12.4m, flying monkeys, over 350 beautiful costumes, and a grand stage mechanism that completes a sophisticated yet magical fantasy, along with Stephen Schwartz's beautiful music that has achieved triple platinum with songs like 'Defying Gravity', 'Popular', and 'For Good', the delightful story that turns classics upside down and deep philosophical themes have garnered over 100 trophies from prestigious awards such as the Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Grammy Awards. The original production of 'Wicked', which has landed in Korea after a 13-year wait since its Korean premiere, offers an opportunity to experience a world-class blockbuster musical that has achieved both artistic and industrial success directly in the theater.
It will open on July 12 at the Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall, with performances in Busan at Dream Theater in November and in Daegu at Kyemyung Art Center in January next year.
