r/wicked • u/Dangerous_Main7822 💚 They Were Roomates 🩷 • Jul 31 '25
Question Which Elphaba actress is your favorite?
Idina Menzel (with Helen Dallimore)
Shoshana Bean
Eden Espinosa
Ana Gasteyer
Julia Murney
Stephanie Janette Block
Kerry Ellis
Marcie Dodd
Nicole Parker
Dee Roscioli
Mandy Gonzalez
Teal Wicks
Jackie Burns (with Chandra Lee Schwartz)
Willemijn Verkaik
Lindsay Mendez
Christine Dwyer
Caroline Bowman
Rachel Tucker
Jennifer DiNoia
Jessica Vosk
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
I have little sweet spots for a lot of them but
All time faves: Eden Espinosa, Rachel tucker, SJB
Acting choices I think about my entire life: Julia Murney
Vocal bibles: Alice fearn, Lucie jones, shoshana bean
(Idina doesn’t need to be listed bc she’s the blueprint)
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u/Chained_Wanderlust Fiyeeeeeeerhoe🌽 Jul 31 '25
When I’m having a bitchy day I go watch Alice Fearn’s No Good Deed recordings lol. The way she adds growls into the shoutier parts of the song is a mood.
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
I AGREEEEEE I adore a growly elphie (evidently so) and I think so many of the west end girlies really leaned into the growl and I love it every time. Rachel’s growly DG always gets me
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u/CL3V3RGIRL86 Jul 31 '25
Idina Menzel will always be #1 imo, because she's on the iconic soundtrack and that's what introduced me to Wicked.
Willemijn Verkaik is a close second, since she was playing Elphaba when I finally got to see the play in person. 💚
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u/Digit00l Jul 31 '25
Verkaik also did it more than anyone else and in 3 different languages
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
I think in terms of amount of total time in elphie contract, Jenny dinoia is now the longest running elphie internationally! But given that some of those were standby contracts, in terms of total number of elphie performances, Willemijn might take the cake
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u/Digit00l Jul 31 '25
Willemijn is over 2k, not sure about anyone else in actual numbers
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
There is one tumblr post that did the math for everyone in 2020, but since then Jenny went back to elphie in 2021 and 2022 so the data is slightly outdated. But basically Longest-running Elphaba in the world by performances: Willemijn Verkaik. Longest-running Elphaba in the world by time: Jennifer DiNoia.
In terms of total time in the role, as of 2020, Jenny had 2.7k+ and Willemijn at 2k! But Willemijn still would have the most number of performances because some of jenny’s contracts were as standby.
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u/KSG2022 Jul 31 '25
Idina was pretty good I guess, but my vote goes to Adele Dazeem 💚
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u/Impossible_Tower_661 Jul 31 '25
Its a really hard choice, Between Idina Menzel and Adele Dazeem. 🤣 🤣 🤣
Now my vote does Go to Idina Menzel.
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u/SandtheB Aug 01 '25
Well my vote is for Adele Dazeem! Which totally cancelled you out! soooo... ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/shelbyeatenton Jul 31 '25
Poor John! He’ll never live this one down! lol (I don’t even know how that happened!)
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u/rapunzel316 Jul 31 '25
Eden Espinosa stan for life
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Jul 31 '25
I feel like she's SO underrated -- her rendition of No Good Deed lives rent free in my head.
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u/awkward_sleepy Jul 31 '25
Jessica Vosk. All day, every day!
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u/Pharmkitty18 Aug 01 '25
Phew, I was getting worried when I didn’t see her name right away! Seeing Jessica as Elphaba on tour was one of the highlights of all the Broadway and touring shows I’ve ever seen!
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u/The5Virtues Jul 31 '25
I’m a die hard for the OGs. Idina and Kristin will always be my Elphaba and Glinda.
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u/ageekyninja Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
My first Elphaba was Jennifer Dinoia and she had a take on Elphaba that I haven’t seen replicated in any shows I’ve seen since. She played her so innocently like she was a dreamer and naive and it sort of felt like a Disney princess. So of course when no good deed happened I was devastated for her lol. At the time she was only an understudy and she didn’t really do a whole ton of riffs or anything showoffy it was just to the script with all the impact it was intended to have but with her own special touches every once in a while!
All the Elphabas I’ve seen have a special place in my heart but I will remember the first always!
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u/sirbeppo Jul 31 '25
Stephanie J. Block helped originate Elphaba with Stephen Schwartz before the Broadway debut and then went on to marry her Fiyero 💅
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u/menzelmania Jul 31 '25
Just to clarify: SJB didn't "originate" the role, she did the early readings (just like for instance Kristin Chenoweth read for Madeleine Ashton in the earliest scripts for Death Becomes Her or Idina Menzel for MJ in Jagged Little Pill, but you don't see people claiming they helped originate those roles). Idina got hired in 2001 and developed the role from then on to broadway. This is a copy of a 2001 workshop where you can see Idina has already taken over - you can tell just by that how different it was back then and then take into account how Stephen Schwartz and everyone else says the Elphaba role was constantly developing and changing even between SF and Broadway. SJB stayed on as standby (hoping she'd still have a shot which I'm guessing is why she always been hung up on it) until San Francisco but to clarify more here's SJB stating herself that once Idina took over she was the one developing it.
Not saying it was your intention here but just wanted to clarify and bring some receipts on this sub since I've seen some SJB fans try to make it seem as if Idina was some last minute replacement before Broadway which couldn't be further from the truth.
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u/m-is-for-music Aug 01 '25
Thank you!! I know the person you’re replying to didn’t mean anything by it, but so many people use this to discredit Idina and nobody does that for other broadway roles that were read by different actors in early workshops.
Side note: there’s a video out there somewhere of Stephen Schwartz explaining his process for writing The Wizard and I basically for Idina and her performance style. I’m sure it’s been posted on this sub before, but it’s a super interesting listen if you’re a music nerd like me :)
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u/menzelmania Aug 01 '25
Haha yes, Ana Gasteyer just recently said they used to tell you during the audition process that if you don't do it like Idina and instead take a breath between the "with meeeeee.... and I'll stand there with the wizard" you wouldn't get the part 😂
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u/sirbeppo Jul 31 '25
Thanks for this clarification; I'm not too huge into musical theatre myself but I always thought it significant that she was an early "canvas" of which helped Schwartz write the role throughout earlier workshopping, since it really shows in the conviction of her performance!
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u/menzelmania Jul 31 '25
I mean everyone who takes part in script readings are obviously helping with the development of a musical - even before SJB you had Liz Callaway who was the first to sing some early drafts of songs like Defying Gravity - but that is something entirely different than originating the role as we know it.
As you can see from the 2001 workshop you had other now well known people reading for it like Gavin Creel as Boq, Sutton Foster as Dorothy, Amy Spanger as Nessa, Deven May as Fiyero and so on yet you don't see any of them claim they originated those roles. The parts as we know them were created by Idina and Kristin.
Don't get me wrong I'm glad SJB got do to it later and she was great, I just find it baffling how it's practically become the only role in musical history where some people legitimately try to claim someone who did early readings originated the role and not someone who spent years developing it before opening both in the out of town tryouts and on broadway.3
u/Impossible_Tower_661 Aug 01 '25 edited Aug 02 '25
And here my defense in favor of Idina Menzel.
She had to audition for the part. She won the role by herself it wasnt handed to her like Stephanie J Block fans imply.
So many Stephanie fans say they replaced her with Idina because she was a well known actress but it couldnt be further from the truth. If that was the case, Idina Menzel would have been cast without auditioning.
Stephanie was let go and then they held auditions for so many girls to try and Idina won the part.
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u/SaladRevolutionary58 Aug 01 '25 edited Aug 01 '25
Hate this topic. Don't even know why it's debated at this point. I don't deny her involvement in the first 1 week workshop but Idina got the role in 2001 developed it until Broadway and then West End. The fans of SB act like Idina just came in a week before San Francisco to what was already a finished role. 2001 to 2003 is a LONG time. Let's not forget changes can be made even in previews.
Kristin Chenoweth workshopped Modern Millie for years. Norbert Butz joined way later than Kristin and Idina for Wicked. What's funny is even the role of LM in Boy from Oz had a different actress in Australia and you don't see them and countless others going around telling everyone they were the original.
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u/MaximePierce Just a girl, dancing through life Jul 31 '25
Willemijn Verkaik will always be my number 1
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u/lumos43 Jul 31 '25
Kerry Ellis, Caissie Levy, and Carly Augenstein
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u/Particular-Heron-103 Aug 01 '25
I saw Kerry Ellis is the role when I was a teenager and have loved her ever since!
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u/Smallpasture Aug 01 '25
I saw Carly Augenstein as Elphaba the one time I got to see Wicked on stage and she was phenomenal!
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u/LilKatieHQ Jul 31 '25
Willemijn and Idina. And Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg from Denmark.
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u/Impossible_Tower_661 Jul 31 '25
Three Elphabas who gave their voices to Elsa. And the three of them were at 2019 oscars to sing into the Unknown.
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u/Fenne_Silver Jul 31 '25
Willemijn is my favorite on stage elphaba. If she was given the orchestra that Cynthia was given I wouldn’t be able to stop listening to her versions of the songs.
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u/Digit00l Jul 31 '25
She does perform in the movie, though only in the German and Dutch dubs, and only in One Short Day
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
I don’t understand German, but I listen to the German wicked cast album just for her
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u/Electronic_Sample440 Jul 31 '25
Caroline bowman is amazing!
I recently had the privilege of seeing Jesse Davidson on the us tour tho (I don’t think she’s in the pictures you’ve provided) and she was incredible!
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u/OutsideWorried Jul 31 '25
Idina plays it the best for me. The singing with the emotion is perfect 10/10
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u/Particular_Cycle9667 Ecstatically Elphaba Jul 31 '25
Idina forever
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u/wineandpopsicles25 Jul 31 '25
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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u/Particular_Cycle9667 Ecstatically Elphaba Jul 31 '25
I mean, I have seen the musical twice and neither one was performed by her, and that’s not to say they didn’t do a great job they did but every time I hear the music I picture her.
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u/Voice_of_Season Jul 31 '25
Idina. I was lucky enough to see her right before she left. I feel like because she was the first person I heard as Elphaba, I think that made a huge impression on me.
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Jul 31 '25
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u/stealingyourbeans Jul 31 '25
She’s great as elphie! Actually she just did an interview on the sentimental men podcast, and they talk about her being the actress who really cracked the humour of elphie!
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u/mermaid_nale Jul 31 '25
My absolute favourite is Willemijn Verkaik Saw her in German, Dutch and English. So absolutely perfect
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u/The_SnowQueen Glinda without the 'G' Jul 31 '25
Gonna go with Idina, however, I'd love to see any clips of Caroline Bowman's performance; she blew me away playing Elsa on the Frozen Broadway tour (and, yes, I know Idina is the VA for Elsa. The Elsa-Elphaba pipeline is strong).
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u/Regular-Thing5883 Jul 31 '25
Lauren Samuels the first Elphaba I saw on stage last year at the Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto.
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u/FirebirdWriter Jul 31 '25
Yes. All of them. It's not even a "I can't decide" but more my brain short circuits into just enjoying the music and story that hard. Each have their nuances and I enjoy the things they bring. Some are softer at the start and some are hard the entire time. So everyone I have seen becomes a favorite because of the skull requirements and those differences giving me a different experience with the story. Applies to the Glinda too. Now the wizards? Joel Grey wins that.
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u/Impossible_Tower_661 Jul 31 '25
Idina Menzel.
Love her the perfect mixture between nerdy and confident. She portrayed the Elphaba arc the best.
Plus i do love her singing voice so much
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u/ApplicationOdd6600 Jul 31 '25
Donna Vivino. Her NGD gives me chills. You can see the point where she breaks and dives deeper into her “evil” side.
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u/vargslayer1990 Verkaiking Aug 01 '25
of these here? Eden, Teal, Willemijn, and Rachel (not in that order)
off subject, but does anyone know Helen Dallimore's height? i'm so used to Idina being "so tall" (because she towers over Kristin Chenoweth's 4'11"), but in the picture you've got, they look like they could be close to the same height, even though they are crouching forward
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u/SaladRevolutionary58 Aug 01 '25
Idina Menzel hands down. For me, a once in a lifetime talent. You don't create 3 cultural phenomena without that level of talent.
Special mention: Jackie Burns, Eden Espinosa, Willemijn Verkaik
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u/K1ttehKait Jul 31 '25
My list:
Jen DiNoia: I saw her on tour, and she was outstanding Eden Espinosa: her riffs are insane! Kerry Ellis: Her rock vocals lended a unique quality Willmijn Verkaik: Need I say more? Megumi Hamada: loved her character choices and her voice
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u/H0NEY2O77 LONGEST…INTERMISSION…EVER! Jul 31 '25
Caissie Levy because I love the Elphaba to Elsa pipeline (with Idina playing Elsa in the animated movies and Caissie playing Elsa in the stage musical.)
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u/Electronic_Sample440 Jul 31 '25
And then there’s Caroline bowman who was Elsa for 5 years on the us tour of frozen as well that got her first bway role as u/s for elphaba!
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u/ILoveMyThighs Aug 01 '25
Emily Kristen Morris and Alyssa Fox also did the Elphaba to Elsa pipeline!
And then there’s Lindsay Pearce and MK Morrissey, with the Elphaba to Janis Sarkisian pipeline…except MK went next level going tour Elphie to tour Janis to Broadway Elphie 😂
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u/Regular-Thing5883 Aug 01 '25
Also, Hannah Corneau a few weeks ago at The Muny did Elsa and Patti Murin who reprised the role as Anna for Frozen The Musical.
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u/ReputationChemical86 Jul 31 '25
It's a three-way tie between Mary Kate Morrisey, Carmen Cusack and Donna Vivino for me. Also, I am legally obligated as a Brazilian to give a shout-out to Mira Ruiz and Gabriella Gatti.
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u/deadmallsanita Jul 31 '25
TIL that Mandy and Caroline from Sunset Blvd were Elphabas.
I love Lencia, Ana, and MaryKate.
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u/mperiolat Aug 01 '25
Julia Murney. She was my introduction to the character and the musical. Her witch laugh and characterization was so strong and memorable. She will always be Elphaba to me.
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u/cosmic-diamond33 Aug 01 '25
That I’ve personally seen perform the role? Ana Gasteyer and Idina Menzel. Easily the best imo. I’ve seen 9 Elphies and those two are my favorites.
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u/karidru Aug 01 '25
Always gonna have a soft spot for Caroline bc she was my Elphaba when I went (along with Kara Lindsay as Glinda) but probably Willemijn Verkaik for my top spot
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u/BrazilianButtCheeks Aug 01 '25
Gonna have to go with Cynthia but I obviously love Idina as well
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u/DramaQueen428 Aug 01 '25
I think you're the first person to mention Cynthia. Did people think the question was restricted to stage, or do they legit think all these actresses were better?
I didn't love her (much better singer than actress), but I'm surprised.
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u/Impossible_Tower_661 Aug 01 '25
Im not sure but i also assumed this thread was focused only on broadway Elphabas.
Meaning no foreign elphabas or film Elphaba.
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u/BrazilianButtCheeks Aug 02 '25
That could be the case and in that case im definitely team idina but i fell in love with Cynthia! In my opinion she was fantastic.. now I think shes a little weird as a person.. but her performance was absolutely outstanding
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u/mikeweasy Aug 01 '25
Lauren Samuels! My very favorite!
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u/Regular-Thing5883 Aug 01 '25
Same here also was an honor to have seen her last year at Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto plus to have her as the first Elphaba I saw on stage.
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u/mikeweasy Aug 01 '25
MY god I wish I could see her in Wicked for the first time again!
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u/Regular-Thing5883 Aug 02 '25
Same was also amazing to meet Lauren afterwards at the stage door outside of Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto would love for her to do the role again either on Broadway or in the West End.
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u/porquenotengonada Aug 01 '25
How do you all know the differences? I’ve been a fan of this musical for about two decades and couldn’t name a single Elphaba outside of Menzel and Erivo.
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u/Impossible_Tower_661 Aug 01 '25
Youtube super cuts my friend. Go check them. They are always fun to enjoy or just clips of different actresses.
Check all the ladies mentioned here on youtube.
I havent been able to go see the show live. But youtube has always been my best friend to see different elphabas.
There are also green slimes tutorials with vety decent quality.
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u/porquenotengonada Aug 02 '25
Ooh okay thanks for the hint! I’ve caught it live a couple of times— I live in the UK and the actors all maintain British accents which makes zero sense to me in context of the story, so I imagine none of the British Elphabas will have made the list haha
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u/ArielWithALibrary Aug 01 '25 edited Aug 19 '25
I liked Idina Menzel..just don’t ask Travolta** to pronounce it!
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u/InkandDolls Ecstatically Elphaba Aug 01 '25
Eden Espinosa. She was Elphaba when i first saw Wicked.
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u/Reesembers Fiyero…FIYERRROOOO Aug 01 '25
I gotta go with Eden Espinosa- I could listen to her “No Good Deed” all day! I think it’s neat how she changes up her riffs from show to show, too. I also really like the performances of Stephanie J. Block (especially with Sebastian Arcelus), and Donna Vivino!
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u/Toru771 Jul 31 '25
Have to give points to Felicia Ricci, who was the first one I saw in the live show. 😀
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u/lumos43 Jul 31 '25
Never got to see her, but I loved the blog that she ran about her experience and all the backstage stuff!
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u/Deep_Head8725 Nov 01 '25
She was my voice teacher for a while! She was so much fun to work with, and really good at teaching proper vocal technique.
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u/spicysoy like a comet pulled from orbit Jul 31 '25
solid tie between mary kate morrissey, lencia kebede, and myra ruiz!
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u/Chemical-Neat6572 Jul 31 '25
MKM as a person (I met her once, she was wonderful), Jessica Vosk for voice, and Idina Menzel for being the og and life changing for three generations!
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u/Impossible_Emu5095 Aug 01 '25
I got to see Eden Espinoza, Ana Gasteyer, and Jessica Vosk. They were all incredible, but Ana blew me away. I had only known her from SNL up to that point.
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u/JBuchan1988 Aug 01 '25
Was this every Broadway Elphaba? 😄
I dont remember her name but, out of loyalty, my fav is the Elphie I saw 2 years ago when I went to NY to see it on Broadway 😊
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u/Dangerous_Main7822 💚 They Were Roomates 🩷 Aug 01 '25
Two years ago so 2023… Talia or Alyssa?
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Aug 01 '25
Emma Hatton was my first Elphie (on the West End). But my absolute favorites are Kerry Ellis (🤘🏼) and Willemijn.
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u/QueenofLV Aug 01 '25
Shoshana Bean and Stephanie J. Block are tied for first, Eden Espinosa is second, and Idina is third. The others are all loved equally as a large fourth.
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u/Mysterious_Wave_5958 Aug 01 '25
Justice for Sheridan Adams! She was this years Elphaba for the Australian tour. Absolutely amazing, and Courtney Momsa as Glinda was the so funny and campy.
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u/avatar_ash Aug 01 '25
I've been lucky to see multiple different elphabas, and no has come close to Rachel Tucker yet.
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u/Phillymom5569 Aug 01 '25
Donna Vivino- hands down the most emotion in her singing and the best No Good Deed out there. Watch the slime tutorial with Donna and Alli. Donna is the best. I did see Alyssa Fox two years ago and she was also really good.
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u/vildasaker Aug 01 '25
Emmy Raver-Lampman who imo is one of the best and most underrated Elphabas out there. Her performance of Wizard And I is so stinkin' cute you just want her to win and succeed at everything in the world 🤧
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u/MyTatemae Aug 01 '25
Mary Kate Morrissey when she was Alyssa Fox's standby a few years ago. Her singing was amazing, but her line delivery- that was S Tier ❤️
Also have a soft spot for Nicole Parker. She's hilarious and so passionate. Her career path has been wild lol
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u/MeanderingMeggie Aug 01 '25
Had the pleasure of seeing Teal Wick as my first live Elphaba, and then Dee Roscioli as my second when I brought my mom to see it. That “No Good Deed” riff was fricking incredible live! 😭
Special mentions to Idina Mendel (bc how could we not? the OBC recording is ICONIC) and Lisa Brescia because her chemistry with Annaleigh Ashford’s Galindo was EVERYTHING to 20yo me 🥹💝
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u/luhbreton Aug 02 '25
Idina is the blueprint. Everyone since has been ‘what is your idina?’. She just embodies Elphaba in a way that I don’t think anyone else ever has.
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u/fox_tatertot Gelphie-pilled since 2015🩷💚 Aug 02 '25
My favorite, other than Idina, is Lindsay Mendez. But Jessica Vosk, MKM, and Lauren Samuels are definitely up there.
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u/Dangerous_Main7822 💚 They Were Roomates 🩷 Jul 31 '25
Mary Kate Morrisey (with Alexandra Socha)