Australia’s favourite musical is about to reveal a new star. In March, Wicked will welcome Elisa Colla for her professional debut in the role of Nessarose, sister of Elphaba.

Only 21 years of age, Elisa graduated from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in 2009 and is thrilled to be cast in the role of Nessarose. While at AIM she appeared in the musicals Promises, Promises and Dusty: The Original Pop Diva, and her previous musical credits include Grease, Oklahoma! and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Elisa said, “I feel so lucky to be cast in this extraordinary show as my first professional musical. It is so magical! I can’t wait to slip into Nessarose’s costume and be a part of this glorious production.”

Penny McNamee, who has played Nessarose for more than 18 months since Wicked first opened in Melbourne in July 2008, is leaving the show to return to work in film and television. After performing Nessarose in almost 650 shows and winning a Green Room Award as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Penny says she is going to miss her Wicked family. “I’m taking away such wonderful friendships from this show,” she said.

Wicked Australia Co-Producer John Frost is delighted to welcome Elisa to the cast. “Elisa is a wonderfully talented young performer with a brilliant future. We conducted some of the most extensive auditions ever undertaken in Australia to find the best performers for Wicked, and we were lucky enough to find Elise right under our noses in Sydney. She will make a beautiful new Nessarose. I sincerely thank Penny for her significant contribution to making Wicked such a unique cultural phenomenon in Melbourne and now in Sydney.”

Wicked has won 26 major awards including three Tony Awards®, a Grammy® Award and six Helpmann Awards® including Best Musical.

Buy Wicked Tickets Sydney Australia.

Wicked Will Fly Back Into Chicago in Late 2010 for The Holidays

The green girl is preparing to fly back to Chicago. “Wicked,” the musical that set box office records during its 3-1/2-year residency at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, will make a return engagement here in time for the 2010 holiday season.

The Broadway show about what happened in Oz before Dorothy arrived had a hit sitdown run at Chicago’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, for almost four years. (A national company christened Chicago and moved on, with the producing leaving behind a resident company.) The national tour will be the return company, to play the Cadillac Palace Theatre at 151 W. Randolph. This time around, the show, set to run eight weeks only (Dec. 1 through Jan. 23, 2011). Tickets will go on sale to Broadway In Chicago subscription series holders and groups on Feb. 23, with individual tickets coming available at a later date to be announced.

The Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical about “the untold story of the witches of Oz,” will feature the national touring cast.

“We are thrilled to host the return of Wicked. The requests from our patrons for this show to come back to Chicago have been overwhelming,” said Lou Raizin, president of Broadway In Chicago.