Kyle Dean Massey returns to the Broadway company of the hit musical Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre Jan. 25 in the role of Fiyero.

Kyle Dean Massey returns to Wicked Broadway company in the role of Fiyero

Massey succeeds Kyle McDaniel and joins a cast that includes Mandy Gonzalez as Elphaba, Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Jenny Fellner as Nessarose, Etai BenShlomo as Boq and Tom Flynn as Dr. Dillamond.

In related news, Teal Wicks will assume the role of Elphaba Feb. 1. She will follow Mandy Gonzalez, who will play her final performance Jan. 30. Wicks will be making her Broadway debut after playing the role of Elphaba in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles productions of the hit musical.

Massey has been seen on Broadway in Next to Normal, Xanadu and Wicked, Off-Broadway in Altar Boyz and in the tours of Wicked and 42nd Street.

Wicked features a score by Schwartz, a book by Holzman, direction by Joe Mantello and musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The creative team also includes scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn and dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Get $10 OFF on Wicked Gershwin Theatre Ticket Orders over $350! Use Code AFF$10.

Mandy Gonzalez as Elphaba in Wicked

There is less than a month to enjoy one of the more thrilling performances currently on The Great White Way: Mandy Gonzalez as the green-faced, misunderstood, not-so-wicked witch Elphaba in the Broadway production of the hit musical Wicked. On Wednesday I had the pleasure of catching Gonzalez’s take on the role created by Tony winner Idina Menzel, and the former In the Heights star is simply sensational. Her vocal work is extraordinary, her powerful alto a perfect fit for the Stephen Schwartz score. In fact, her rendition of “No Good Deed” may be the fiercest I have encountered on my many trips to the Gershwin Theatre, and she brings similar magic to “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity.” The Obie winner’s acting is also top-notch, offering audiences an honest, moving performance as she makes the journey from the hopeful, but questioning young student to the self-possessed woman who discovers the meaning of her powers and the power of love. She is well matched by the Glinda of Katie Rose Clarke, and their second-act duet of “For Good” is truly touching. Earlier this week I had the chance to chat with the down-to-earth singing actress, who seems as lovely offstage as she is on. Gonzalez spoke about her latest role, the final performance of In the Heights as well as her upcoming projects; that interview follows:

Question: Before we get to Wicked, were you able to attend the final In the Heights performance?
Gonzalez: Of course! [Laughs.]

Question: What was that night like?
Gonzalez: It was incredible. Oh my gosh, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep the night before because I was excited to see the show for the first time, to see all my friends. It’s such a huge part of my life, so it was a really big night, and it was so incredible. I sat with my best friends, and I watched my best friends on the stage and I cried, I laughed, I screamed. It was amazing. It was an incredible closing night.

Question: Was there anything that you picked up as an audience member that struck you in a different way?
Gonzalez: Oh, definitely. My character, Nina, wasn’t in certain numbers, so I was able to watch those numbers but I was never able to really put all the pieces together. Just to see some of those performances … was incredible, and I can see why it was so loved. I mean, I felt so proud, and I was kind of speechless, I have to say. [Laughs.]

Question: Was it at all strange seeing someone perform the role that you created?
Gonzalez: Not at all, no. I felt just very proud, and it brought back so many memories and thoughts of when those songs were actually created, and sitting in a living room with Alex Lacamoire and singing through changes of lyrics, and to see it up on the stage, it wasn’t strange at all. I just felt very proud. The whole evening, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Question: Was it a difficult decision to leave the show to go into Wicked?
Gonzalez: You know, I don’t think it was a difficult decision. After I did the first workshop of In the Heights, I was offered to go and do Wicked, as Elphaba, and at the time, I was waiting to see if the show — In the Heights, which I loved — was going to go Off-Broadway, or what was going to happen. At the time, I was offered the two things, and In the Heights was so a part of my heart, and I just had to take it. It’s one of those amazing things that happen when you actually get offered two amazing projects at the same time. I was so happy with my decision but at the same time, I was like, “Oh, I so want to play that part, and now it’s never going to happen.”

I was with In the Heights for a long time, through all the workshops and everything, and after two years on Broadway, when they came and they offered me the part for Wicked again, I felt it was the right time. And, everybody at In the Heights was just so excited for me and proud; I just felt that I had all of their support. And, they all came to my opening night at Wicked. My closing night of In the Heights, it was very hush-hush that I was going to play Elphaba and everything was kind of kept on the low-down. And then, for my final bow … Alex had arranged this amazing orchestration for Wicked, and then Lin [-Manuel Miranda] came out in a witch’s hat and a green shirt [laughs] and handed me flowers. I don’t know, it just kind of seemed like a smooth transition.

{Via Playbill.com Read complete inteview here}

Mandy Gonzalez is currently starring in Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre through Jan. 30; she will be succeeded by Teal Wicks.

Mandy Gonzalez and Katie Rose Clarke, who star as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in Broadway’s Wicked, posed with Brett LaTorre, who was the production’s 5 millionth audience member to have his ticket scanned in at the Gershwin Theatre, which occurred at the 2pm matinee performance on Wednesday, September 29.

Katie Rose Clarke, Brett LaTorre and Mandy Gonzalez

View the Entire Gallery Here – Photos (© Jillian Nelson)

Brett LaTorre, Wicked's 5 Millionth Broadway Audience Member

Briana Yacavone and Brett LaTorre

Briana Yacavone, Brett LaTorre and Jonathan Warren

Briana Yacavone, Katie Rose Clarke, Brett LaTorre, Mandy Gonzalez and Jonathan Warren

Brett LaTorre of Sparta, NJ, received a special surprise when he took in the Sept. 29 Wicked matinee. LaTorre, who was celebrating his 21st birthday with his girlfriend and grandparents, was holding the 5 millionth ticket scanned for the show at the Gershwin Theatre.

He was given a special “Key to the Emerald City” as well as a free trip to London to see the West End production of Wicked and complimentary hotel accommodations at the luxury hotel Rubens at the Palace.

The cast currently includes Mandy Gonzalez as Elphaba, Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Andy Karl as Fiyero, Alex Brightman as Boq, Jenny Fellner as Nessarose, Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible and Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond.

Click Here to Buy Wicked Musical Tickets and Find Wicked Tour Updates.

Kathy Fitzgerald to Join Wicked cast

Kathy Fitzgerald, who has previously been seen on Broadway in 9 to 5 the Musical (Outer Critics Circle nomination), The Producers and Swinging on a Star (Drama Desk nomination), will join the cast of Broadway’s Wicked later this month.

Fitzgerald will step into the role of Madame Morrible beginning June 29. She succeeds Tony Award winner Rondi Reed, who will play her final performance June 27 at 3 PM.

Fitzgerald joins a cast that currently includes Mandy Gonzalez as Elphaba, Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Andy Karl as Fiyero, Alex Brightman as Boq, Jenny Fellner as Nessarose and Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond.

{Via Playbill}