Espinosa, Kane, Williams & Candler Are New Broadway Wicked Stars, Jan. 10

By: Jan. 09, 2006
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Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, January 10, four new principal cast members join the Broadway company of the smash-hit musical Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.).

Eden Espinosa, who recently played the role of Elphaba in the San Francisco engagement of the show's national tour, will assume the role in the Broadway production. Espinosa was also the original Standby for Elphaba on Broadway. Carol Kane, well-known for her Emmy-winning role on TV's "Taxi" and such films as Annie Hall and Hester Street (for which she received an Academy Award nomination), will become Broadway's new Madame Morrible, a role she originated in the show's national tour. Derrick Williams, who previously understudied the role on Broadway and was the original Fiyero in the show's national tour, will assume the role of Fiyero in the Broadway production. Cristy Candler, an original cast member who originated the role of Witch's Mother and who has been the understudy for the role of Nessarose, will assume that role.

To say goodbye to departing cast members Shoshana Bean (Elphaba), Rue McClanahan (Madame Morrible), David Ayers (Fiyero) and Michelle Federer (Nessarose) and to welcome the show's new stars, a party was thrown on Sunday evening, January 8, at the Grand Hyatt New York on 42nd Street and Park Avenue.

In addition to Espinosa, Kane, Williams and Candler, the Broadway production of Wicked features Megan Hilty as Glinda, Ben Vereen as the Wizard, Sean McCourt as Dr. Dillamond and Robb Sapp as Boq.

Espinosa, who recently made her concert debut at Town Hall, was nominated for a 2005 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance for playing the title role in Brooklyn. Regionally, she has appeared in Triumph of Love, and can be heard on the concept album of Bright Lights, Big City, on The Maury Yeston Songbook and on John McDaniel Live at Joe's Pub, among other credits.

Kane has appeared on Broadway in the recent revival of Sly Fox, as well as in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and in Ring Around the Bathtub. Her off-Broadway credits include The Exonerated, The Guys, The Vagina Monologues and The Tempest, while other screen credits include Carnal Knowledge, Dog Day Afternoon, The Princess Bride, Addams Family Values.

Williams, in addition to his Wicked credits, has appeared on Broadway in Aida and Swing!; he also performed in the national tours of Aida and Smokey Joe's Cafe. Other credits include Five Guys Named Moe, Jesus Christ Superstar and Once On This Island.

Candler previously appeared on Broadway in Aida, and off-Broadway in Girlstown and Rubberville. Workshop credits include Urban Cowboy, Dirty Dancing, and Finian's Rainbow.

Wicked has been sold out at virtually every performance since having its official opening at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003, breaking house records with box office receipts of over $1.3 million per week. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento, Wicked is currently being presented on Broadway, on a national tour, and in a separate, open-ended engagement at Chicago's Ford Center for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre.

"Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch," according to press notes.

The performance schedule for Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.) is Tuesdays at 7 PM; Wednesday through Saturdays at 8 PM; matinees on Wednesdays & Saturdays at 2 PM; Sundays at 3 PM. The scale of prices is $50 - $110. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, 212-307-4100 (or www.ticketmaster.com) or at the Gershwin Theatre box office. For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com.

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