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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway

Unmasked05

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway#1
Posted: 8/31/11 at 8:05pm

Does anyone think that Ms. Verkaik will play Elphaba here in the U.S.?

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dramamama611

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #2
Posted: 8/31/11 at 8:36pm

Unlikely. It'd be hard to get Equity to approve it.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

inick122492

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #2
Posted: 8/31/11 at 9:38pm

^While that difficulty may be true, they brought Kerry Ellis from London. Granted Willemijn learned the role in 2 other languages she has been well liked enough to play the role for almost 4 years straight. I wouldn't nix that theory quite yet. It would be difficult to teach her the nuances in the American version but who knows?

Updated On: 8/31/11 at 09:38 PM

TheatreFan4

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #3
Posted: 8/31/11 at 10:12pm

I'm sure the floodgates are much less restricted between the UK & USA than they are with Germany.

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #4
Posted: 8/31/11 at 10:50pm

Willemijn is not German; she's Dutch. She just did a concert at Birdland w/Stephen Schwartz, Scott Alan and Jason Robert Brown so I'm sure she has a U.S. work permit. She's going to be busy with the Dutch version of Wicked which is getting ready to open so it won't be anytime soon if ever, but I'd like it to happen.

adamgreer

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #5
Posted: 8/31/11 at 11:03pm

There were rumors around the time Kerry Ellis was playing the role that she'd come over, but obviously nothing ever came of them.

I'd love to see her play the role one day- her voice is absolutely incredible.

My name is neither "adam" nor "greer."

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #6
Posted: 8/31/11 at 11:20pm

Kerry did come over

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #7
Posted: 9/1/11 at 12:12am

i believe willemijn played velma kelly on broadway a few years ago. her english is as near-native as her german.

qolbinau

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #8
Posted: 9/1/11 at 12:20am

Velma? lol are you sure :-/?

"It’s the fractured quality in [Bernadette Peters'] singing voice and line readings that puts across the character as someone for whom resentment is sliding into madness." - NYtimes on Follies (2011).

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #9
Posted: 9/1/11 at 12:37am

Kerry did come over

I know. I was referring to Verkaik.

i believe willemijn played velma kelly on broadway a few years ago. her english is as near-native as her german.

I believe you're thinking of Pia Douwes.

My name is neither "adam" nor "greer."

Updated On: 9/1/11 at 12:37 AM

dramamama611

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #10
Posted: 9/1/11 at 6:06am

A work permit has nothing to do with it. (And she was likely given permission FOR that gig -- not to work freely in the states -- especially with unemployment the way it is.)

This has to do with Equity rules, not the government's. Equity has control over whether a show can hire a non equity, non citizen for parts. There are rules stating things like unique talents and the like. MY understanding was that in many cases, you had to convince them that there wasn't an Equity member capable of the same job. There are differences when shows transfer intact (or mostly intact) and I'm sure exceptions are made all the time.

Remember, their job is protect their members.

I understand that the rules going overseas (and particularly London) are not as difficult to overcome as are Equity's.

provocation

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #11
Posted: 9/3/11 at 9:55pm

She's freaking incredible. I would fly to NY in a heartbeat to see this woman play Elphaba. Love her!

I know, right?

Jane4

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #12
Posted: 9/21/11 at 4:39pm

Hey guys!
Yes...Willemijn is awesome...her music, her voice and not to forget herself..she's very kind and friendly..everytime I'm speaking to her is very special...I'm watching all the video-material I have from her the whole day Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway

...
I'm from Germany and I've already had lots fo possiblities to see her :)...don't want to miss her..
It's hard to say if she will ever come to Broadway...I think if she would want that she could. She's amazing and she gets more and more popular each day. She's "the best" Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway

..
But she has a husband and her family here..not to forget that she already played Elphaba since 2007...I think after "Wicked-Nederland" she will want to do something different.
But never say never :P...maybe someday you are one of those lucky guys that are able to see her regulary :)
liefs

sorry for my english :/

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #14
Posted: 10/18/11 at 9:11am

I am so excited about this girl i had to post these links.

Clips from the upcomming production of Wicked, wich will premiere next month

http://youtu.be/eOOuPFq5UH4

http://youtu.be/n4dc9G1VTB8

http://youtu.be/TygtyfYh5ZU

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #15
Posted: 10/19/11 at 2:19am

And here's another celebrating the opening of the Dutch production of "Wicked" at the AFAS CircusTheatre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygtyfYh5ZU&feature=youtu.be

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #16
Posted: 10/19/11 at 5:03pm

Wow, i like this clip a lot Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway

http://youtu.be/TygtyfYh5ZU

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #17
Posted: 10/19/11 at 11:06pm

The score is beautiful in Dutch.

As impressive as it is that Willemijn speaks several languages so fluently, what gets me the most is her fantastic diction in all of them. Beautiful.

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #18
Posted: 10/19/11 at 11:13pm

She'd certainly make a more interesting Elphaba than the girls who are constantly recycled from tours and sit-downs (Wicks, Roscioli, Burns, etc). And her English is practically native. But I don't see it happening--at least not any time soon.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #19
Posted: 12/17/12 at 1:25pm

HOT NEWS from holland!!

Willemijn Verkaik will play Elphaba on Broadway.
See was just in a program telling that.
It's a pitty she gonna leave holland.
But for you is that wonderful.
She is a GREAT Elphaba.
greets from Dave out Holland

beautywickedlover

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #20
Posted: 12/17/12 at 2:09pm

I'm really looking forward to this. :)

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Willemijn-Verkaik-to-Join-WICKED-as-Elphaba-in-February-20121217

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Will Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba on Broadway #21
Posted: 12/17/12 at 3:02pm

The Holland production is closing next month, so I knew this would be perfect timing.

Wishing Only Wounds