#1willemijn verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/11/13 at 7:24pm
Did I miss this?! I just got an email from Wicked stating that Willemijn Verkaik is taking over starting February 12th, for 15 weeks.
She is amazing, this is cool. First Elphaba to perform the show in 3 languages.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#2willemijn verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/11/13 at 7:38pm#2willemijn verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/11/13 at 7:54pmshows how much I pay attention.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#3willemijn verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/11/13 at 7:58pmAs long as she's amazing. That's what counts.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#4Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/11/13 at 8:31pm
I just had to capitalize her name; I apologize for nothing.
I guess I'll contribute... I'll be at her first performance tomorrow. I'm SO excited.
Formerly: WishingOnlyWounds2 - Broadway Legend - Joined: 9/25/08
iNick1224
Understudy Joined: 12/8/07
#5Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 10:08amAny thoughts on her first show anyone?
#6Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 10:23am
"Any thoughts on her first show anyone?"
1 down, 119 to go.
Unless, of course, she skips a few like every other Elphaba.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
PositivelyEmerald
Stand-by Joined: 7/24/11
#7Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 11:00amI heard her Defying Gravity. Her accent is very good. She had a couple of lyric flubs. she sang "I think Ill try defying gravity" at the end of the song instead of "Im flying high defying gravity." Im sure she was just nervous though. I thought she sounded great, and she'll only get better as the run goes on.
#8Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 11:15amShe also forgot some of the lyrics to for good but it wasn't a huge deal. Overall I really liked her.
PositivelyEmerald
Stand-by Joined: 7/24/11
#9Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:31pmApparently she gave a little encore performance of a song during the curtain call. Anyone know what it was?
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#10Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:32pmI understand if she's nervous but if she's done over 1000 performances before, you would think she knows the words....
jetts7
Leading Actor Joined: 5/22/11
#12Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:35pm
"Apparently she gave a little encore performance of a song during the curtain call. Anyone know what it was?"
That's false.
And wasn't it her first performance of the show in English?
Starship
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
#13Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:35pm
Are we really arguing about a line flub. Like, rly?
You go Willemijn Verkaik! Can't wait to hear how the audience enjoys her.
Updated On: 2/13/13 at 07:35 PM
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#14Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:36pmThat's true, I didn't think about that. But still.
PositivelyEmerald
Stand-by Joined: 7/24/11
#15Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:42pm
Hmmm really? Because Broadway.com posted this photo with the caption "Willemijn Verkaik wows the audience with one more encore performance. Sing it!" Im confused haha.
#16Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:42pmShe was reacting to the audience love. Definitely wasn't singing.
PositivelyEmerald
Stand-by Joined: 7/24/11
#17Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 7:44pmThats what I thought. Weird they would say that.
#18Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 8:08pmI need to get down there and see her. She is marvelous in the part and seems to sing the EFF out of the part. Then add in the fact she can act the part like no other makes it better.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#19Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 8:58pmDoes she have a strong accent? Is she hard to understand?
HBP
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/05
#20Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/13/13 at 9:00pmyou can verrrry easily answer that question yourself by doing a quick yt search. (;
#21Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/14/13 at 1:30amHer accent was not hard to understand at all! I quite liked the accent, it set Elphaba apart even more! I can't wait to go back and see her once she settles in, but it was so nice to see her Broadway debut; the emotions were so high!
Formerly: WishingOnlyWounds2 - Broadway Legend - Joined: 9/25/08
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#22Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/14/13 at 1:46amI'd love to see her but with ticket prices going up to $112 before charges for partial views and up to $165 for orch. soon I highly doubt that will happen.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#23Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/14/13 at 1:50amI just came back from seeing her in the show tonight. I thought that she was very good and has an amazing voice. I felt that her Elphaba was a breath of fresh air with the part in that she was the strongest Elphaba acting wise that I have ever seen. I have never heard her speak before, but it did come off as if she were putting on more of an American accent so that her English was more understandable to the audience. However, I could totally be off the mark with that one. By far the best Elphaba I have seen and brought something new to the role that was missing for quite some time.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#24Willemijn Verkaik taking over as Elphaba
Posted: 2/14/13 at 3:59pm
Heard a few recordings of Willemijn's opening night and as far as I can remeber it was the first time I could hear in her voice she was tense. Yes, she has done the part more than a thousand times but it's Broadway we're talking about... I bet every other stage actor was nervous during their Broadway debut - "Broadway" comes with a lot of pressure I think. :)
Based on the few songs I've heard I think she has done very well... And now opening night is done she can relax and make sure everybody will agree she's (one of) the best ever to have played Elphaba.
Please go and see her. Enjoy. You won't regret it. 
