Willemijn Verkaik's Green Journey to Broadway
In June 2012, she celebrated her 1000th performance as Elphaba in three subsequent productions of Wicked: in Stuttgart and Oberhausen (Germany) and in Scheveningen (The Netherlands). On February 12th Willemijn Verkaik will make her Broadway debut and play the green witch for 15 weeks at the Gershwin Theatre.
Verkaik is setting records: she is the only actress who has played Elphaba in three different languages as well as the longest-playing Elphaba worldwide. She isn't the first Dutchman to secure a leading part in a Broadway production: before her, Pia Douwes headlined CHICAGO in 2004 and Bill Van Dijk (currently co-starring as "Wizard" in the Dutch Wicked led by Verkaik) played the title character of the ill-fated CYRANO in 1993.
Verkaik is not completely new to Broadway audiences: she made her American cabaret debut in 2011 at the Birdland, performing with Scott Alan, Jason Robert Brown, and the composer-lyricist of Wicked, Stephen Schwartz. She can be heard on the latest album of Scott Alan, LIVE, performing the song "Say Goodbye".
Now this self-described "little Dutch girl" will be starring in the Broadway production of Wicked for 15 weeks, joining Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, Tom Flynn as Dr. Dillamond and F. Michael Haynie as Boq.
Verkaik: "I am incredibly happy and proud to be asked by the Broadway producers. I've been playing this role for about five years and every day there are [still] plenty of challenges. In New York the production has been playing to sold out houses for nine years. To be part of that is truly the icing on the cake for me."
Photo credit: Govert de Roos
Ontvang Broadway-nieuws op WhatsApp
Ontvang de laatste updates, nieuws en exclusieve inhoud rechtstreeks in de app.
Love Theater in Netherlands? Join The Community!
Whether you've got past experience writing about theater or just starting, the BroadwayWorld Community offers a unique opportunity to become a champion for your local arts community, helping raise awareness of local offerings and adding another local voice to the conversation at a time arts coverage is shrinking in the press across the continent. Join us and become a pivotal part of the movement that celebrates and promotes the arts in the digital age.
Learn MoreBroadwayWorld Merch
Shirts, mugs, phone cases & more
Powered by
|
|
Enebakkhallen - Oktoberfest m/Karlstadpojkarna Enebakkhallen (10/24-10/24) |
|
Cinema Caprera: Whispers in the Woods Caprera Openluchttheater (9/01-9/01) |
|
Stuttrest helaften Matfatet (10/16-10/16) |
|
All You Need Is Kill (2025) Melkweg (11/14-11/14) |
|
|
Vernissage, Thor-Arne Moen Browns Corner (10/15-10/15) |
|
Achtsam morden durch bewusste Ernährung Stadthalle Verden (1/11-1/11) |
|
Das Wintermärchen Stadthalle Verden (2/02-2/02) |
|
|
Stuss’lige karer Teltet (10/17-10/17) |
|
Email 9/12 Polanentheater (9/11-9/13) |
|
|
Lutefiskaften – med Lutefiskfestivalen og Arne Hjeltnes Wood hotel by Frich’s (10/17-10/17) |