Defying Gravity: The 7 Most Essential Cast Updates For Wicked On Broadway, West End, And The 2025 Movie

The world of Oz is perpetually spinning with fresh talent, and as of late 2025, the iconic musical Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz continues to soar with significant and historic casting announcements across its major productions. This deep dive into the current and upcoming casts for both the Broadway and West End stages, coupled with the final details on the highly anticipated two-part movie event, provides the definitive, up-to-the-minute guide for every Oz enthusiast.

The enduring popularity of the show—celebrating its 22nd year on Broadway—demands constant updates, and the latest performers stepping into the shoes of Elphaba and Glinda are making history, bringing fresh interpretations to the roles originated by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. From groundbreaking debuts to celebrated West End veterans, the current roster of stars ensures that the story of the unlikely friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good is as captivating as ever.

Definitive Cast Biographies: Broadway and West End Stars

The heart of Wicked lies in its two leading witches. The current and incoming casts for the Broadway and West End productions feature some of the most exciting talent in musical theatre, each bringing a unique background to the roles of Elphaba and Glinda.

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Current Broadway Principal Cast (Gershwin Theatre)

• Elphaba: Lencia Kebede
  • Role Significance: Ms. Kebede made history when she assumed the role of Elphaba full-time on Broadway on March 4, 2025, becoming the first full-time Black actress to portray the character on the Great White Way.
  • Background: A proud first-generation Ethiopian-American actress and singer, her historic casting is a landmark moment for representation on Broadway.
• Glinda: Allie Trimm
  • Role Significance: Trimm currently stars as Glinda, having previously served as the Broadway Glinda standby, bringing a deep familiarity and sparkle to the role.
  • Background: She is a Broadway veteran, known for originating the role of Patrice in the musical 13 alongside a young Ariana Grande.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Brad Oscar
• Madame Morrible: NaTasha Yvette Williams
• Fiyero: Jordan Litz
• Nessarose: Jenna Bainbridge
• Boq: Daniel Quadrino
• Doctor Dillamond: William Youmans

Incoming West End Principal Cast (Apollo Victoria Theatre)

The London production is welcoming a major cast change, with a new principal company beginning performances following the departure of Alexia Khadime and Lucy St Louis on March 23, 2025.

• Elphaba: Emma Kingston
  • Role Significance: Kingston is set to take over the green makeup, a highly coveted role in London’s West End.
  • Background: A celebrated British stage actress, she is known for her roles in the original London cast of In the Heights and starring as Heather Chandler in Heathers: The Musical.
• Glinda: Zizi Strallen
  • Role Significance: Strallen, a member of the famous Strallen theatrical family, brings her considerable stage pedigree to the role of Glinda the Good.
  • Background: She is a highly regarded British actress and singer, known for her high-energy performances and previous West End work.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Michael Matus
• Madame Morrible: Sarah Ingram
• Fiyero: Carl Man
• Nessarose: Hannah Qureshi
• Boq: Ross Carpenter
• Doctor Dillamond: David McKechnie

The Broadway Legacy: New Faces for a 20-Year Phenomenon

The Broadway production of Wicked, running at the Gershwin Theatre, is the longest-running production in the show’s history, and its current cast is a testament to the show’s commitment to evolving representation. The casting of Lencia Kebede as Elphaba is not merely a change of personnel; it is a significant cultural milestone, continuing the legacy of powerful women who have defined the role.

Kebede joins a select group of actresses who have mastered the vocal demands of the score, which includes the formidable high notes of the anthem "Defying Gravity." Her performance opposite Allie Trimm’s polished and comedic Glinda maintains the essential, electric chemistry that makes the musical a global phenomenon. Trimm, having grown up in the world of Broadway, brings an intimate understanding of the show’s magic to the stage, making the pair a dynamic and fresh duo for the 2025 season.

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Supporting the two leads are a host of veteran performers. NaTasha Yvette Williams, a Tony nominee, has joined the company as the formidable Madame Morrible, while Brad Oscar, known for his comedic timing, continues in the role of The Wizard. The ensemble, a crucial element in the vibrant world of Oz, features a diverse group of singers and dancers who bring life to the citizens of the Emerald City and the students of Shiz University.

West End’s Next Chapter: New Witches Take Flight in London

Across the Atlantic, the West End production at the Apollo Victoria Theatre is preparing for an exciting new era with Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen stepping into the lead roles. This new cast announcement, effective in 2025, signals a fresh chapter for the London show, which remains one of the most successful and longest-running musicals in West End history.

Emma Kingston's background in critically acclaimed musicals like In the Heights and Heathers suggests she will bring a fierce, emotionally complex performance to the misunderstood Elphaba. Her Glinda counterpart, Zizi Strallen, is a celebrated figure in British theatre, whose family name is synonymous with West End excellence. Her portrayal of Glinda is expected to be a blend of the character's signature bubbly charm and underlying emotional depth.

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The new London company, including Carl Man as Fiyero and Sarah Ingram as Madame Morrible, is set to continue the show’s tradition of high-quality, spectacular staging. Fans are eager to see how this new pairing will interpret the famous "Popular" and "For Good" duets, which are essential to the show’s emotional core. The enduring themes of identity, prejudice, and friendship resonate deeply with audiences, and the new cast is poised to carry that torch forward for the next generation of theatregoers.

The Cinematic Oz: Meet the Wicked Movie Cast (Part 2: For Good)

The topical authority of the Wicked universe is currently dominated by the upcoming two-part film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu. While the first part is set for a 2024 release, the second part, titled Wicked: For Good, is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2025, solidifying the film cast as one of the most talked-about ensembles of the year.

The film casting has drawn immense global attention, featuring a mix of Broadway legends and global pop icons:

• Elphaba: Cynthia Erivo. The Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner brings her powerhouse vocal talent and dramatic gravitas to the role of the green-skinned witch.
• Glinda: Ariana Grande. The pop superstar and former Broadway performer (who was in 13 with Allie Trimm) steps into the role of Glinda, promising a unique, high-profile interpretation.
• Fiyero: Jonathan Bailey. The British actor, known for his work in *Bridgerton*, will play the dashing and conflicted Fiyero.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Jeff Goldblum.
• Madame Morrible: Michelle Yeoh.
• Boq: Ethan Slater.
• Doctor Dillamond: Peter Dinklage (voice role).

This star-studded ensemble, bridging the gap between stage excellence and Hollywood glamour, ensures that the story of the Land of Oz—from the Emerald City to Shiz University—will reach an unprecedented global audience. The film, like the musical, explores the themes of how history is written and the true meaning of being "wicked" or "good," using the beloved characters from L. Frank Baum's world to tell a timely and resonant story. The inclusion of the iconic Stephen Schwartz songs, from "The Wizard and I" to "No Good Deed," promises a cinematic spectacle that will complement the live stage experience, further cementing Wicked's status as a timeless classic.