[nickhutson]

Kerry Ellis, who currently plays Elphaba in the London production of Wicked, will join the New York cast of the hit Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical this summer.

Ellis will play her final performance at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre June 7; she will begin her New York run as the not-so-wicked green-faced witch June 17. Following her Broadway run, Ellis is scheduled to return to the London production.

Ellis, who is the first British actress to play Elphaba, portrayed Fantine in Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre and Ellen in the national tour of Miss Saigon. She created the role of Meat in the London cast of We Will Rock You and has also been seen in productions of My Fair Lady and Merrily We Roll Along.

Ellis is also currently at work on her debut solo recording, which is being produced by Brian May for release later this year.

The New York production of Wicked currently features Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba, Annaleigh Ashford as Glinda, David Burnham as Fiyero, Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible, Lenny Wolpe as The Wizard, Cristy Candler as Nessarose, Ben Leibert as Boq and Steven Skybell as Dr. Dillamond.

Wicked features a score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The creative team also includes scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn, dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and musical supervision-direction by Gareth Valentine.

Based on Gregory Maguire's novel, which turned every Oz myth inside out, Wicked explores the early life of the witches of Oz: Glinda and Elphaba. The two main characters meet at Shiz, a school where both hope to take up sorcery. Glinda is madly popular and Elphaba is, well, green. By a misunderstanding, they wind up roommates and, after an initial period of mutual loathing, begin to learn something about each other. Their life paths continue to intersect through a shared love, entry into the Emerald City and interaction with the Wizard himself. Eventually, their choices and convictions take them on widely different paths.

The Broadway company, directed by Joe Mantello, plays the Gershwin Theatre. Tickets are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

[Lennie]

Damn it....there goes my hopes of seeing Shoshana in June. Wonder who will take the roll in between Stephanie and Kerry....since Stephanie is leaving in April/May aparently.

[Felix Felicis]

I think SJB actually leaves on June 15th.

[mastachen]

That makes sense. I was thinking that SJB was cutting it really close. She's doing a new show in LA this summer, I believe.

Kerry Ellis is pretty awesome too.

[Philphaba]

I'm the founder of the Oliver Tompsett Street Team & 3 of us are seeing her on her last day at London to we are gettining nice to congratulate her & i'm also seeing her when she returns

[Belle]

Anyone have any idea who will replace her in London for 6 months? Well done, Kerry!

[^Defying_Gravity^]

I think I read on another thread that they were auditioning for a new Elphaba for London. So maybe the current Standby and Understudy will stay in their current positions, because if Kerry's coming back to London later this year, then there isn't much point in getting them to all move up, to move back later on this year.

[Felix Felicis]

As amazing as Kerry is, any normal human being would be bored rigid after being in the same show for a shade under 2 years - I just can't believe she's keeping with it to Broadway and then back in London again!

[mastachen]

[Felix Felicis]

[wicked_boy]

O/T, I love the current standby / understudy in London, her name is Ashleigh Grey.

BTW, I just got the e-mail from Wicked telling me.

[Felix Felicis]

[wicked_boy]

There's a clip of her Defying Gravity on youtube, she's not perfect, but it's definately different and unique compared to ther other Elphie's.

[music is my life!!!]

have you heard her in the OLC of We will rock you? she's amazing!!!

[Kerry_ROCKS!]

Kery will Rock Broadway! I'll be glad when we get her back though : D

[Lennie]

Is it true Kendra's coming back on April 22nd?

[Timmy_Wishes he was Quast]

Will she be an American or English Elphie? Are we going to see a reverse of Idina in London?

[Kerry_ROCKS!]

Yes Kendra IS coming back!! Imagine how awesome it's going to be!!
I'll ask Kerry on Thursday about the accent thing however, she's kind of half American anyway lol.

[Amy_Vocalist]

I'm hoping we get an American Elphie whilst Kerry in in America!

Julia Murney would do me fine.

I just wish Annaliegh Ashford would come over, she's awsome

[Timmy_Wishes he was Quast]

I don't want an American Elphie i want a chance for some more of our home grown talent to shine.

[Catherine]

I'd rather have an English Elphie, give English actresses a chance!

Someone who can pronounce "gravity" would also help. =]

[wicked_boy]

Grav-id-ee!

[actor]

Oh no! I am going to see Wicked on Broadway in January and I was hoping to see a different Elphaba (I've already seen Kerry). Do you think she'll have left Broadway by January 2009?

[Felix Felicis]

Yowza, 11 years...
Anyway, yes, I think the press release said Kerry would have returned to London by the end of the year.

[musical_girl_2]

11 years?! That's a LONG time to be in the same production!

[thelast5years_fan]

Kerry is AMAZING!!! I'm really glad I got to see her as Elphie!!! Best of luck on broadway!!

[Fiyero'sGirl]

I get to see Kerry on my birthday!!! I'm sooooo excited!!! Huzzah for Broadway!!!