Wicked on Broadway has announced a new principal cast set to begin performances at the Gershwin Theatre in New York on March 3, with Oluchi Nwaokorie making her Broadway debut as a standby for Elphaba.
Nwaokorie, who previously appeared in Parade, joins the production in a role that requires her to be performance-ready to step into the lead when needed. The appointment marks her first appearance on a Broadway stage.
Her casting places her among a growing list of Nigerians who have appeared on Broadway, including Uzo Aduba, Adepero Oduye, Nikkole Obi-Melekwe, Adesola Osakalumi, and Chukwudi Iwuji.
The newly announced lineup also includes Keri René Fuller, who moves from standby to full-time Elphaba, and Emma Flynn, who makes her Broadway debut as Glinda following her West End run in Clueless. Ellen Harvey joins the cast as Madame Morrible, Blake Hammond takes on the role of The Wizard after appearing in the national tour, and Carl Man, previously Fiyero in London’s Wicked, will reprise the role in his Broadway debut.
The current principal cast; Lencia Kebede, Allie Trimm, Jordan Litz, Brad Oscar, and Natasha Yvette Williams.will play their final performances on March 1, with the new company beginning two days later.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked remains one of Broadway’s most enduring productions. The musical became the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history and marked its 20th anniversary in October 2023.