Alexandra Billings is set to become the first openly transgender cast member to be a part of Wicked on Broadway.
The long-running adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel has announced the addition of Alexandra Billings to the cast. Alexandra Billings has become a household name over the last few years owing to her path-breaking performance in Amazon’s drama, Transparent. The current run of Wicked has been on the floors for 16 years and this is a major first for the musical. Alexandra Billings is sure to add some significant star power to the show, given that her filmography consists of names like How to Get Away With Murder, Goliath, and Grey's Anatomy. She has already voiced her delight about being able to play “the lady with the largest wigs in theatrical history”. She will be taking over as Madame Morrible from Tony nominee Nancy Opel, who will be bowing out of the role on January 19, 2019.
Alexandra Billings’ previous Broadway outing was with the comedy, The Nap, in 2018. Wicked is directed by Joe Mantello and has always added big names to its cast like Broadway icons Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. The current cast of the record-breaking musical consists of Hannah Corneau as Elphaba, Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda, Michael McCormick as The Wizard, Jake Boyd as Fiyero, Riley Costello as Boq, Jamie Jackson as Doctor Dillamond and Gizel Jiménez as Nessarose. The casting of Alexandra Billings is bound to take a greater context in the light of her off-stage activities. A professor of theater arts at the University of Southern California, Alexandra Billings is a prominent LGBTQ rights activist. For her contribution towards the equality movement, she has received HRC Visibility Award, Rainbow Spirit Award, After Dark Award, and Joseph Jefferson Award. She has also been inducted to the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame.
Wicked on Broadway - Tickets
Wicked on Broadway is a reimagined take of Frank L. Baum's The Wizard of Oz. Wicked changes the narrative stance by transferring the focus to the witches. The musical has been loved by audiences of all ages and tastes. The success of the production not only comes from the cerebral casting but also from the brilliant original score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, based on Gregory Maguire's novel. Much of the magical world of Wicked has been created by Eugene Lee and Kenneth Posner, who are the Scenic Designer and Lighting Designer for the production, respectively. Wicked is currently playing at the Gershwin Theater.
For more Broadway news updates, click here.
More Broadway Guides
For more Broadway information, here are some helpful quick links!
