Next to Normal’s Kyle Dean Massey Returns to Wicked January 25

Kyle Dean Massey of “Next To Normal” is returning to the “Wicked” Broadway company on January 25 at Gershwin Theatre as Fiyero.

Massey is succeeding Kyle McDaniel and will be joining the cast that includes Katie Rose Clarke who plays Glinda, Mandy Gonzalez portraying Elphaba, P.J. Benjamin playing The Wizard, Kathy Fitzgerald playing Madame Morrible, Etai BenShlomo playing Boq, Jenny Fellner portraying Nessarose, and Tom Flynn playing Dr. Dillamond.

On February 1 Teal Wicks will become the new Elphaba. She will succeed Mandy Gonzales, whose last performance will be on January 30. It will be Wicks’ Broadway debut. She played Elphaba previously in the Los Angeles and San Francisco productions.

Broadway credits for Massey include “Wicked,” “Xanadu” and “Next to Normal.” He appeared in “Altar Boyz” on Off-Broadway and was part of the “42nd Street” and “Wicked” tours.

“Wicked” is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, the book that turns every myth of Oz upside down. The story explores the childhoods of Glinda and Elphaba, the future witches of Oz. Elphaba and Glinda meet at Shiz, a school of sorcery. Glinda is a wildly popular student. Elphaba is just green. Through a misunderstanding the two girls end up being roommates. Initially the two girls loathe one another but start learning more about one another. The life paths of the two girls continue to intersect. They share a love, make their way to Emerald City, and meet the Wizard. The two girls’ choices as well as their convictions, eventually take them on widely divergent journeys.

Stephen Schwartz composed Wicked’s score. The book is from Winnie Holzman, Joe Mantello is the director and Wayne Cilento does the musical staging. Also included on the creative team are scenic designs from Eugene Lee, costume designs from Susan Hilferty, lighting designs from Kenneth Posner, sound designs from Tony Meola, projections from Elaine J. McCarthy, hair and wig designs from Tom Watson, music arrangements and supervision from Stephen Oremus, orchestrations from William David Brohn and dance arrangements from James Lynn Abbott.

All photos made available via creative commons licensing courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.