Nicole Parker, PJ Benjamin Take on Elphaba, Wizard in Wicked Tour

Nicole Parker is set to join the cast of Wicked in Denver, Colorado as she takes over the lead role of Elphaba on Friday, May 18. In addition, PJ Benjamin will step in as The Wizard beginning on Tuesday, May 8.

The touring cast for Wicked includes Alli Mauey playing the role of Glinda, Liz McCarney playing the role of Madame Morrible, Justin Brill playing the role of Boq, Emily Ferranti playing the role of Nessarose, Andy Kelso playing the role of Fiyero, Paul Salade Smith playing the role of Dr. Dillamond and Carla Stickler as the understudy for Elphaba.

In addition, the cast also features Antonette Cohen, Lauren Boyd, Luis Augusto Figueroa, Rick Desloge, Dominic Giudici, Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald, Brenda Hamilton, Napoleon W. Gladney, Spencer Jones, Courtney Iventosch, Renee Lawless-Orsini, Trevor Ryan Krahl, Marissa Lupp, Philip Dean Lightstone, Kevin McMahon, Michael Mahany, Cassie Okenka, Ashley Dawn Mortensen, Adea Michelle Sessoms, Christopher Russo, Pamela Shandrow, Sarah Schenkkan, Nicky Venditti, Shanna VanDerwerker and Mickey Winslow.

Parker has played the role of Elphaba on Broadway and has also had roles in the Broadway productions of The People in the Picture and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. She also has worked extensively on the television show MADtv.

Benjamin has been playing the role of the Wizard for five years on Broadway. He has also appeared in The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, The Wind in the Willows, Torch Song Trilogy, Sophisticated Ladies, Sarava, Charlie and Algernon and Pippin.

Wicked is based on the best-selling novel authored by Gregory Maguire, which was published in 1995. Music and lyrics were written by Stephen Schwartz and the book is written by Winnie Holzman. The storyline is centered on the adolescent and college years of the witches in Oz. The director of the production is Joe Mantello and the musical staging is by Wayne Cilento, both Tony Award winners.

By Julie Harmon On May 1, 2012

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

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