“Wicked” has announced several new cast members. Mary Kate Morrissey and Alexandra Socha will take over the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, on March 5 at the Gershwin Theatre. They succeed Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz, who will play their final performances on March 3.
Joining the company on the same day are Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie in the role of Madame Morrible, Brad Oscar as the Wizard and Natalie Ortega as Nessarose. The trio takes over for, respectively, Michele Pawk, John Dossett and Kimber Elayne Sprawl, who will also take their final bows at the Gershwin on March 3.
Morrissey is currently the standby for the role of Elphaba, having also played the part on tour. Morrissey has also been seen across the country in the role of Janice in the North American tour of “Mean Girls.”
Socha made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the original 2006 production of “Spring Awakening.” Additional Broadway credits include Nora Morton in the 2009 revival of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and Philoclea in 2018’s “Head Over Heels.”
McKechnie created the role of Cassie in 1975’s “A Chorus Line,” a performance for which she won a Leading Actress in a Musical Tony. McKechnie has been featured in original Broadway productions such as 1961’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” 1968’s “Promises, Promises” and 1970’s “Company.” Her most recent Broadway credit is serving as standby for the late Chita Rivera in 2015’s “The Visit.”
Oscar first appeared on Broadway as a swing in 1990’s “Aspects of Love.” He has subsequently been seen in 1997’s “Jekyll & Hyde,” 2005’s “Spamalot,” 2010’s “The Addams Family,” 2012’s “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” 2013’s “Big Fish” and 2021’s “Mrs. Doubtfire.” He received Tony nominations in 2001 and 2015 for his featured roles in “The Producers” and “Something Rotten!,” respectively.
Regionally, Ortega has appeared in “Buddy” at both Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and in its remounting at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. She has performed her own stand-up and sketch comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles as well as the Stand Comedy Club in New York City. “Wicked” marks her Broadway debut.
In addition to Fox, Kurtz, Pawk, Dossett and Sprawl, the current cast of “Wicked” includes Jordan Litz in the role of Fiyero, Jake Pedersen as Boq and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond.
Featuring a score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, “Wicked” celebrated its 20th anniversary on the Main Stem on Oct. 30, 2023. The musical was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning three.
“Wicked” is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
