Wicked: Carol Kane and Michael Wartella to join cast

Emmy Award-winner Carol Kane (Taxi) will return to the Broadway production of Wicked as 'Madame Morrible,' starting performances on 01 Jul 2013. Kane has previously performed the role on Broadway, in Los Angeles, and on tour. Michael Wartella will also joining the cast playing the role of Boq from 25 Jun 2013.

Kane assumes the role of 'Madame Morrible' from Randy Danson who plays her final performance on 30 Jun 2013, and Wartella assumes the role of 'Boq' from F. Michael Haynie who plays his final performance on 25 Jun 2013.

Carol Kane was last seen on Broadway starring as 'Betty Chumley' in 'Harvey.' Her Broadway credits include 'Sly Fox,' 'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds' and 'Ring Around the Bathtub.' Most widely known for her two-time Emmy-winning performance in "Taxi," Kane has also appeared in on TV in "Pearl," "All Is Forgiven," "Chicago Hope" (Emmy nomination), "Law & Order: SVU," and "Two and a Half Men.' Kane was nominaed the an Academy Award for her role as "Gitl " in "Hester Street." More recent film credits include "Clutter ," "Thanks for Sharing" and "Should've Been Romeo."

Wartella is making his Broadway debut. He joins the Broadway production of Wicked directly from the national tour. Other theatre credits include 'Rent,' 'The Kid' (The New Group), 'Seussical' (Theatreworks/USA) and 'Oliver Twist' (TFANA).

The Broadway musical Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre on 30 Oct 2003, following previews from 8 Oct 2003 and is currently selling tickets through to 05 Jan 2014.

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The musical currently stars Lindsay Mendez (Elphaba), Katie Rose Clarke (Glinda), Adam Grupper (The Wizard), Randy Danson (Madame Morrible), Derek Klena (Fiyero), Catherine Charlebois (Nessarose), John Schiappa (Doctor Dillamond) and F. Michael Haynie (Boq).

Wicked has music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire.

The musical is directed by Joe Mantello, with choreography by James Lynn Abbott, scene design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner and sound by Tony Meola.

Carol Kane as Madame MorribleMichael Wartella as Boq