Wicked: Carole Shelley returns as Madame Morrible

Carole Shelley who created the role of Madame Morrible in the Broadway show, Wicked, returns to the role this evening (28 Aug 2007).

Shelley assumes the role from Jayne Houdyshell who left the show on 26 Aug 2007. Houdyshell is soon to star in Adam Bock's The Receptionist, which is to begin performances on 12 Oct 2007 at the Off-Broadway venue, NY City Center.

Shelley joins a cast which currently includes Julia Murney as Elphaba, Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Lenny Wolpe as The Wizard, Sebastian Arcelus as Fiyero, Cristy Candler as Nessarose, Logan Lipton as Boq, and Steven Skybell as Dr. Dillamond.

Shelley made her Broadway debut as Gwendolyn Pigeon in the origina Broadway production of 'The Odd Couple' (1965). She won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Mrs. Kendal in 'The Elephant Man' (1979), and earned Tony nominations for her roles as Jane in 'Absurd Person Singular' (1974) and as Maxine in 'Stepping Out'. Her many Boadway credits also include 'Noises Off' (1985), 'Cabaret' (1998 revival), 'Show Boat' (1994 revival).

Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre on the 30 Oct 2003, following previews from 8 Oct 2003, and is currently booking through to 1 Jun 2008.

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.

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.