Wicked: Willemijn Verkaik to play Elphaba

Dutch star Willemijn Verkaik will make her Broadway debut when she joins the cast of the Broadway musical Wicked on 12 Feb 2013. Verkaik will assume the role of 'Elphaba' from Jackie Burns who will play her final performance on 10 Feb 2013.

Verkaik, who currently stars in the musical's Dutch production, has performed the role in Holland and Germany and is the only actress who has played 'Elphaba' in three different languages, as well as being the longest-playing 'Elphaba' worldwide.

Verkaik said, "I am incredibly happy and proud to be asked by the Broadway producers. I've been playing this role for about five years and every day there are still plenty of challenges. In New York the production has been playing to sold out houses for nine years. To be part of that is truly the icing on the cake for me."

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 6 May 2013.

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 Jackie Burns (Elphaba), Alli Mauzey (Glinda), Adam Grupper (The Wizard), Randy Danson (Madame Morrible), Kyle Dean Massey (Fiyero), Catherine Charlebois (Nessarose), Tom Flynn (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.

Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba