Elphaba Thropp

Wicked Never Looked so Good!

Elphaba Thropp
Biographical information
hidea	green
Born	Munchkinland
Gender	Female (Originally Born With Male Parts In (Book))
Hair color	Black
Family	Melena Thropp (Mother) Wizard of Oz (Father) Nessarose Thropp (Half-Sister) Shell Thropp (Half-Brother In The Book) Peerless Thropp (Great-Grandfather in the book) Liir (Only Child & Son In The Book) Rain ( Green Granddaughter In The Book) Frexspar Thropp (Step Father) Lady Partra Thropp ( Grandmother) Romen Skarr (Grandfather) Sopheila Thropp (Aunt)
Affiliation
Job	Witch
Behind the scenes
First appearance	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)
Last appearance	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)

No One Mourns This Page! This article was featured on the front page! It must be truly Wonderful then!

Elphaba Thropp of Oz

Elphaba Thropp is the green skinned protagonist in the popular book titled Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by author Gregory Maguire published in 1995.

Elphaba is also the main character of the very successful Broadway Musical of the same name. Rather book or stage adaptation the story itself is a much more mature version of the first American Fairytale written; The Wizard of Oz, which combines many key elements from both the iconic 1939 movie by MGM and the original book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by children's author L. Frank Baum published in 1900. The story is not seen through the eyes of Baum's child protagonist, the Kansas farm girl known as Dorothy Gale (Who is neither the hero nor villain in this spin-off Oz tale.)

Instead everything that happens in the magical land of Oz revolves around Elphaba. The plot follows her life journey, focussing on her thoughts, trials, tribulations and eventual decent into Wickedness. Despite being the protagonist to the reader of the novel or viewer of the play, Elphaba eventually becomes viewed as the antagonist who rebels against the repression in Oz. Her strength to stand up for what she believes in leads to her being viewed by many people throughout Oz as "Wicked," thus, ultimately leading to her tragic demise. Despite her sad fate, Elphaba becomes known by many others as an underground legend and iconic activist for Animal rights in Oz long after her tragic death.

Author Gregory Maguire payed homage to Baum and formulated Elphaba's unique name out of L. Frank Baum's name, taking the phonetic pronunciation of his initials: hence, L.F.B became El-pha-ba.

The Orgins of Elphaba Thropp of Oz

Novel...

Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba Thropp

"...she was up and running in an ungainly way, and her three goofy companions followed in a mounting panic. As the first few drops of rain fell, the Witch caught sight, not of the girl's face, but the shoes. Her sister's shoes! They sparkled, even in the darkening afternoon. They sparkled like yellow diamonds in the sun, embers of blood, and thorny stars..." -introduction to 'Wicked'.

Elphaba Thropp was born in Rush Margins, a rural area of Munchkinland in the Land of Oz. Unlike any other Ozian, she was mysteriously born with green skin. Due to her family's noble blood, she is tall, unlike most diminutive Munchkinlanders.

Elphaba was the biological daughter of Melena Thropp , the Thropp 2nd Descending and 2nd heiress to the title of Eminent Thropp, and of Oscar Zoroaster Diggs, who would one day become The Wizard of Oz . However, Diggs seduced and drugged Melena with a green "Miracle Elixir" and so Melena did not recall the experience and Elphaba grew up believing her stepfather, the Unionist miniister Frexspar, was her biological father. It is hinited that the green potion is what caused Elphaba's skin condition and that her Earthly lineage is what allows her to read the Grimmeire, due to Oz having a different writing system.

Early Life

Elphaba would only live in Rush Margins for the first couple of years of her life. Shortly after her birth, Melena called on the aid of her childhood nanny to help care for Elphaba. When Elpahaba was a toddler, her parents were acquainted with Turtle Heart, a Quadling glassblower, who would later become lover to both. When Elphaba was about three, her family was apparently run of Rush Margins and forced to flee to her mother's childhood home of Colwen Grounds, where Turtle Heart was sacrificed to Clock of The Dragon to relieve a drought on the same day that Melena gave birth to Nessarose. The guilt over Turtle Heart's death led Frex and Melena to become missionaries to Quadling Country. When Elphaba was eight, her mother died giving birth to Shell, and Nanny took on the role of mother to the Thropp children. Elphaba later relates that she used to sing to the converts her father visited. At the age of 15, she is accepted to Crage Hall, the female college of Shiz

Shiz University

Elphaba with Dr. Dillamond

After being accepted to Crage Hall, Elphaba is paired off to room with Galinda , a beautiful but spoiled girl of noble blood. At first Galinda is repulsed and uncomfortable around Ephaba, due both to her green skin and lack of social standing. Elphaba slowly grows to like Galinda and concludes that she isn't such an unpleasant roommate after all, one who is more crafty and gifted than she is credited for. Elphaba also meets Boq, a fomrer playmate from Rush Margins who soon becomes a close friend. During the first summer, Elphaba works as an assistant to Dr. Dillamond, a Goat professor who is trying to find the difference betwen Animals and humans. She assisted by Boq, and Boq's friends, Tibbett and Crope, who help her get information from Briscoe Hall's library. At the end of the summer, she travels to visit Galinda at her summer home, only to discover it to be a prank by one of Galinda's friends. At the start of the second year, Elphaba's life turns dramatically when Dillamond is murdered and Glinda's chaperone, Ama Clutch, is incapcitated, forcing Elphaba to call Nanny to replace her, and Nessarose to begin school there early. The accident also brings Elaphaba closer to Galinda (or Glinda as she is now known) and allows Elpahab to form a circle of friends. Elphaba continues to believe Dillamond was murdered, despite official claims he died accidently, and this is confirmed by Ama Clutch on her deathbed. After Clutch is buried, Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall, calls Elphaba, Glinda and Nessarose to her office and offers them to the chance of becoming Adepts of Magic, who would serve the Wizard, though she casts a spell on them so that they will not remember the offer until she speaks to them again. After this, Elphaba takes Gllinda and goes to Emerlad City to show Dillamond's work to him. After a disappointing meeting, she parts ways with Glinda, telling her she will not return to Crage Hall, and later becomes a member of the resistance against the Wizard.

City Life

Five years later, Elphaba is a fully grown woman and resistance member. She lives in an abandoned building in a rather isolated section of the city.

One day Elphaba unexpectedly runs into Fiyero, an old friend from college. She tries to avoid him, but he catches her and they begin to meet in secret, which eventually beocmes a love affair which lasts for several months. On Lurlinmas Eve, she is assigned to assassinate Madame Morribel, but fails. At the same time, her apartment is raided and FIyero is killed.

Mauntery Life

Severely traumatized, Elphaba has a mental breakdown and makes her way to a mauntery (monastic convent). She falls into a deep sleep which lasts for a year. During this time, she gives birth to her son, Liir. though she is never told about this and would never realize it. Affter recovering, she works as a maunt under the name of Sister Saint Aelphaba and takes a vow of silence. While owrking with dying patients, she meets the dying Tibbett, who encourages her to live her life and whose death propells her to leave the convent.

Kiamo Ko

Elphaba ,now 30, sets off for Kiamo Ko to seek forgiveness for the death of Fiyero from his wife, Sarima, who welcomes her and allows her to stay at Kiamo Ko along with Liir, who the maunts had sent along with Elphaba. On the journey to Kiamo Ko, Elphaba encounters a number of animals, including an orphaned snow monkey who she calls Chistery and a wolf-dog called Killyjoy. Though Elphaba had only intended to stay at Kiamo Ko until she received Sarima's forgiveness, Sarima refuses to listen to her story and she resigns herself to living in the castle indefinitely. As Elphaba refuses to give her name, Sarima calls her 'Auntie,' although her children end up calling her Auntie Witch behind her back a name she eventually gives in to, even though she resents it.

While living at Kiamo Ko, Elphaba discovers the Grimmerie (a book containing vast magical knowledge) in the attic of the castle. Elphaba begins the study the book and practice magic. She begins to realize she has latent magical ability, having forzen a lake to save Chistery and made an icicle fall with her mind

The Matter of Dorothy

• Eventually Elphaba visits Munchkinland near the end of the fourth section of the book.

A little Alien girl by the name of Dorothy Gale of Kansas has unexpectedly made it to Oz and is also accompanied by a mangy pet dog she calls "Toto". Both came to Oz aloft in a descending farmhouse of foreign design that had been swept up in a cyclone from her world. The farmhouse falls out of the sky and ultimately crash lands in the heart of Munchkinland, and is dropped right on top of Nessarose, instantly killing her in the process. When Elphaba receives the news she arrives in Munchkinland and witnesses the tragic impact that the Alien girl has left on the Munchkinlanders (who are secretly glad Nessarose is dead, but are all shooken up by the incident nonetheless.) Elphaba arrives days after Dorothy has came and left. The only thing to be seen of her is the condemned farmhouse she arrived in. Thus, Dorothy is now following the yellow brick road, embarking on her own set of adventures in hopes of finding a way back to her homeland. Dorothy's adventures in Oz are told in the famous story of The Wizard of Oz.

But in the story of Wicked, it is here when Elphaba finally discovers the truth that the Quadling Turtle Heart may in fact have fathered Nessarose. Both Melena and Frex were in love with Turtle Heart creating a bisexual love triangle, so this makes sense as to why Nessarose always meant more to Frex than Elphaba did. Finding this out breaks Elphaba's heart. The story then shifts to the funeral arrangements that are made for Nessarose. Elphaba attends her sister's funeral, where she also sees a woman there at the service who's dressed in a ridiculous getup. The woman is wearing a pink glittering ball gown and matching crown and wand. As Elphaba looks closer she suddenly realizes it's none other than her old friend Galinda.

Galinda attends the service as well to pay her respects to her old college colleague. The two are at first very happy to be reunited after a decade with no contact. Galinda now goes by simply "Glinda" and is a well respected figure of Oz who has mastered the art of small magic and performs only good spells. She is also middle-aged now. The two woman make small talk but when Elphaba learns that Glinda has given Nessarose's slippers to Dorothy, she is enraged. Elphaba feels it was not Glinda's place to do such a thing and feels that Glinda has been disrespectful to not only Nessarose who is dead because of Dorothy, but also views Glinda's act as a thoughtless slap in the face to her grieving family as well.

(This has much more to do with Elphaba's guilty conscience than anything else.)

But it still sparks a fierce conflict between the two women as Glinda defends her motive stating that Nessa's shoes were falling apart before she enchanted them. Glinda tells Elphaba that she also gave Dorothy the shoes to help the child, giving her good luck and to ultimately keep her from any harm while on her journey, such as being possibly killed by the mob of angry Munchkinlanders who are on the verge of civil war.

Elphaba confronting Glinda at the "Scene of Dorothy".

This painful falling out remains unresolved and Glinda and Elphaba cut off all ties and never speak again.

Afterwards, Elphaba attempts to successfully hunt Dorothy Gale down to get the shoes. By this point, Dorothy has been in Oz for weeks now and Elphaba traces Dorothys' steps as she also follows the yellow brick road. Dorothy has been able to get a good head start but Elphabla is flying on her magic broom which is much faster than walking or skipping.

On her way she finds Boq's Munchkin house. Boq is now one of the wealthiest men in Munchkinland and is also a successful farmer with a family of his own. He reveals to Elphaba that Dorothy took shelter at Boq's home during her first night in Oz, spending the night at his residence. He even confesses to Elphaba how charming Dorothy was. Informing Elphaba that Dorothys' name means "Goddess of Gifts".

Infuriated, Elphaba disrespects Boq, to fly on her broomstick down the road without saying goodbye. Eventually, she finds Dorothy halfway to the Emerald City. To Elphaba's shock Dorothy is no dainty thing, but a good sized farm girl with strong forearms. As Elphaba spies on the girl she notices Dorothy is also accompanied by a mangy dog and the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. After eavesdropping and listening to the group gossip about her, Elphaba attempts to mug Dorothy and wrestle the shoes from her. Her plans are unsuccessful as it starts to rain and Elphaba is forced to take cover under a tree letting Dorothy get away.

Elphaba returns to Kiamo Ko and discovers the castle nearly abandoned with only Nanny, Chistery and Liir there. The Wizard and his soldiers have kidnapped Sarima and her sisters, and are eventually murdered along with Irik. Nor is kept as a sex slave for the Wizard and dangled in Elphaba's face to taunt her.

Later on, at the very end, Dorothy finally comes to Kiamo Ko with her companions and dog, looking for the Wicked Witch of the West to destroy her under the Wizard's command if she wanted to be sent back home. Elphaba has her flying monkeys capture the girl and she and Dorothy are finally confronted with eachother face to face. All while assuming she had to be tied into the tapestry of conspiracies in Oz. Dorothy tries to do what Elphaba commands but the shoes are enchanted under the protection of Glinda and will not come off. Dorothy confesses that the Wizard of Oz even tried to pry the shoes off but the pair have been stuck on her feet since her arrival in Oz. Despite Dorothy's efforts, the slippers simply will not come off her feet. She is magically locked tight inside of them.

As it became apparent, Elphaba breifly realizes that Dorothy really was an innocent human girl from a different place who had been thrown into a world that she knew nothing about. Meanwhile, hot sparks from a nearby fire suddenly caught on Elphaba's long clothing and cape so Dorothy tried to put out the fire with a bucket of water that was collecting rainwater from a leak. To help the Witch who was ablaze, Dorothy tossed the bucket at the Witch, but to Dorothy's horror it tragically melted Elphaba away, killing her by accident.

Gone But Not Forgotten

This bucket splash connects to the fable of Saint Aelphaba, for whom Elphaba is named after, who was said to disappear beyond a waterfall, and never return. This in turn ties Elphaba to the stories Sarima tells her children about a wicked witch who disappears into a cave. At the end of the story, the children always ask if the witch ever comes out, to which Sarima replies "not yet". At the end of the book, this dialogue is repeated, suggesting that Elphaba will eventually rise again. Just before being absorbed into the Grimmerie in A Lion Among Men, the oracle known as Yackle also claims that "She's coming back-", although to whom this refers is never made explicitly clear. In interviews, Maguire has stated that a witch may die but will always come back, no matter what. This very well hints that Elphaba is the subject of Yackle's prophecy. Elphaba is vanquished at age 38 as stated in the chronological order from Out of Oz .

It is hinted in Maguires' Oz sequels that the spirit of Elphaba watches over her loved ones in Oz from time to time.

In the Musical

Act I

Elphaba Thropp, the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, who is ostracized for her electric-green skin, meets Galinda Upland and they take an immediate dislike and loathe  for each other. She was born with green skin because her mother drank green elixir on the night Elphaba was conceived. In a moment of anger, trying to help her sister Nessarose, Elphaba reveals an innate magical talent, which impresses Madame Morrible, the "Head  Shiztress" of Shiz; she notes that Elphaba's talents may be of use to the Wizard of Oz, and promises to ask him for an audience. Galinda and Elphaba, meanwhile, espouse their mutual loathing in a duet(what is this feeling).

Elphaba at Shiz

Elphaba meets Dr. Dillamond,  the Goat that teaches History at Shiz. He confides in Elphaba that things in Oz are not what they seem to be; something is causing the Animals of Oz to lose their powers of speech and become animals(something bad).

Galinda, while preparing for a party arranged by a carefree student named Fiyero, discovers a black pointed hat in a box and gives it to Elphaba as a “present”; Elphaba arrives wearing the hat, only to be ridiculed. Defiant, she proceeds to dance alone and without musical accompaniment. Feeling guilty, Galinda joins her on the dance floor, marking the start of a new friendship between the two. After the dance, Galinda and Elphaba talk in their room; Galinda decides to give her new friend a makeover and to make her (Popular ).

The next day,  Ozian officials take away Doctor Dillamond. The new history teacher arrives with a caged lion cub (who will turn out to be the Cowardly Lion) as the subject of an in-class experiment, revealing that Animals that are kept in cages never will learn how to speak. Outraged, Elphaba's magical abilities show themselves, and she and Fiyero are able to rescue the cub themselves. The two realize that they may have feelings for each other, but Fiyero leaves, embarrassed. Elphaba takes refuge under a bridge and states that it would be impossible for someone like Fiyero to have feelings for someone like her (I'm Not That Girl ). It begins to rain, and Madame Morrible finds her and announces that she has been granted an audience with the Wizard. Morrible stops the rain, in order to keep Elphaba from getting too wet, announcing that weather is her specialty. At the train station, Galinda and Fiyero see Elphaba off to the Emerald City. In an attempt to impress Fiyero, Galinda announces that she will change her name to "Glinda" in honor of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation. Fiyero seems not to notice, focusing his attention instead on Elphaba, and Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to see the Wizard.

Defying Gravity

After a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City, Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard. Eschewing the special effects that he employs for the benefit of most visitors, he invites Elphaba to join him. As a test, he asks that Elphaba give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly using the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells. Elphaba demonstrates an innate understanding of the lost language, and successfully gives Chistery wings. Showing her how powerful she really is, the Wizard reveals a cage full of winged monkeys, and remarks that they will make good spies to report any subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the Wizard has no power of his own, Elphaba runs away with the Grimmerie, pursued by the palace guards.

Elphaba and Glinda run into the tallest tower, where they hear Madame Morrible declaring to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch" and is to be distrusted. Elphaba enchants a broomstick to fly and tries to convince Glinda to join her in her cause, but Glinda cannot resist the call of popularity and refuses. Leaving Glinda behind, Elphaba flies off, promising to fight the Wizard with all of her power and Defy Gravity (Defying Gravity )

Act II

A few years pass, and Elphaba's exploits have earned her the title "The Wicked Witch of the West". Elphaba arrives at the governor's residence in Munchkinland seeking refuge; Nessarose, now the governess, criticizes Elphaba for not using her new-found powers to help her sister. Guilty, Elphaba enchants Nessarose's jeweled shoes, enabling her to walk. Boq, Nessarose's servant, is summoned and reveals that his affection for Nessarose was put on and his heart lies with Glinda. Furious, Nessarose miscasts a spell from the Grimmerie, accidentally causing Boq's heart to shrink. While Elphaba attempts to save him, Nessarose reflects on how her obsession with Boq has led her to oppress the Munchkins. Elphaba saves Boq by turning him into the Tin Woodman; horrified, Nessarose lays the blame with Elphaba.

Elphaba with the Wizard

Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace in order to free the rest of the winged monkeys. The Wizard attempts to regain her favor by agreeing to set them free. Upon discovering a now-speechless Doctor Dillamond among the monkeys, Elphaba rejects his offer and attempts to escape, but runs into Fiyero. Confirming his true love for Elphaba, he runs off with her.

Glinda, in a fit of jealousy, instructs Madame Morrible and the Wizard of Oz to spread a rumor about Elphaba's sister. They both agree a rumor is not enough, and once Glinda is gone, Madame Morrible decides a "change in the weather" would suffice.

In the middle of the woods, Elphaba and Fiyero profess their love for each other. They are interrupted when Elphaba hears strange noises and sees houses flying through the air. She leaves, and goes off to find her sister.

She arrives in Munchkinland, to find Dorothy as the "Wizard of Oz," movie implies. Once Dorothy is gone, Glinda falls to her knees and places flowers near where Nessa had been crushed by the house. Elphaba appears, and soon finds out that Nessa's death was no accident. She and Glinda get into a fight, and the Gale Force guards intercede, grabbing Elphaba. Elphaba can't believe Glinda would use such a trick to capture her, and Fiyero arrives, telling the guards to "let the green girl go." They do, and Fiyero convinces Elphaba to leave without him. He is taken to a field, and it is implied he is beaten viciously.

Elphaba and Fiyero

Elphaba is in Kiamo Ko, Fiyero's castle, and she searches frantically through the Grimmerie trying to find a spell to help save Fiyero. She reflects on all of her past actions, and on how they have affected the people she has loved. She finally discovers that it is not worth trying to do good anymore and she is wicked

Glinda arrives at Elphaba's castle to persuade her to let Dorothy go, but Elphaba refuses. After receiving a note, she finally realizes what she has done wrong and how to fix it. She makes Glinda promise not to clear her name and to take charge in Oz, and the two confirm a true friendship. As the mob arrives at the castle, Dorothy runs in and throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, 'melting' her.

Fiyero, whom Elphaba had accidentally turned into the Scarecrow when trying to save him, opens a trapdoor in Elphaba's castle. Elphaba, very much alive, emerges and the two are happily reunited, and leave Oz forever.

Book to Musical Differences

In the musical Wicked, Elphaba is less cynical, more likable, and far more sympathetic than the novel

Jemma Rix as Elphaba

counterpart. In the book, Elphaba virtually goes mad, and genuinely becomes "wicked", though understandably so; however in the musical, she tries not to hurt anyone and just wants to help the Animals and the people she cares about. Liir, Sarima and her children are not present in the musical, instead, a love triangle with Fiyero, Elphaba and Glinda is formed. The young Elphaba shows interest in sorcery as soon as her powers are revealed, as opposed to having it thrust upon her as in the book. Elphaba is explicitly shown to survive at the end, and goes to live a life beyond Oz with Fiyero, where in the book her impending resurrection is only hinted. Elphaba is also the creator of the Tin Woodman (through a spell to save Boq, who had had his heart shrunken to apparent non-existence by Nessarose), the Scarecrow (through a spell with which she attempts to save Fiyero from being tortured to death on her account) and the Cowardly Lion (the Lion Cub she rescued from the class after Doctor Dillamond's removal); in the book the first is a result of an axe bewitched by Nessarose, and the scarecrow's existence has nothing to do with Fiyero, other than her slight suspicion that he might indeed be her love coming back to find her, which just proves to be a paranoid delusion. Elphaba also has a less significant vendetta with Madame Morrible in the musical than in the book: In the novel, Elphaba relentlessly attempts to kill Morrible, but in the musical, Elphaba has virtually nothing to do with her after the conclusion of the first act. Her relationship with Glinda (called "Galinda" until she renames herself in the latter part of the first act in honor of Doctor Dillamond) is a central feature of the musical. As in the novel, the two initially despise each other, but eventually develop a strong friendship. For a while, Elphaba goes along with Glinda's attempts to make her popular, but her rebellious and revolutionary nature ultimately forces her to reject both social and political popularity in favor of doing what she knows to be right in fighting to save the Animals. Just prior to Elphaba's supposed melting, the two confess that each has been changed by their friendship: Elphaba admits that Glinda was the only friend she ever had, and Glinda replies that Elphaba was the only friend she has ever had who really mattered.

Kerry Ellis as Elphaba

Elphaba demonstrates a natural talent in the field of sorcery early in the musical, and is selected by Madame Morrible to be tutored personally. She progresses quickly, and is eventually called before the Wizard of Oz himself, with a view to becoming his "magic Grand Vizier". However, when she learns that the Wizard is in fact a powerless fraud, Elphaba steals the Grimmerie from him and sets herself up as a rebel. In retaliation, the Wizard has Madame Morrible spread the rumor that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch", to turn the public against her. She becomes the subject of national hatred thereafter, and her attempts to convince the people as to the Wizard's corrupt rule are regarded as slander. As more and more of her friends turn against her, Elphaba gradually comes to accept her reputation as a villain, and the supposed death of Fiyero is what finally causes her to embrace it completely. However, when she realizes that Fiyero has in fact survived, Elphaba acknowledges the mistakes she has made in her life, and decides to get a fresh start outside of Oz.

In the musical, Elphaba's aversion to water is no more than one of several ridiculous rumors started by those who fear her. Elphaba uses this to her advantage by disappearing when Dorothy throws a bucket of water at her, fooling everyone into believing she has been killed, even though she just went down a trapdoor and lives to the end.

Songs

Solos

• I'm Not That Girl

  

  Japanese "As Long As You're Mine."

• No Good Deed

Solos (In A Duet)

• The Wizard and I (Madame Morrible)
• Something Bad (Dr. Dillamond)
• Wonderful (The Wizard)
• As Long As You're Mine (Fiyero)
• For Good (Glinda)

Solos (In A Group Number)

• What Is This Feeling? (Glinda and Students of Shiz)
• Dancing Through Life (Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, and Students of Shiz)
• One Short Day (Glinda and Citizens of the Emerald City)
• Defying Gravity (Glinda and Company)
• The Wicked Witch of the East (Nessarose and Boq)
• Finale (Glinda and Company)

Others

• Dear Old Shiz (Glinda and Shiz Students)

Trivia

• The idea for Elphaba's Act 2 dress was as if she was from the center of the Earth.
• The fabric for Elphaba’s Wicked Witch bodice is not actually one fabric. It is as many as 20 different fabrics, cut into pieces no bigger than 3” and quilted, cut, stitched, and quilted together.
• The ruffles in the skirt of Elphaba’s Wicked Witch dress require 40 yards of fabric to complete.
• It takes one person 2 weeks to sew the entire Act 2 dress together.
• The Act 2 dress is said to weigh around 25 lbs.
• The Act 2 dress is worth anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.
• The Act 2 dress has a zipper down the back that can be easily replaced.
• There are 20 shades of Elphaba green skin (although the production only regularly use a few).
• It usually takes about half an hour (depending on actress experience) for Elphaba to “greenify” every night.
• The most famous actress to portray Elphaba is Idina Menzel.
• There are two almost identical dresses, one's the Shiz dress; the other is tighter for the party at the Ozdust.
• In the musical, the wig for the second act is different from the first. It's longer with dark red or brown in it (it really depends on where the show is taking place).
• On matinee days (days where there are two shows) the actress who plays Elphaba has to de-greenify herself in-between shows because between acts the green skin becomes more defined.
• The fastest time for applying Elphaba's green make up was 7 minutes.
• Idina Menzel returned to the role of Elphaba in the original West End cast in 2006 

• Most actresses playing Elphaba are mostly mezzo-sopranos ( a soprano in a lower range or an alto in a higher range)
• Danna Paola in the Mexican production is the youngest actress to play Elphaba at 18 years old.
• Idina Menzel won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role (Musical) for her role as Elphaba in 2004
• Idina Menzel was the original actress to play the role of Elphaba.
• Stephanie J. Block read for Elphaba in the workshops for Wicked.

Portrayers

Broadway

• Idina Menzel (2003-2005)
• Shoshana Bean (2005-2006)
• Eden Espinosa (2006)
• Ana Gasteyer (2006-2007)
• Julia Murney (2007)  
• Stephanie J Block (2007-2008)                                  

  

  Lindsay Mendez as Elphaba

• Kerry Ellis (2008)
• Marcie Dodd (2008-2009)
• Nicole Parker (2009)                                              
• Dee Roscioli (2009-2010)
• Mandy Gonzalez (2010-2011)
• Teal Wicks (2011)
• Jackie Burns (2011-2013)
• Willemijn Verkaik (2013)
• Lindsay Mendez (2013-2014)
• Christine Dwyer (Current)

Broadway Standbys

• Eden Espinosa (2003-2004; also Nessarose u/s)
• Shoshana Bean (2004-2005; also Nessarose u/s)
• Saycon Sengbloh (2005-2007)
• Lisa Brescia (2007-2008)
• Julie Reiber (2008-2009)
• Jennifer DiNoia (2009-2011; temporary 2012) 
• Donna Vivino (August 2011-October 2012; November 2012-November 2013)
• Carla Stickler (November 2013; temporary)
• Christine Dwyer (2013-2014)
• Anne Brummel (Current)

Broadway Understudies

• Kristy Cates
• Brandi Chavonne Massey
• Caissie Levy
• Maria Eberline (temporary)
• Chelsea Krombach
• Stephanie Torns (2010-2011; June 2014-July 2014; August 2014)
• Caroline Bowman
• Jennifer DiNoia (temporary)
• Anna Eilinsfeld (temporary)
• Vicki Noon
• Carla Stickler (Current) 

1st National Tour

• Stephanie J. Block (2005-2006)
• Kristy Cates (2005; temporary)
• Eden Espinosa (2005; temporary)
• Julia Murney (2006)
• Shoshana Bean (2006)
• Victoria Matlock (2007)
• Carmen Cusack (2007-2008)
• Donna Vivino (2008-2010)
• Jackie Burns (2010-2011)
• Dee Roscioli (2011)
• Mamie Parris (2011-2012)
• Nicole Parker (2012)
• Dee Roscioli (2012-2013)
• Alison Luff (2013-2014)
• Emma Hunton (Current) 

1st National Tour Standbys

• Victoria Matlock (2006)
• Coleen Sexton (2007)
• Donna Vivino (2007-2008)
• Merideth Kaye Clark (2008-2010)
• Marriand Torres (2010-2012)
• Carla Stickler (2012-2013; also u/s Nessarose)
• Laurel Harris (2013-2014; also u/s Nessarose)
• Emmy Raver-Lampman (Current)

1st National Tour Understudies

• Jenna Leigh Green (also Nessarose)
• Maria Eberline (also u/s Nessarose)
• Marcie Dodd (also u/s Nessarose)
• Merideth Kaye Clark
• Stephanie Torns (Current)
• Carla Stickler (also u/s Nessarose)
• Ashley Dawn Mortensen
• Shayla (Osborn) Beck (also u/s Nessarose)

Chicago Production

• Ana Gasteyer (2005-2006)
• Kristy Cates (2006)
• Dee Roscioli (2006-2008, 2008-2009)
• Lisa Brescia (2008)

Chicago Standbys

• Kristy Cates (2005-2006)
• Dee Roscioli (2006)
• Carmen Cusack (2006-2007)
• Jennifer DiNoia (2007-2009)

Chicago Understudies

• Courtney Corey
• Jennifer DiNoia (also u/s Nessarose)
• Dan'yelle Williamson
• Vicki Noon
• Anne Brummel (Final)

West End (London) Production

• Idina Menzel (2006-2007)
• Kerry Ellis (2007-2008, 2008-2009, current)
• Alexia Khadime (2008, 2009-2010)
• Rachel Tucker (2010-2012)
• Louise Dearman (2012-2013)
• Willemijn Verkaik (2013-2014)
• TBC (October 2014-)

West End Standbys

• Kerry Ellis (2006)
• Shona White (2007)
• Cassidy Janson (2007-2008)
• Ashleigh Gray (2008-2010; temporary 2013 & 2014)
• Nikki Davis-Jones (2010-2012)
• Hayley Gallivan (2012-2013)
• Emma Hatton (Current)

West End Understudies

• Cassidy Janson (2006-2007; also u/s Nessarose)
• Ashleigh Gray (2007-2008)
• Shona White (emergency cover-2009)
• Sabrina Carter (2008-2010)
• Stevie Tate-Bauer (2010-2011; also u/s Nessarose)
• Jennifer Tierney (2011; also u/s Madame Morrible)
• Gemma Atkins (2011-2012; also u/s Nessarose)
• Michelle Pentecost (2011-2013))
• Katie Rowley Jones (2012-2013)
• Natalie McQueen (2013; 1st u/s)
• Jacqueline Hughes (2013-2014; 2nd u/s)

Los Angeles Production

• Eden Espinosa (2007; 2008-2009)
• Caissie Levy (2008)
• Teal Wicks (2008)

Los Angeles Standbys

• Julie Reiber (2007)
• Caissie Levy (2007)
• Teal Wicks (2008)
• Marcie Dodd (2008; also u/s Nessarose)
• Vicki Noon (2008-2009)
• Felicia Ricci ( 2010)

Los Angeles Understudies

• Courtney Corey
• Marcie Dodd (temporary; also Nessarose)
• Angel Reda (Final)

Stuttgart Production

• Willemijn Verkaik (2007-2010)
• Roberta Valentini (2010)

Stuttgart Alternates

• Sabrina Weckerlin (2007-2008)
• Roberta Valentini (2008-2010)
• Melanie Gebhard (2010)

Stuttgart Understudies

• Roberta Valentini
• Melanie Gebhard
• Maria Walter (Final)

Melbourne Production

• Amanda Harrison (2008-2009)
• Jemma Rix (2009; temporary)

Melbourne Standbys

• Jemma Rix (2008-2009)
• Carmen Cusack (2009; temporary)

Melbourne Understudies

• Patrice Tipoki
• Zoe Gertz (Final; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Japan Production

• Hamada Megumi(Original)
• Higuchi Asami
• Imai Minori
• Kimura Chiaki
• Ebata Masae
• Miyahara Kei

San Francisco Production

• Teal Wicks (2009-2010)
• Vicki Noon (2009; temporary)
• Eden Espinosa (2010)
• Marcie Dodd (2010)

San Francisco Standbys

• Vicki Noon (2009-2010)
• Merideth Kaye Clark (2009; temporary)
• Dee Roscioli (2009; temporary)
• Carrie Manolakos (2010; temporary)
• Felicia Ricci (2010)

San Francisco Understudies

• Angel Reda
• Felicia Ricci
• Alyssa Fox (Final)

2nd National Tour

• Marcie Dodd (2009-2010)
• Vicki Noon (2010-2011)
• Anne Brummel (2011- April 2012)
• Christine Dwyer (May 2012-March 2013)
• Jennifer DiNoia (2013-2014) 
• Laurel Harris (Current)

2nd National Tour Standbys

Alyssa Fox as Elphaba

• Carrie Manolakos (2009-2010)
• Anne Brummel (2010-2011)
• Christine Dwyer (2011)
• Stephanie Torns (2011-2012)
• Alyssa Fox (2012-Present)
• Lilli Cooper (Current; temporary)

2nd National Tour Understudies

• Natalie Weiss
• Anne Brummel
• Christine Dwyer
• Laurel Harris (also u/s Nessarose)
• Anna Eilinsfeld (2012-2013; also u/s Nessarose)
• Lilli Cooper
• Madeline Trumble (Current)

Tokyo Revival

• Okamura Minami (Current) 

​UK/Ireland Tour

• Nikki Davis-Jones (2013-2014)
• Ashleigh Gray (September 2014-)

UK/Ireland Tour Standby

• Jemma Alexander
• Michelle Pentecost (temporary)
• Jacqueline Hughes (September 2014-)

UK/Ireland Tour Understudy

• Zoë George (also 2nd cover Nessarose)
• Natasha Ferguson (also 1st cover Nessarose)

Mexico City

• Ana Cecilia Anzaldúa
• Danna Paola

Mexico City Understudies

• Edén Pintos
• Viviana Barrera

Seoul, South Korea

• Oak Joo Hyun
• Park Hye Na
• Kim Sun-Young

Seoul Understudy

• Kim Ga Hee

Sydney Production

• Amanda Harrison (2009)
• Jemma Rix (2009; temporary)
• Jemma Rix / Pippa Grandison (2009-2010)
• Jemma Rix / Patrice Tipoki (2010)

Sydney Standbys

• Jemma Rix (2009)
• Jennifer DiNoia (2009; temporary)
• Patrice Tipoki (2009-2010)

Sydney Understudies

• Zoe Gertz (2009-2010; first understudy; also u/s Madame Morrible)
• Justine Puy (2010; second understudy)

Australian Tour

• Jemma Rix (2011)

Australian Tour Standby

• Laura Bunting (2011)

​Australian Tour Understudy

• Zoe Jarrett (2011; also u/s Madame Morrible)

Oberhausen Production

• Willemijn Verkaik (2010-2011)
• Roberta Valentini (2011)

Oberhausen Alternates

• Roberta Valentini (2010-2011)
• Anna Thorén (2011)

Oberhausen Understudies

• Melanie Gebhard

Scheveningen (Dutch) Production

• Willemijn Verkaik (2011-2013)

Scheveningen Alternate

• Renée van Wegberg (2011-2013)

Scheveningen Understudy

• Bettina Holwerda (2011-2012)
• Suzanne de Heij (2012-2013)

Asian Tour Production

• Jemma Rix (Original)

Asian Tour Standbys

• Zoe (Gertz) Jarrett (Original)
• Jennifer DiNoia (May 2012-October 2012)

Asian Tour Understudies

• Gretel Scarlett (also u/s Nessarose)

Helsinki City Theatre Production (non-replicated version)

• Maria Ylipää (2010-2011)

Helsinki Understudy

• Raili Ruutu

Copenhagen Production (non-replicated version)

• Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg (2011)

Copenhagen Understudy

• Christina Elisabeth Mørkøre (1st u/s)
• Caroline Glomnes Johansen (2nd u/s)

Australia Revival

• Jemma Rix (2014-Present) 

Australia Standby 

• Ali Calder (2014-Present) 

Australia Understudy 

• Sophie Wright (2014-Present) 

External Links

• Elphaba - Oz Wiki
• Elphaba - Wikipedia