Lindsay Mendez on Her New Leading Role in Broadway’s Wicked: 'I’m Really Excited and Really Terrified'

The Broadway blockbuster Wicked welcomes a new green girl on May 28 as musical theater fan favorite Lindsay Mendez steps into the starring role of Elphaba. We caught up with Mendez to get her reaction to joining the "all-time best" Broadway musical.

“I was so thrilled,” Mendez exclaimed about learning she landed the role of Elphaba. “I got to do Godspell with [Wicked composer] Stephen Schwartz and got to know him and love him, and then doing Dogfight with [Wicked director] Joe Mantello, all the pieces seemed to fit together. I love everyone involved so much, and it just really meant a lot to me that they wanted me to do it. I think [Elphaba] is such a wonderful role, and I’m really excited and really terrified [laughs]. I hope to do it justice! I couldn’t be more thrilled."

Mendez joins a cast that includes Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond and F. Michael Hayne as Boq.

Mendez made her Broadway debut as Jan in the 2007 revival of Grease. She then appeared in Everyday Rapture with Sherie Rene Scott and as the “Bless the Lord” soloist in the 2011 revival of Schwartz’s Godspell. Her off-Broadway credits include originating the role of Rose in Dogfight (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination), Everyday Rapture and The Marvelous Wonderettes. Mendez also appeared in concert and on the recording of Ryan Scott Oliver’s 35mm: A Musical Exhibition.