Eden Espinosa to Star as Wicked's Next Elphaba; Kane & Williams Join Cast

Eden Espinosa will be Wicked's next Elphaba, beginning Broadway performances on January 10. That same date Carol Kane will join to production as Madame Morrible and Derrick Williams will assume the role of Fiyero.

Espinosa, best known for starring in Brooklyn, was the original Elphaba standby for the Broadway production. She recently played the role during the San Francisco engagement of the Wicked tour. Steven Winn of The San Francisco Chronicle wrote of her performance: "Espinosa makes a kinder, gentler and more vocally challenged Elphaba than Menzel. Slowly but certainly she becomes a winning and sympathetic figure who rises to the occasion, whether in the defiant heights of "Defying Gravity" or tender moments with her sister Nessa."

Kane and Williams were both part of the first national touring cast of Wicked. Kane most recently appeared on the Great White Way in Sly Fox. Her other Broadway credits include The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and Ring Around the Bathtub. Kane is probably best known for her Emmy-winning performance on TV's Taxi. She has also appeared in a wide variety of films, including Carnal Knowledge, The Last Detail, Dog Day Afternoon, Hester Street for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, Annie Hall, The World's Greatest Lover, The Muppet Movie, Norman Loves Rose, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Ishtar, The Lemon Sisters, The Princess Bride, My Blue Heaven, Scrooged, The Lemon Sisters, Addams Family Values and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.

Williams was previously a member of the Broadway company of Wicked. He understudied the role of Fiyero and served as a swing, before taking on Fiyero fulltime on the tour. His other Broadway credits include Aida and Swing. He has also appeared in national tours of Smokey Joe's Cafe and Aida and regional productions of Five Guys Named Moe, Jesus Christ Superstar and Once on This Island.

Wicked currently stars Shoshana Bean as Elphaba, Megan Hilty as Glinda, Ben Vereen as the Wizard, Rue McClanahan as Madame Morrible, David Ayers as Fiyero, Michelle Federer as Nessarose, Sean McCourt as Dr. Dillamond and Robb Sapp as Boq.