Wicked's Mandy Gonzalez on Relocating from The Heights to Oz

More than eight years ago, relative unknown Mandy Gonzalez got a call asking to participate in an industry reading of a new musical about the two witches in The Wizard of Oz. Since then, of course, both the actress and that musical have blown up, with the former going on to star for over two years as lovable neighborhood sweetheart Nina in the Tony-winning hit In the Heights and the latter becoming the Broadway phenomenon known as Wicked. Today, in what Gonzalez calls a “wonderful, surprising” twist of timing, the two have been reunited, with the leading lady ending her In the Heights run to take over as Wicked’s high-flying, high-belting star, Elphaba. We rung up Gonzalez, who also counts shows like Lennon and Aida on her resume, to talk about the end of her Heights residency and her exhilarating move to the Land of Oz.

How’s life as the Green Girl treating you?
The green is great! It’s the time of my life. Really, the whole process is a blast. And green is actually my favorite color, so it all works out. I’m having a hard time getting it off my ears at the end of the night, but I’ll figure that part out.

This is a total departure from what you’ve been doing the last two years. How are you settling into the new routine?
It really is different in every way—a totally different character in a totally different play. There’s new people to meet, plus covering myself in green makeup and painting my nails every night. It’s been such a switch going into the Gershwin Theatre and being with the amazing crowd that comes to see Wicked. Everyone is excited to be there. The energy you get both onstage and from the audience is incredible. 

Is it jarring to switch from something you were a part of as long as In the Heights?
It’s actually been great. I’m so thankful that I had a home like In the Heights for two years. I only took a few weeks off in between, so my voice and body actually feel ready to go for it [as Elphaba].

You have had a long relationship with Wicked, correct?
I have—I did one of the first readings, when it was just the first act of the show. I was in the ensemble with Celia Keenan-Bolger, Marcy Harriell and Christian Borle. I believe that was [role originator] Idina Menzel’s first reading of the show as well. I’d met Idina before because we’d worked together in Aida. I remember her saying to me a few weeks before, “Oh, I just got this show Wicked and I’m so excited!” A few weeks after that they called me, too. It just seemed like a cool show at that point. Jump to when I saw it during its first previews with my husband and parents. We were blown away by the whole experience.

During that first reading, did you ever suspect the show would become one of the biggest Broadway phenomenons?
No! I knew it was something very special, just because it was so different from anything I’d ever seen. The music was obviously incredible. I also remember the script was fantastic and smart—[book writer] Winnie Holtzman wrote My So-Called Life, which was one of my favorite shows growing up, so the dialogue was witty and spoke to young people. But I had no idea it would become what it did. And I certainly never thought I’d get asked to be a part of it so many years later!

Now that you are a part of it, what excites you most about going to work every day?
The beginning of the show. I’m already so jazzed to be there, and then the doors open up and I get to run down that stage into Shiz University. It’s one of those things where once that moment happens the adventure begins. I’m excited for it every night.

Wicked fans are famous for their passion. Are you getting that experience full-on yet?
Definitely. I’ve gotten gifts, notes, books—it’s amazing how much people connect with the show, or identify with it. As an actor you always hope to be a part of something like that.

In the Heights also has a loyal fanbase. How do they differ from the Wicked gang?
I think it’s essentially the same. What’s interesting about In the Heights is how long some of the fans followed up, from off-Broadway to Broadway and through different casts. We really got to know some of them over time. Because of the cast recording, we’d have fans who hadn’t even been able to come to the city yet and see the show but were still drawn in by it. I’d get incredible letters from girls saying, “I’m a Mexican-American and the first in my family to go to college, your character really inspires me.” I wish I had had something like that, or like Wicked, growing up. As a young person, those kinds of musicals can change you.

What show did you "stage-door" growing up?
I grew up in California, and was lucky enough to see a lot of the shows that came to town. I remember one time my grandmother took me to see Liza Minnelli on tour. I am a huge Liza fan, so I definitely stage-doored! It was raining outside, and I waited and waited. It was worth it. I always wanted to meet the actors after the show. Finding the magic in what they did and then seeing them as normal people afterwards was part of the experience.

What was it like to experience the fairytale that was In the Heights’ break-out success?
It was the experience of a lifetime. You always put up a show and hope it’s going to work. That’s something that starts during the first readings. You go, “Okay, well, it’s interesting and I love it—I hope other people love it.” Then it starts to grow. Then it goes to Broadway. Then it wins the Tony Award? I mean, to be a part of that is something I can’t describe. You’re watching so many people's dreams come true. That also bonds people—a lot of people from In the Heights were there for my opening performance of Wicked. Lin-Manuel Miranda came with his entire family! Andrea Burns, Janet Dacal, Alex Lacamoire... Priscilla Lopez came to my first put-in rehearsal at Wicked. I love them all, and they were there to support me.

Is there any one memory from your run with In the Heights that stands out?
When we were off-Broadway, that book The Secret came out...

...the one Oprah loved about using the Law of Attraction to get a condo or whatever?
Ha, yeah, that one! All the women shared the same dressing room back then—there were 11 of us in one little space. Anyway, one of the girls was really big on The Secret and bought the video, and made us all watch it. We watched it, and afterwards we made a big sign that said, "We are going to Broadway." Everyone signed it, and we’d touch it every day before we went out on stage. When the producers told us we were moving to Broadway, we were ecstatic, but we had hoped for it, you know what I mean? To hope for something that seriously and have it happen—that stays with you.

Did anyone keep the sign?
Who knows! But that whole idea that dreams do come true? I hope anyone would take that lesson away.

So In the Heights is about a specific neighborhood in New York City. What is your favorite ‘hood?
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, because that’s where I live. Brooklyn’s my home. And anyone visiting Williamsburg needs to go to the Gutter Bowling Alley and Bar. They brought in these lanes from Ohio from the '70s and it’s a place you can have a really good time. Other than Brooklyn, I think it’s the Theater District, because you’re always running into someone you know. You’ll see someone you did a show with three years ago on the street, start a conversation and feel like no time’s passed. Or see a fan that makes you smile. It’s a home away from home.

Wicked and its source material, The Wizard of Oz, are two insanely popular books for young readers. What was your favorite book growing up?
Bread and Jam for Frances. It was about this girl who would only eat bread and jam and how you need to try new things, but Frances wanted to stay the same. I don’t know, I just related to her!

You’ve got a new onstage leading man in Andy Karl. How’s the chemistry there?
He’s fantastic, isn’t he? He’s been writing those crazy songs for [Broadway.com] for his [Oz Blog]! I worked with him on a reading once and he was so fantastic that I literally got excited when I found out he would be my Fiyero. He makes sure everyone is having a good time.

Besides Andy Karl, who’s on your pre-show playlist?
I really like this girl Mndr—she’s on my iPod right now. She’s got this song called “Club.” I saw her play at Brooklyn Bowl and she was really cool. I also have a lot of Fela Kuti on the iPod. It’s the best workout music. And I work out all the time now to keep up with this show!

So, any advice for fans who dream of defying gravity on Broadway someday?
Getting to Broadway in general means you need to just work really hard. One of my favorite quotes is “Travel or there is no trail.” You blaze a trail as you go no matter what. My mom gave me that quote before I left for New York, and it’s helped me so much. Elphaba is just like that. And, if you do get to fly on Broadway, I say enjoy every moment of it. Know it’s the ride of the lifetime, smile and put your whole heart into it, no matter what you do.

See Mandy Gonzalez in Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.