Lindsay Mendez to Defy Gravity as Broadway's Next Elphaba in Wicked

Lindsay Mendez is going to defy gravity nightly at the Gershwin Theatre. The fan favorite will take over the lead role of Elphaba in Broadway’s Wicked beginning May 28. For Mendez, her Elphaba casting reunites her with her Godspell composer Stephen Schwartz and her Dogfight director Joe Mantello. Current Elphie, Willemijn Verkaik, plays her final performance May 26.

Mendez made her Broadway debut as Jan in the 2007 revival of Grease. She then appeared in Everyday Rapture with Sherie Rene Scott before breaking out 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.

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.

Wicked was recently named by fans the All-Time Best Broadway Musical in Broadway.com’s March Musical Madness.

Check out Mendez performing “The Wizard and I” live at Godspell Sings Schwartz.