New Wicked Star Caroline Bowman on Managing Sweaty Wrestlers & Her 'Epic' Dilemma

Age: 26

Hometown: Howard County, MD

Current Role: Flying high as the "beautifully tragic" green girl Elphaba in Wicked.

Stage & Screen Cred: Following dinner theater stints as a teen, Bowman appeared in Grease and Fame abroad. After returning to the states to star in Spamalot on the road, she made her Broadway debut in Wicked, understudying Elphaba. Now, after Kinky Boots on Broadway and Evita on tour, she's putting on the green eight times a week.

“When I was in high school, I managed my dad's wrestling team. So I would do play practice and then I would go to a wrestling match. I would spend all weekend at wrestling tournaments with sweaty, disgusting wrestlers and I loved it."

“I'm not very safe. I just throw myself into things and don’t care if I get hurt. I’ll have a very short career if I continue that attitude. As I get older, I’m realizing I can’t do that so much. Bruises stay a lot longer."

“Dinner theater is a completely different animal. I had these huge heels that I wore in Aida. I walked out and just face planted. I dropped the tray of plates and cups, and the scene was going on a couple feet from me. I had to crawl underneath one of the tables and grab my things."

“I once [worked] one of those parties where they have people dress up as characters. I had on this dinky Mary Poppins outfit. This British man comes up and goes, 'What part of London are you from?' I was like, 'I’m not from London, I’m Mary Poppins!' That didn’t go over so well. "

“My first time going on as Elphaba, Marybeth [Abel, Wicked stage manager] called my mom to tell her that I was also going to be on that evening. Everybody dropped what they were doing and met at the Amtrak station: My aunt, cousin, grandma, grandpa and my high school drama teacher. Then, to top it all off, like ten of my friends happened to win the lottery."

“I'm so lucky to have played Evita right before doing Wicked. I’m now used to leaving my dressing room and not seeing it until the end of the show. Once I find my groove, I’ll be able to make a decision: which epic role is more epic?"