Jennifer Laura Thompson Is Wicked's New Glinda

There will soon be another popular witch in the land of Oz. Tony nominated actress Jennifer Laura Thompson is set to replace Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda in Wicked. Thompson is scheduled to start at the Gershwin Theatre on July 20, two days after Chenoweth gives up her wand.

Thompson first gained attention in 1998 when she made her Broadway debut playing female lead Ariel Moore in the original company of Footloose. She earned a 2002 Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award nomination for her next Broadway role, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown. Her off-Broadway credits include Urinetown, A Doll's Life, Little Fish and the Encores! concert mountings of Strike Up the Band! and Pardon My English. She also appeared as Julie Jordan in the national tour of Carousel.

Wicked currently stars Chenoweth, 2004 Tony winner Idina Menzel, Joel Grey, Norbert Leo Butz and Carole Shelley. However when Thompson arrives she will do so with a new leading man: Joey McIntyre is also starting on July 20 in place of Butz. They'll both be starting performances with a fill-in munchkin--Queer As Folk star Randy Harrison is stepping in for Christopher Fitzgerald as Boq from June 20 through July 25. Menzel is taking time off from June 15 through July 2 to shoot scenes for the film Ask the Dust, but she will return in plenty of time to greet her new costars.