Recovering Stephanie J. Block to Begin in Wicked Tour on March 25

Stephanie J. Block, who was injured during Wicked rehearsals for the tour, will play her first performance as Elphaba on March 25, a production spokesperson confirmed to Broadway.com. Kristy Cates, who has been playing the role since the musical began performances in Toronto on March 9, will continue in the musical until Block returns.

Block performed the role of Elphaba during the early stages of Wicked's development and was the production's original standby, going on during the San Francisco tryout. She left Wicked before it hit Broadway in order to take the part of Liza Minnelli in The Boy from Oz. Her other theatrical credits include regional productions of Love A Piano, Fiddler on the Roof, James Joyce's The Dead, The Grass Harp and Funny Girl.

Block was hurt while rehearsing a flying scene in preparation for the tour's Toronto premiere. She was experiencing muscle spasms and could not perform after the injury. Cates, who understudies Elphaba in the Broadway company, was flown to Toronto as a fill-in.

The tour was originally scheduled to open on March 20, but because of Block's recuperation, it will now have its official bow at the Canon Theatre on March 31.

In addition to Block, the touring company includes Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, David Garrison as The Wizard, Derrick Williams as Fiyero, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond and Logan Lipton as Boq.