London Wicked Finds Its New Elphaba

By Andrew Gans
01 Apr 2008

Alexia Khadime
Alexia Khadime

Alexia Khadime, who currently plays Nala in Disney's The Lion King, will be the latest actress to don green make-up in the London production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Khadime will succeed Kerry Ellis in the role of the misunderstood Elphaba beginning June 9 and will stay with the production through Nov. 29.

Ellis will depart the London production June 7. As previously announced, she will begin her stint as Elphaba in the New York company of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre beginning June 17. Ellis will then return to the London cast on Dec. 1.

In addition to The Lion King, Khadime has also been seen in productions of Whistle Down the Wind, Leader of the Pack and Cinderella: The Musical. Her screen credits include "Grange Hill," "Cleopatra Comin' Atcha" and "Dream Team."

Ellis, who is the first British actress to play Elphaba, portrayed Fantine in Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre and Ellen in the national tour of Miss Saigon. She created the role of Meat in the London cast of We Will Rock You and has also been seen in productions of My Fair Lady and Merrily We Roll Along.

Wicked features a score by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, direction by Joe Mantello and musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The creative team also includes scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn and dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Based on Gregory Maguire's novel, which turned every Oz myth inside out, Wicked explores the early life of the witches of Oz: Glinda and Elphaba. The two main characters meet at Shiz, a school where both hope to take up sorcery. Glinda is madly popular and Elphaba is, well, green. By a misunderstanding, they wind up roommates and, after an initial period of mutual loathing, begin to learn something about each other. Their life paths continue to intersect through a shared love, entry into the Emerald City and interaction with the Wizard himself. Eventually, their choices and convictions take them on widely different paths.

For more on Wicked call (0)870 594 9494.