To mark the Broadway milestone, Playbill.com is looking back at the magical and mysterious characters who inhabit the untold tale of the witches of Oz and a selection of the actors who have filled their shoes. Each week Playbill.com will highlight a different leading character from the hit musical. (Read more about Wicked's 10th anniversary here.)
Playbill.com has also highlighted actresses who played Madame Morrible and the actors who have played the Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Fiyero.
This week we look at Wicked's Boq.
Click through for a tour of Oz's Wicked inhabitants:
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| Christopher Fitzgerald |
| Photo by Joan Marcus |
Christopher Fitzgerald originated the role of Boq in the 2003 Broadway debut of
Wicked. Fitzgerald made his Broadway bow in
Amour, and was Tony Award-nominated for his performances in
Young Frankenstein and
Finian's Rainbow. He was featured opposite Al Pacino in the 2010 Broadway revival of
The Merchant of Venice.
Kirk McDonald created the role of Boq in the San Francisco pre-Broadway premiere of Wicked. He departed the production prior to the start of New York rehearsals. The aforementioned Christopher Fitzgerald would take over for the Broadway production. McDonald later joined the national tour of Wicked in 2006. He created the role of Frankie Epps in Parade and has also been seen in The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Boys from Syracuse.
Randy Harrison made his Broadway debut as Boq in 2004 as a temporary replacement for a vacationing Christopher Fitzgerald. Harrison, best known for the television series "Queer as Folk," has also been seen in
Harbor, Silence! The Musical, The Singing Forest, The Glass Menagerie, A Letter from Ethel Kennedy and
Antony and Cleopatra.
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| Rob Sapp |
| Photo by Joan Marcus |
Robb Sapp also made his Broadway debut when he joined the New York cast of
Wicked in 2005. Since his time in Oz, he has also understudied and starred as Pinocchio in the Broadway musical
Shrek. His other theatrical credits include
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Zanna, Don't; Johnny Guitar; Saturday Night Fever; and
Spring Awakening. He can currently be seen Off-Broadway in
Disaster!
Alex Brightman made his Broadway debut in 2008 as Boq in
Wicked. He was an original cast member in the short-lived Broadway musical
Glory Days and currently plays Zacky Price in the new Broadway musical
Big Fish. Along with composer Drew Gasparini, he is the co-author of
Make Me Bad and
Circles.
Telly Leung played Boq in the original 2005 Chicago production of
Wicked. His Broadway credits include the recent revival of
Godspell, as well as
Pacific Overtures, Flower Drum Song and
Rent. He was also seen in the starry Hollywood Bowl staging of
Rent. His TV credits include "Glee" and "Law & Order: CI." His debut solo recording, "I'll Cover You," is currently available.
Etai BenShlomo played Boq in the Broadway company of
Wicked for two years (2010-12) and was also seen in the San Francisco and first national tour of the musical. His credits also include the world premiere of
A Room with a View at
the Old Globe, the 50th anniversary concert staging of
She Loves Me at Caramoor Center for the Arts and the Weston Playhouse production of
Next to Normal. He is currently developing a new musical with composing team Zachary Redler and Sara Cooper.
Josh Lamon joined the national tour of
Wicked as Boq in 2006. Since then he has gone on to star as Buddy in the 2012 Broadway return of
Elf and the Tony Award-winning 2009 revival of
Hair. Lamon was also part of the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park staging of
Into the Woods and is a Barrymore Award winner for
A Year With Frog and Toad.
Alex Wyse currently plays Boq in the second national tour of
Wicked. Wyse was recently seen Off-Broadway in the revival of the reworked pop musical
Bare and made his Broadway debut in the 2011 musical
Lysistrata Jones. He has also appeared in
Triassic Parq and
Lost in Yonkers at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Wyse is also a songwriter. His musical
Nighttime Traffic had its world premiere in the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2010.
Michael Wartella is Broadway's current Boq, having made his Broadway debut with
Wicked in June. He previously played the role in the national tour. Off-Broadway he appeared in
The Kid, Rent and
Seussical. His regional credits include
Oliver Twist and
A Prayer for Owen Meany.
