Louise Dearman will traverse the merry old land of Oz, moving from the goodness of the south to the wickedness of the west, when she returns to hit musical Wicked from 29 October.
The musical theatre star, who played Glinda the Good from March 2010 to December 2011, will ditch her former blond locks and pink outfits to play the green-skinned Elphaba, becoming the first leading lady to star in both roles in the musical’s history.
The Oliver Award-winning production, which has been seen by over 4.5 million people since its West End premiere in 2006, tells the untold story of the witches of Oz and how two magical school friends grow up to become Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Dearman, who since starting out on the West End stage has released two solo albums including the most recent Here Comes The Sun, has also starred in hit musicals Evita, Cats and Guys And Dolls during her extensive musical theatre career.
Talking about rejoining the magic-filled musical, Dearman said: “Right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the history of musical theatre. I still can’t quite believe that in two months’ time I’ll be back in Wicked, but this time I won’t come and go by bubble, I’ll be on a broomstick!”
Dearman will take over the role of Elphaba from Rachel Tucker, who has been playing the infamous green witch at the Apollo Victoria theatre since March 2010.