Brittney Johnson will be making Broadway history as the first Black actor to take over the role of Glinda—or is it Galinda?—in Wicked. The show has been playing at the Gershwin Theatre since its opening in 2003.
Starting February 14, Johnson will be playing Glinda full-time after previously starring as the character's understudy. She will play the role opposite Lindsay Pearce's Elphaba. Johnson shared a behind-the-scenes snap of the theatre from upstage, writing, "I sure missed this view."
Johnson continued to reflect on her Glinda debut, sharing that this is her first time back on the Broadway stage since the COVID-19 shut down in March 2020.
"A lot of you may not know that on Monday when I make my debut as Glinda, it will also be my first time performing on a Broadway stage since we shut down on March 12, 2020," writes Johnson. "Almost [two] full years. It’s sure to be an emotional evening. I can’t wait to see you there."
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked tells the fun-loving story of the Land of Oz witches, Elphaba and Glinda, and their tumultuous friendship. The characters were created on the Broadway stage by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
Wicked is the fifth longest-running production on Broadway and the show includes the fan-favorite songs "The Wizard and I," "Defying Gravity," and "Popular".
