Theatre News

Over 2,000 vote in WhatsOnStage Wicked poll, Ellis and Pilkington reply

To say that the fans of Wicked love all of their Elphabas and Glindas is a vast understatement, as the results of our summer fun poll demonstrate

We were overwhelmed by the response to our recent Wicked picture gallery and poll, on the many great ladies who have starred as Elphaba and Glinda since the musical opened in London in 2006.

All of the actresses had very vocal support. During the fortnight, more than 2,000 voted and the link was tweeted more than 4,000 times.

In the end, Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington – who starred opposite each other as Elphaba and Glinda at the Apollo Victoria in 2007 and 2008 – nudged ahead. Today, they sent us messages thanking you for their support and paying tribute to each other and their equally talented peers.

Dianne Pilkington and Kerry Ellis as Glinda and Elphaba
Dianne Pilkington and Kerry Ellis as Glinda and Elphaba

Kerry Ellis said:

“I just want to say a big thank you to all who voted. Wicked was a huge part of my life and a very special time. Not only did the show take me to Broadway but also led to my first album release. It was also a joy to share the stage with my good friend, the gorgeous Dianne Pilkington.

“I want to send lots of love and luck to Willemijn Verkaik and Savannah Stevenson coming into the West End, and Nikki Davis-Jones and Emily Tierney opening the UK touring show. I know you guys will have a ball.”

Dianne Pilkington added:

“I am absolutely thrilled that so many people took the time to vote for me. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate all of the other ladies. We are colleagues – and I salute you!”

Dianne Pilkington (Glinda) and Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) during the curtain call for the 1000th performance of Wicked
Dianne Pilkington (Glinda) and Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) during the curtain call for the 1000th performance of Wicked
© Dan Wooller

AWARD-WINNING HISTORY

First opened on Broadway in October 2003, Wicked received its West End premiere in 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it continues playing to packed houses.

Its many awards include eight WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical in its opening year, and Best West End Show, our award for longer-runners, twice.

Wicked tells the “untold story” of the Witches of Oz – popular blonde Glinda, aka the Good Witch of the North, and her spin-victim friend Elphaba – who were both immortalised in the 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz.

The musical has a book by Winnie Holtzman, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It’s directed by Joe Mantello.

Based on the response to this poll, it’s clear that it’s not just the women who play Elphaba and Glinda, but the characters themselves that strike such a chord with scores of Wicked fans. And we want to celebrate that too! Look out for our follow-up poll – on which character you most identify with and why – later this week…