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My Top 5 Showtunes: Willemijn Verkaik

From Oz to Madrid, Willemijn Verkaik is a favourite of every hardened musical theatre goer, we find out the showtunes that she couldn’t live without

Known around the world as Wicked's Elphaba and more recently as the German and Dutch voice of Frozen's Elsa, Willemijn Verkaik is one of the West End's finest musical theatre talents.

She can currently be found on stage at the Playhouse Theatre in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. We caught up with Willemijn and asked her; "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"


1. "Title Song" – Singin' in the Rain

WV: First musical I ever saw on TV with the genius that is Gene Kelly, and if it rains on the island, it'll remind me to stay positive.

2. "Corner of the Sky" – Pippin

WV: Stephen Schwartz is one of my favourite composers and this song is so beautiful, it will remind me to not give up hope!

3. "For now" – Avenue Q

WV: It's such a fun show, I've always been a big fan of puppetry, and this song will help me see things in perspective, if that's possible being stranded on a desert island.

4. "A Boy Like That" – West Side Story

WV: The movie made me fall in love with musical theatre. The music is so good, I have to have at least one song on my iPod.

5. "Don't Rain On My Parade" – Funny Girl

WV: One of the best show tunes ever written in my opinion. It will make me feel strong, and I'll sing it so loud on the island all ships at sea will hear and (hopefully) come to my rescue 🙂


For more information about Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and to book tickets click here.