Brittney Johnson is set to become the first Black woman to play the role of Glinda on Broadway‘s Wicked. Beginning on Feb. 14, 2022, Johnson will officially take over the character.
Brittney Johnson has been announced to play Glinda
Johnson currently the role’s standby will assume the role of Glinda opposite Lindsay Pearce as Elphaba, Alexandra Billings as Madame Morrible, Michael McCormick as The Wizard, Sam Gravitte as Fiyero, Jordan Barrow as Boq, Mili Diaz as Nessarose, and Michael X. Martin as Doctor Dillamond.
Johnson appeared on Broadway in Les Misérables, Motown, Sunset Boulevard, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls.
Here's the official description of 'Wicked':
The Broadway sensation WICKED looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”
Brittney Johnson is making history in one of Broadway's longest-running shows
Wicked is currently the 5th longest-running show on Broadway and has been performed in over 100 cities and 16 countries since its debut in 2003.
The New York Times has called it “the defining musical of the decade” and by Time Magazine said it was “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.”
Wicked is one of the biggest musicals ever, and Brittney Johnson is making history as the first black woman to take on the iconic role of Glinda.
A film adaptation of Wicked was also announced last month with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the lead roles.