Jane Houdyshell joins cast of Wicked

Jane HoudyshellPlaybill and The Political Gateway are reporting that actress Jane Houdyshell, best-known for her Tony-Award nominated role in Well, will be joining the cast of Wicked in the role of Madame Morrible, replacing Carol Kane in the touring show.

Houdyshell’s performance in Well earned her a 2006 nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play, playing the character of Ann Kron, the play’s writer Lisa Kron’s mother. She garnered powerful reviews commending her performance, as in the New York Times which said of her work, “Ms. Houdyshell’s performance as Ann Kron retains an anchoring authenticity that guarantees that “Well” opens doors of insight and emotion that no other play in New York is unlocking right now.” (Read the full review here, or check out Broadway.com’s review–which focuses more closely on her career and place in the show –here.)
(And for–much, much–more information on Lisa Kron’s Well and Jane Houdyshell’s role in it, check out the in-depth publicity writeup in pdf)

Houdyshell is also a 2006 winner of the Theater World Award, and a 2004 nominee of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, again for Well.

While Carol Kane will be sorely missed as the manipulative headmistress of Elphaba’s Shiz University, we can be sure that Madame Morrible is in good–make that evil–hands yet.

Wicked, soon with Houdyshell, is currently touring in Philadelphia, and there are still tickets available to quite a few of the shows. Check out Wicked Philadelphia tickets for the latest prices or to post your tickets for sale.

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