Cusick Traded for Williams

Upon Wicked Chicago’s Kristoffer Cusick leaving the production for his album debut, his character Fiyero has been filled by Broadway’s original, Derrick Williams.  Let us take a closer look.  The 28-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia spent his childhood afternoons at the Performing Arts Repertory although he exhibited a skill for sports too.  “My Repertory teacher allowed me to take part of the semester off to go play baseball,” William remembers fondly.

His first audition was for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which he drove seven hours to get to in Ohio.  It was worth his effort because he got the part, which helped get him a part in Jesus Christ Superstar as well.  In 2000 he landed his first Broadway roll in Swing! followed by a very demanding role in Aida.  Williams recalls, “They were putting me in all this makeup, trying to make me look old, and when I got onstage I’d forgotten my microphone.  I was out there yelling.  It was pretty bad.” 

He has had a few years to hone his talent and has dedicated a lot of time to Wicked, being in the original cast and then touring with the production.  Williams feels strongly that, “the difference between being on the road and being on Broadway is — you’re on Broadway!  That’s the only difference.  You walk out that stage door and you’re on 51st Street and Broadway’s to your right.  That’s an amazing feeling.”  See Williams and the amazing cast of Wicked Chicago by getting your tickets through StubHub.com. 

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