Elphaba Actresses Shape Up for Role

For anyone who has already seen Wicked or heard the soundtrack, you may have wondered what it takes to develop a voice as strong as some of the cast members of this award-winning musical.  For Carmen Cusack, who plays Elphaba in the touring show, it takes practice and exercise.  She does cardio every day and must be in good shape to perform the way she does wearing a 25-pound costume.  She told the Ottawa Citizen, “My part is highly challenging, emotionally, vocally and physically, and on top of that, you’re packing, unpacking and acclimatizing yourself to a new city and a new theatre.”

It is no wonder that Cusack and other cast members keep themselves in great shape.  The music is as praised, if not more, than the acting and the costumes.  The difficulty of the music has helped launched the careers of former Elphabas like Idina Menzel.  Wicked tells the story of Oz prior to Dorothy’s arrival.  Elphaba will later become the Wicked Witch of the West, but in Wicked she is just a misunderstood outcast who is judged because of her green skin.  She is also incredibly talented at magic.  See the beloved story by getting Wicked tickets from StubHub.com.

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