Okay, so I've been wondering this for a LONG time, and don't want to offend ANYONE. But I've noticed...the actresses who play Elphaba are usually tall-ish and rather slender, and the actresses who play Glinda are always short-ish and petite. Hence my question: Does this mean that those physical attributes always have to be present in the actresses who play the parts?

Does Elphaba have to be tall and slender? Could she be pulled off by a shorter person or a more curvy person?

Does Glinda have to be short and petite? Could she be tall or curvacious?

Could Madame Morrible ever be thin and tall, instead of short and stouter?

I know I could answer myself easily and just shrug it off and say, "Well, it helps", but that wouldn't be thinking very deep, now would it? I also realize that some of these traits are just how the characters were written (described by Gregory Maguire himself) and how the characters remain ingrained in our minds, but it has always had me wondering...With all of the suggestions I've heard of casting Jennifer Hudson as Elphaba, and (from a totally shallow, appearance-considering P.O.V.), I know she's tall, (somewhere about 6 ft.) but would weight ever be an issue for casting? Has weight ever come in to play with any of the characters? Not to pick on heavier people, by any means, I'm not exactly a twig myself :roll:...

I think (correct me if I've picked the wrong actress here) Kerry Ellis is rather short, to the extent that with her playing Elphie, she's the same height, if not shorter than Glinda.

All I'm saying with all this is that I know there are properties that make up the character for the characters (the phrase "stringbean" come to mind, making me think of the skinny, twig-like character that Elphaba is known for). But could they, or would they, rather, cast a curvy actress as Elphie? What about as Glinda? Even in the male characters, how much does appearance matter?

As I said before, I didn't mean this post to offend ANYONE, and I'll happily delete it if it has. A big thank you to anyone who read all of my rambling. I just thought that appearance, height and weight and all, when casting the characters for Wicked might be an interesting topic to toss about.

I think Glinda could be a curvy woman, obviously not an overweight one, nut someone who isn't exactly like, tiny. Morrible could absolutely be tall and thin, I think it would suit her really well actually Elphaba...I just don't know, I think height is certainly an advantage for that character.

well cj in the london cast is quite petite and susie is slender
*shrugs*

Rofl tall?! Have you seen the London Elphies? Kerry's tall-ish, I guess. CJ and Shona are TINY. It can definitely be done. They're still Elphaba to me, whether they're tall or short. And same with Glinda - I'd hardly call Helen Dallimore petite. And she's not short either. And if we ever get a Caroline!Glinda (she's u/s next year) or if we'd ever had an Ellie!Glinda (current u/s), then Glinda would be tall too, because they're both really tall.

I don't really think it matters what body type the actress has.

ETA: I just realized this might sound kinda offensive to the original poster. It wasn't supposed to!

I am not too sure!!

I have noticed many of the glinda's are becoming taller then the elphabas which is kind of strange, i first saw elphaba as a tall bundle of mess. However the size of the elphabas may matter so to speak. I mean they have to look right in the DG life and like not be taller then the fake skirt ( unless that can be adjusted) and they have to be able to fit into it ( unless it can be adjusted). Also with the glindas there must be a weight limit to going in that bubble?

Have a look at the london cast hahaha
They dont fit with your regulations

Helen is nearlly my hight wel we're allways same level in pictuers etc and i'm just under 6ft!

Cassidy is a short girl so is Shona white.

Susie blake is short and petit.

^ She's not THAT tall. She's not as tall as me, and I'm 5ft8. She just wears heels a lot lol.

Kerry is the tallest of the London Elphie's and she's still short! I think we have a short cast in general... there's only a few who I'd really say are tall (Ellie, Nadine and Nicky really...). But I think its more obvious when Olly is Fiyero because he's so damn tall. Lion Cub with Shona makes me crease because she's TINY!

Shona/CJ are both shorter than the Galinda usually, especially when its Helen (not so much with Dianne or Sarah I'd imagine as they're both short).

As for Morribles... I like thinner Morribles, I love Susie, I think she looks amazing in her costumes.

My picture she looks that tall...or it could just be due to the windswepped hair its across the room and im to lazy to look!

I don't think that Helen Dallimore is petite! She's the same height as me, about 5ft 6 and she is curvy

Kerry Ellis is quite small


but I do always envision Elphaba to be quite tall, to complement her power.

Shoshana Bean isn't that tall, and she's curvy--and she was a VERY popular Elphaba.

I envision Elphaba as tall and slender, almost thin, so Steph (my first Elphaba) was right on the money, for me. Really, though, I think it's the ability to immerse yourself in the character (and, y'know, hit the notes) that makes an actor a good Elphaba--or G(a)linda--or Morrible, or any of the other characters.

Interesting question! Now, here's a different spin on it: what about a G(a)linda who's taller than her Elphaba?

As other posters have already said, see the London cast! Helen is as tall as or taller than all four of our Elphabas. For me the only time when it's a bit funny is when they go to meet the Wizard, as Helen trying to hide behind CJ or Shona doesn't quite work!

Um, Kristy isn't a twig. She's a gorgeous curvy woman.

Well, I'm short, so I like to give myself hope that shorter people can play any role they want, as long as they can pull off the roles. Obviously, if there is some sort of typecasting due to height requirements, then obviously it usually isn't done, but with Elphaba and Glinda, I don't see there being a problem. There have been several Elphaba's in almost all the different casts that were shorter than Glinda. Kirstin I think was the shortest GLinda...Everyone after her have been all different shapes and sizes.
With Morrible...Carol Kane is pretty slender, compared to the other Morribles. So, yeah, she can be played by anyone. Honestly, with that character, since she doesn't do dancing, it's easier for them to pick the character because her whole character is about the way you perform as an actress-the mannerisms and the way she talks. Of COURSE Elphaba and Glinda are like that, but you do have to be in shape physically for the Witches because they do dance so much and sing a ton. You have to be up to parr.

EDIT: and if you really think about it....if anyone is more into the Film The Wizard of Oz....The Wicked Witch was shorter than Glinda....Well, Hamilton did do a sort of hunch over thing, but she was still shorter than Billy Burke when she stood up. So, to me, The Witch being shorter doesn't really bother me.

think jennifer laura thompson. she was as tall as idina, and taller than sho.

Eden is probably the shortest Elphaba, at about 5 ft 2 lol..Sho is about 5 ft 4 so she's petite as well..Kate Reinders and Kristin are petite too (Kate is only about 5 ft, Cheno is 4 ft 11)..so yeah, this gives me hope for the future as well lol (i'm only 4 ft 3 haha)

Actually, even a few of the Elphabas said to be tall aren't exceptionally so; they just seem like it because they're paired with exceptionally short Glindas. Wasn't Idina only 5'4" or something similar? And Kristy is about 5'6", but when you look at her next to Stacie, who is around 5'1", she certainly looks way taller than she is (Kristy's shorter than Kristoffer, who isn't tall at all, especially for a guy). I think Erin might have been taller than Kristy; I can't remember exactly, but Erin just struck me as very tall after being used to Stacie.

^ Yeah exactly. Idina's 5ft4, which (according to Shona on Saturday) is how tall Shona is. We see Shona is being tiny, why don't we see Idina as the same? One word: Kristin. Because Kristin is so short, we just assume Idina is tall.

Shona isn't 5'4 no matter how hard she pretends to be! I'm 5'4 (according to the doctor! ) and I'm taller than her by about an inch or so.

Id like to see a more curvy Elphie..someone like Sara Ramirez from Spamalot/Greys Anatomy.

Lmao tut tut, that woman :roll: But then I actually find it hard to believe that she's more than 4 inches smaller than me. Maybe I don't actually realize how tall I am :|

I think you have to be in shape to play both Glinda and Elphie and thats not because it must be someone thin etc but its because of how physically demanding the show is!

I love it when Glinda is smaller than Elphaba, just a person thing I think Glinda is supposed to be a small petit women but it really doesn't both me that much. A curvy Elphaba works more than a curvy Glinda me thinks but as long as they can act and sing who cares so much as to how they look/are. Megan is quite a curvasous Glinda, and I love her to bits, her curves make her who she is and by no means is she overweight of fat infact she's perfect!

Idina > Kristin
Jennifer Laura Thompson > Idina
Jennifer Laura Thompson > Shoshana
Megan Hilty > Shoshana
Megan Hilty > Eden
Eden > Kate Reinders
Ana > Kate Reinders
Julia > Kendra

Stephanie > Kendra
Victoria > Christina

Kristy > Stacie
Erin > Kristy (I think?)
Erin > Dee

Helen > Idina
Helen > Kerry

I left understudies out because that is WAY too many variables and I just don't have the time or inclination... I also left out body type (curvy vs not), because that's too subjective. Some of the people that posters above me have described as 'curvy' seem stick-skinny, to me.

Anyway, the Glindas seem to be ahead by one, tallness-wise. Personally, I do prefer that Elphaba is fairly tall, and Glinda is noticeably shorter (which doesn't necessarily mean *short*). It creates a more interesting contrast.

I really don't think it matters at all either way. I mean, as long as they can convince you of the character, then it really isn't going to matter of their body type. And I never heard that rumor of Jennifer Hudson as Elphie, but that would be insanely AMAZING to see her do TWAI, DG, or NGD. Good grief, I don't think we'd know what hit us.

Actually, thinking on it, there are only three exceptionally short Glindas: Kristin (4'11"), Kate Reinders (5'), and Stacie (5'1"). That's not even half. So I'd say either side being exceptionally tall/short is something of a misconception, as it really only happens in a few cases. Almost all the performers are average height.

alma curvero [something like that] was a tall slender madame morrible. but the effect was not the same i did not care for it as much.


one other thing. can "galinda be black" i think htat would be soo very cool. and what about nessa? i know elphie can

Honestly, I don't think ti would be the same if Nessa and Glinda were black. But that's just me and that's because, culturally, it's not who the characters are. Yes, it CAN be done, but I don't think audiences would ahve the same response to the show because of what they have grown up with. L. Frank baum did not create a black Glinda. Not to say it can't be done, but the characters are already set in our minds. Gregory didn't change Glinda and the Witch of the East, so i don't really thing that Wicked should. Again, not to say they cannot. I just don't think it's a good idea.

:btw: There is a larger thread on the discussion of Glinda being played by a colored actress.

I used to the idea of having Glinda be shorter than Elphaba, but the character herself doesn't need to be small and petite. In shape, yes, but not as small as they come. I used to not think it would matter, but now I am for keeping specific roles in specific races - if it calls for it. Glinda would have to be Caucasian, and Nessa as well. I think the role of Fiyero should be reserved for African Americans, myself.

I agree with Nick...Fiyero was originally dark-skinned in the book due to where he came from. Though, caucasian males playing him works just as well as African Americans. *shrug*

Well shoshana was the most curviest i think they have had, and she wasnt tall either, she had to wear healed boots in the first act to make her taller.. I think saycon was curvy too, i dont think it is the first thing they look at thou

Really, I think it's all subjective. It doesn't really matter if someone's tall as much as if they have a large stage presence- which I would say is pretty much required for a character like Elphaba.

While this is even more subjective, I prefer a curvier Glinda and thinner Elphaba, mostly because in the novel Elphaba is repeatedly referred to as thin and angular.

As for race, I think it's a good thing to cast differant ethnicities. I see no reason why Fiyero, Boq, the Wizard, Morrible, Nessarose, or certaintly Elphaba needs to be a certain race. That being said, due to the popularity of the MGM movie, I think most people would find it difficult to see Glinda as anything other than white. Though who knows, because I still don't see why Wicked's Glinda is blonde instead of a redhead...

DeeDee Hall might beg to differ...as would the Japanese Glinda (at Univeral Japan...don't know her name!).

Personally I'm all about colorblind casting. The best performer should get the role in my opinion. :mrgreen:

Obviously, that's a cultural change. When you put a show somewhere else, you have different people to work with and different people to appeal to. *shrug* I still don't think Glinda should be dark skinned. Obviously, the Japanese Glinda was still lighter-skinned.

I agree with that as well-the best performer SHOULD get the part, but that's not how our society works. There's always going to be type-casting. It's sort of like the Color Purple shouldn't really have inverted casting either. The Wiz even, I have a problem seeing all caucasian casts of that too...It's just awkward for me. And having been brought up around the MGM movie Wizard of Oz, I don't feel that there is a need to rearrange the genetic makeup of the characters entirely.

DeeDee Hall is Nessa in the United States/Canada national tour. And she is Asian. I haven't seen her in the show, but based on others' comments on these WoO boards, she is one of the best Nessas ever!

Not sure if this was posted, but wouldn't the costumes/apparel have to do with who they pick at all? Or do they remake/resize every dress? I doubt that they make a custom made dress for every actress. I could be totally wrong. But that's what I'm sticking with.

^I think every Elphie has a custom made act two dress because they're all diffrernt designs.

They make a new dress for the new leads. Every Elphaba has a different kind of design of the fabrics...

And I wasn't talking about DeeDee, I was talking about the Japanese Glinda. Almost everyone at Japan universal were Japanese, aside from Elphaba and a few ensemble, I believe. Like I said, DeeDee may be Asian, but she's still light-skinned. We were talking about a dark-skinned Glinda.
Besides, we've had Asian Boqs! Telly Leung...

I think it would WORK to have a curvey and tall Elphaba. If you think about it, in act one where Elphaba is a geek, she is very "unfashioable" from her first scene till "Popular." So if she is curvey, her costumes would hide it, but when she comes out for the Class scene/Lion cub scene, she would get more of an reaction if she is tall and curvey cuz she was hiding it behind her frumpy clothes. Also if you only have a tall and sorta "twig" person, it would look funny when Elphaba is in her act 2 costume, where she is mature, and alittle more sexier and supposed to be a powerful and threatning person. It would also look funny during the catfight scene where she goes upagainst Glinda (omg "catfight" scene turns into a boxing match lol)

Well jennifer laura Thomspson use to do the show with Shoshana and they were very different than the "typical" Elphie and Glinda.
JLT is taller than Shoshana and Shoshana has a different body type than alot of the other Elphaba's.
So they had an obvious height difference.
I am not sure that in every case it is what matters most to the casting directors. Mainly, As long as they can sing the piece, act the piece, and look relatively believeable as the character then so be it!

If their acting is good enough, I will beleive anyones potrayl of their charecter.

I always imagined Madame Morrible either being tall and bony, or big and round. lol

I do think it matters how these people look. Glinda is supposed to be pretty much the most beautiful girl in all Oz so she has to be fit and pretty. I don't think it matters quite so much with Elphaba, but she can't be huge either.

I don't think the height of the actress matters significantly though, because having a short Glinda and tall Elphaba works for Elphaba to be more imposing while Glinda is just a little ball of cute, but I also think tall Glinda and short Elphaba works for Glinda to have more of that upper class, kind of "model" look and be superficially superior to Elphaba.

Honestly, I don't think an African America Glinda would work.

The whole point of the show is that friendship can be found in diversity. So I think a colored Glinda wouldn't give the same message as a Caucasian Glinda would.

I like to think of it all back when segregation was legal and think of Elphaba as an African America.

Everyone looks at Elphaba because she's weird and she's colored and in society it wouldn't be right for someone like Glinda to be friends with someone like Elphaba and I think that adds a lot to the show.

I agree, because one of the themes of Wicked, I think, has to do with racism. If Glinda were African American, the racism theme wouldnt work as well seeing that nobody cares for Elphaba. If Glinda was different than the rest of them, they would find something about her to pick on too. But, you know, anything is possible.

Which, on the same note, is why Fiyero should be African American. He and Elphaba connected because they both were ranked by their skin colour, in Maguire's book. Granted, Fiyero in the musical seems to have been drastically changed, but still.

I would agree if he were more like his book counterpart, but in the musical, Fiyero needs to initially connect more with Glinda. Therefore, his skin color doesn't really matter so much. Not as long as he's "Perfect".

Fiyero I think can really be any skin color, but realistically you want a good-looking Fiyero. If he's the most popular guy, he's not going to be ugly. Yes, people have different thoughts on good/bad looks, but he needs to be attractive and have that sex appeal about him. Which is why, although David wasn't the best singer, he was gorgeous and I loved his Fiyero.

i think it is part of musical theatre. you really need to look the part ,and i dont think producers are willing to acrafice their show with a person who isnt someone that woud be imaginable as that character. thats just how theatre is. you could be the BEST actress and not get a role just because you dont look that way. i mean really, would you want jennifer Hudson for example playing elle woods? that just..wouldnt work. my friend was cut in the audition for the grinch because she was an inch too short..... how does that sound?

First of all I had no idea she could sing!! I looked up her Tony performance, Wow! haha

And I agree with ilovemegan, there is definitely a strereotype for a lot of characters on broadway! Some actors and actresses just would not be able to believably play some characters!
And about the whole size issue for Wicked memebers, I really think that Galinda should be slim, I think her height can vary, but I don't know? I think Elphaba could work with any weight, like people have said, I don't think an overweight Elphaba would work that well but I think she could be curvier! I definitly think Jennifer could play the part very well!
As for Madama morrible, I think she could work as being short and "chubbier" or tall and skinny, either way I think as long as she is played with the right amount of "evilness" it will work!

*I do not mean to sound offensive and if I do offend, I apologize!

I think Boq could be played by someone"heavier"