We've been speculating, wondering, and hoping for a while now and the rumors can now be officially confirmed! It was confirmed at the curtain call of Mandy's last performance of In The Heights today that she will in fact be joining the Broadway company of Wicked as Elphaba. No offical date or press release is available as of yet but I assume we can expect one within the week. At this rate Mandy seems likely to begin performances sometime in March! I don't know about everyone else but I for one am extremely excited about this! Share your thoughts.

I'm not familiar enough with Mandy to have an opinion on her, but I'm excited for someone new.

http://www.mandygonzalez.net/newnews.cfm

"exciting announcements to come!"

I'm basically stoked about it lol...I really hope she is there for 3/13 when I see the show haha

Lin came out in a green shirt and a witches hat to "Defying Gravity" it was pretty epic. I adore her and can't wait to see her as Elphaba! I realllly wish we didn't have to wait until March though

Cannot wait!

Kathleen: That moment was hysterical, priceless, and amazing.

I'd love some new blood! Besides, I'd probably get to see her when I go to NYC again (yay!) at the end of April/beginning of May. Exciting!

This makes me a happy panda.

So this means I will be seeing a new Glinda, a new Fiyero and a new Elphie! SCORE.

The ICBH

OMG, so excited for Mandy, I think she will amazing!

To be honest, my first reaction is a negative one...however, I had the same thoughts about Nicole Parker, and ended up loving her. I won't judge until I see her, but I'm a bit wary (though I am giving her more thought considering how excited everyone seems to be!).

I thought Mandy was pregnant. Or was that just another baseless rumor?

that was people misinterpreting something she tweeted

I'm so excited! She'll probably be the first American Elphie I see, so I'm really glad that she's someone I love.

I feel the same way. I'm gonna wait until I actually see her to reserve judgement on her since I've only seen her in a few benefits and really don't know enough about her.

You've actually just made me feel a whole lot better by saying that. I wasn't too thrilled about her because although I usually want fresh blood on Broadway, I really wanted to see someone who wasn't fresh as KRC isn't too far near the top of the "list of Glinda's I'd like to see". However, at the beginning of Nicole's run I felt the same about her but after a couple of months, I realised I would actually love to see her.

I'm going in July so that is probably towards the end of both their run's (depending on how long their contracts are) and everybody will probably love her by then

I'm very excited for Mandy personally. I can't say anything about her (performing wise) since I've never seen her in anything. Finally, someone fresh I'm sure Mandy will surprise us all. As did Nicole Parker.

I find this completely fitting, somehow. Hope she does well.

With the pictures I saw, I can definitely see her in green. She has the 'Elphaba look'.

Congrats to her!

I'm excited!! Not just because it's new blood; I saw Mandy in ITH and LOVED her. Can't wait to see her take on this role.

I am excited because she is from where I live And my mom knows her mom lol...this is very good news

I'm so excited!! I can not wait for Mandy, I love newbies! Although I don't know if she looks like an Elphaba, I can't decide if she does or not, I'll just have to wait and see her.

I'm not sure what people mean by looking like an Elphaba. Everyone looks alike when they are painted green IMO.

I don't think everyone looks alike in green. Take Julia Murney and Marcie Dodd for instance. Julia's face is long and angular, and Marcie's is round and soft. As for looking like an Elphaba, to me the classic Elphaba look is the more pointy face, like Julia, Willemijn, and Idina.

I would have to agree with all this. Not everyone has the same facial structure.

In the end I guess it really doesnt matter what Elphaba looks like because the average person that walks out of the theatre just really remembers that Elphaba is green. To me, I feel some actresses look more the part than others do. It really comes down to just personal taste of how you feel Elphaba looks, if you think she has a look at all. Although in the end,I would never base my opinion of an actress playing the part based on how she looked like green.

I remember initially I found it hard to tell all the actresses apart when they were green, but now there are definite differences. I still don't think there's a specific look that I prefer, though.

If you are sitting in the mezz or the back of the orch. you won't be able to tell the shape of the actresses face anyway. You're lucky if you will be able to tell she's green...lol.

I personally like a beautiful Elphaba. I've only seen Kerry and Nicole in person and since they're both such beautiful women they made such lovely looking witches. I think the same can easily be said for Marcie and Vicki. I think some people assume Elphaba's should be for lack of a better word kind of ugly or more stereotypically witchy looking, which I don't see as the case at all. First of all, Elphaba is young, so I think a softer, rounder face complements that younger side to her. Plus I think a subtle beauty to her can almost make her seem not only more vulnerable early on, but it emphasizes the fact that people could not even look any farther beyond her skin. At the same time, it complements her prettier look after she's been Glindafied and can even make her seem that much more fierce when she makes her Act 2 transformation. While a stereotypically witchy look does work and may make more sense to more at first, I think a beautiful Elphaba actually can give her more layers of depth that some may not think of.

In my point of view, Elphaba can look two ways: first, the novel Elphaba. Rather tall and thin, long dark hair and dark eyes. Definitely more angular in the features. Then, you have the musical Elphaba. This is where you have a little more room to play b/c no two women that have done this role have looked alike...some are tall, short, skinny, curvy, blonde, light eyes...you get the point lol.

anyways...back to Mandy...if she is truly going to do B'way...I hope we find out when she will begin soon lol..but, the Gershwin is pretty talent-packed right now (and with Andy starting tomorrow and Stephanie Torns coming in it'll be even better lol)..so, whoever I see when I get there won't be a problem lol

I don't really care what Elphaba looks like. What matters to me if the performer's acting, singing, and stage presence. I was only pointing out that they don't all look alike. I'm excited to hopefully see what Mandy will bring to the role.

I'm beyond thrilled for this. I've seen Mandy in ITH a bunch of times, and always absolutely adore her. I can't wait to see her in green. She has the presence and a gorgeous voice.

Official announcement! Mandy will join the show on March 23!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/13719...Wicked-in-March

I've known that she was joining on the 23rd for a while now...so glad its finally official!

Great News, but dam I'm going to miss seeing her, I will be seeing the show on the 6th

http://www.broadway.com/shows/wicked/buzz/...wicked-elphaba/


I'm seeing the show on 3/13...i'm sure Dee will be extra fierce considering it will be near the end of her run lol...but still, I'm glad we found out when Mandy is coming...I look forward to seeing how she does with this!

Looking forward to seeing a brand new Elphaba in her first week.

Jess, when're you seeing the show?

March 26.

Not gunna lie but I was kinda upset, only cuz I heard a rumor of teal coming hahaha but in an other way I am kinda excited cuz she's new, and her proshots and such... And the possible chance of seeing her in the summer if her contract is for that long

EDIT: her singing TWAI on a CD..... now im not sure cuz i felt like it was lacking character, until the belt hahah

from a CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jonzW6Qa1lc

She has such an amazing voice!

Can't wait to see her in June!

Just heard her version of Defying Gravity. I like it.

People on youtube are being so mean about her. I don't understand. I think she sounds amazing?

People on Youtube are always mean about any Elphaba. It's quite annoying. I think she's going to be great!

So excited for her and simply cannot wait to see her.

I'm so proud of her, it's kind of ridiculous.

All of this.


Seriously though, I'm really excited. I think if people give her a chance, they'll be pleasantly surprised.

1 more week! I wish people would stop judging her based on CDs and Concerts she's done and just go see her..
/mini-rant

I agree. I'm excited to see photos of Mandy green!

I'll be there lottoing for her first with blockhead24 and just keep dancing through!

I can't wait! I'm really excited .