What are your thoughts on it?

I don't think so, because an actress has already originated the role. That is just my opinion.

Maybe. Maybe not. There are much better actresses than Idina who've played the role, but also those who aren't exactly up to par. It all depends.

To be honest.. i think it is one of those cases that the role would win the Tony no matter what...

I would have to say no, honestly. I know we tend to get into spats over who was the "original" Elphaba (I still say Idina)..but, it was Idina's moment to shine, and props to her for being such an integral part of something that has become so monumental like "Wicked"

Yes.

If I understand the question correctly...

Had another actress originated the role, I think it would have depended on the actress and their performance, whether or not they won the Tony.

As for Idina herself winning - I think that Tonya Pinkins deserved a Tony Award for performance in Caroline, or Change. That said, I do think Idina deserved the Tony, as well. Those two gave very fine performances and I think their acting in their respective roles was superior to Murphy, Chenoweth, and D'Abruzzo (though to be honest, there wasn't a Tony nomination in the leading actress category in 2004 that I didn't like).

I think because we see Idina as the matriarch of Elphaba, we have a hard time thinking who could have filled her shoes. Personally I think Stephanie J. Block would have kicked @$$ and won a tony for the role... just my opinion.

^ I agree, SJB did work on the role for a while, but then she got tour, Idina got broadway. ( I think we all know that, heh. )

I really do think if anyone played the role they would get the tony, simply because shes such a beautiful character, and its tough to do, and anyone would look good in the role.

Yeah I agree. Elphaba is such a great role. If an actress was able to play her well then yes I think she would win the tony.

Unfortunately, I think the role won, rather than the actress. Both Pinkins and Murphy were superior that year, so I think almost any of the actresses who have played the role so far could have won. Of all of them, I think Julia Murney might just have been the only deserving win.

I pretty much agree with those statements.

I agree, I think it was the role that won the Tony rather than Idina herself... therefore I think almost no matter who originated it, they probably would have won the Tony.

Julia Murney definitely should have originated the role... and she definitely would have won the Tony. I get chills thinking of her and Kristin together.

Probably, depending on who would have originated it. They did pick the perfect person to originate the role though, IMO.

I mostly agree with this. I think it's just such a role that the Tony most likely would have gone to whomever was at the helm.

ETA: though I wouldn't quite say almost any of the actresses who have done the role may well have won

that is exactly what ive thought since she won. Still love her though!

While I think their have been stronger Elphaba's vocaly (SJB, Shoshana, Carmen) and acting (Julia, Nicole) then Idina, I do NOT think that just anyone could have one it. Idina captured the personality and the layers of Elphaba beautifully...which I think iswhy she won out to get the part (not because she had a "name" even though that may have been a factor.) We can sit here and argue for hours about how "so and so is so much stronger" blah blah blah but Idina won it for a reason, she had a role that was beautifully crafted, and she did great in the role

Yeah, I think the role won. I mean, I love Glinda and Elphaba, and while i normally think Elphaba is the harder/more intense role, I think the role won the Tony. IMO Kristin's acting as Glinda was better than Idina's as Elphaba, although both were amazing. Actually my opinion seems to flutuate, so i'll shut up lol.

I think another actress could have won the Tony for the role, because other originators have won similar types of awards (though I know nothing is a direct comparison to the Tony award). But, for example, SJB won the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production for originating the role on tour. So not ANYONE could have won the role, but I do believe someone else could have won the Tony in the role of Elphaba, as I think the award was to some extent role-driven rather than actress driven.

Definitely, with the right actress in the role, someone else could have won the Tony for Elphaba. Victoria Matlock for instance.

Depends on who it was, but I'm pretty sure most of the ladies who have played the role could have won it.