i was just woundering i picture elphaba in her early 20s maybe 18 or 19. and all the girls playing her are about 33 do u think they should cast a 19 year old as elphaba?

Actually, Idina is 34 now (but was 33 when she was in it lol)...Shoshana is 28 (and was 28 when she was there lol)...but no, I don't think they would have a 19 yr old playing the role...although I would guess Elphie's age in the show is about 19-21 maybe (lol)...if they want 18 yr old's I'm game :ha: !!!

The people playing her are usually in their twenties. Sho is 28, Eden just turned 28, I think Steph is around 24 or so. I don't think they should cast a younger Elphaba, I think to play such a demanding part, they need to have more expieranced people do it. And besides, the people who play Elphie are able to act the age for the part. They are actors, afterall! lol. This is all just my opinion of course!

I agree. I don't know much about theatre, but I think Elphie seems like a very demanding role. A very hard role. And I know this is biast, but I have a hard time respecting performers that are that young in complicated roles like this one. In any industry, it takes time to develop yourself, especially musically, but also acting-wise.

Also, I picture Elphaba as being older than 20. Perhaps I shouldn't, but she seems older and wiser than a teenager. Especially with songs like "As Long As You're Mine" and "For Good." I think Elphie had to go through some time before she could sing those parts...you know? I would almost put Elphie in her mid to late 20's by the end of the show. You figure, Glinda is now "Glinda the Good," a public figure, so she can't be THAT young, right?

At any rate, I really hope they continue to cast older Elphies...a more mature person for a very mature role.

-Katie :wicked:

Sho was 27 & 28, Eden was 26, 27 and 28, Steph I believe is 30.

I agree! I picture Elphaba as mid-late 20's. I don't think a 19 year old could really kidnap dorothy and lock her in a tower. Or sing songs like As Long as your mine and for good. I think, throughout the play, its supposed to be that a few years go bye, and they change.

:agree: ...she probabaly would have to be a bit older for songs like ALAYM and FG.

They don't look old, so it's not really a problem, and in Act 2 Elphie is like 25, it's only in Shiz that she's like 18

You'd be surprised how many of them are actually still in their 20s. Shoshana is 28, Eden just turned 28, and Kristy is... I don't know but I doubt she's 30 yet. And, if you count the understudies and standbys, all of them are in their 20s. That leaves Idina, who is 34; Steph, who is... younger than Idina; and Ana, who is 35 or 36 (she was born in 1967 and I am bad with numbers). So you see--not ALL of them are in their 30s!

I would like it if they cast more girls in their 20s, but that would create some conflict with the age of Elphaba in Act II. If you're going by the book's timeline, Elphaba's supposed to be in her 30s at the end of Act II, so an actress in her 30s PLAYING a character in her 30s is more believable than an actress in her early 20s playing a character in her 30s, especially if she's a young-looking woman. All of the women they've cast don't really look their age, and most people are surprised when they learn how old they really are (I, for one, was shocked about Steph... she really does look much younger).

Like someone said earlier, Elphaba's really supposed to have a maturity about her that girls in their 20s really can't convey, so it makes more sense to cast an "older" woman... I really think they should cast a young Galinda because the character leaves room for youth.

steph is 33, but looks like she's younger. heck, I'm 24 :drool:

oh wow really? I thought she looked way younger! Shows what I know lol.

Kristy's around 28. I dunno when her birthday is, but she's the same age as Sho.

wow Stephs 33??? :whoa2: dang....she's not that much younger than Cheno, whom is around like...37? its amazing how natural beauty can be so much more effective than a facelift or something

Isn't Ana like, 39?? I think thats a bit too old...after all elphie IS supposed to be a college student.

Krstin Chenoweth is so awesome she's managed to slow down the aging process. lol!

I wish they would... I'd be at auditions in an instant!!!
Seriously though I see your point. At the start of the show Elphie's character is eighteen and if you follow the play storyline (as opposed to the book) she's only like...23 or so when she 'melts' *ahem*

i think that's a little old too... unless of course you're kristin chenoweth and look like 25 nomatter what lol
oh i read your signature... you've read the 'making it on broadway: actors tales of climbing to the top' book! hehe good stuff

most ppl were saying that when she was first cast for the part, but she ended up being so good that it didn't matter anyway ;-)

In the book, Elphaba and Galinda are 17 years old... in the show I feel they need to be older.

actually...NESSA is the one thats first going to college so she would be 17/18. Elphie would be at least a year older, because she started college late because she only went to take care of Nessa.

Hmmm, that's a very good point! I never thought about that. Elphie is older than Nessa, and Nessa is just starting school. So yeah, couldn't Elphaba be nearly 20 when the show begins?

-Katie :wicked:

isn't elphie 3 years older than nessa?

Yes, Elphaba is 3 years older (it says in the book) so Nessarose would be like 18 and Elphaba 21 when they come to Shiz. In Act II 2 years have passed so. Nessa-20 Elphaba-23.

:agree: I believe it is something like 3 years.but I don't see what the big deal is.If you don't look your age why can't you play a younger role than you actually are. No one who has played any of the roles have looked too old.I look like I'm 15,but I'm 29.No one ever thinks I am that old(just call me Kristin Jr.).So I'm just saying if someone like Kristin plays the part are you really sitting in the theatre thinking wow she's too old.

I guess it depends on whether you're looking at the play or the book, and your interpretation- they tweak enough with dates and ages and age differences between book and play that you can interpret it however you like. In the book Elphie starts school at 18, and is there well before Nessa arrives, she's 20 when she and Glinda go to the Emerald city, 23 when she meets with Fiyero, 24 when Liir is born, and 33 when she melts... in the play though it seems implied that she and Nessa are much closer in age and are in the same year in school... I always assumed Nessa was 17ish and Elphie was 18, and she ran away (defying gravity) that same year and then according to how you look at it 2-5 years pass between Defying Gravity and when Act II starts, so she's somewhere between 20-23 I guess.

It's all so confusifying!!! What do you guys think?

idk they are only a year apart, and i dont think Nessarose was 17 when she started school, she had to be atleast 18, i still think Elphaba is 3 years older as in the book.