Green, Black & queer: The power of otherness and “Defying Gravity” in ‘Wicked’

Max Cisotti / Dave Benett / WireImage

If you somehow missed the rise of multi-award-winning Black British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, the musical screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Wicked has undoubtedly placed her in the global spotlight. And she is becoming a symbol of Black queer liberation.

Erivo isn’t the first Black woman to portray the iconic role of Elphaba. Tony-nominated Saycon Sengbloh broke that barrier as an alternate on Broadway in 2006, followed by Alexia Khadime, who performed the role full-time in London’s West End from 2008–2010 and again in 2023.

However, the role has never been performed full-time by a Black actress on Broadway, where the show premiered 21 years ago. That makes Erivo’s casting in the film adaptation

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