How We Made Theatre: Wicked

Idina Menzel, played Elphaba

When we first tried out Elphaba’s green makeup, I went to show the rest of the cast and everyone was gawking at me – all of a sudden I felt isolated, which was helpful for her characterisation. Originally, the makeup was an airbrush spray, but that would have been kind of toxic for eight shows a week so we chose a different product and used brushes. The ritual of putting on my makeup became meditative, something soothing before going on.

Women can be trepidatious about leaning into our full power and rage. We are taught to repress it. Elphaba has all of that inside her and is trying to navigate her pain. I can be very sensitive and afraid of my own anger, afraid of expressing myself for fear of pushing people away. I could relate to Elphaba’s antisocial behaviour and to her being reclusive. As much as I’m a performer and I work in the spotlight, there’s another side to me that is quieter and likes to be wrapped up at home.

It’s thrilling to create a brand new musical and awe-inspiring to see what the creative people do to make a show come to life. The flying was exciting but also scary, complex and distracting to my singing. Doing the show in London, after Broadway, was wonderful. I’d dreamed my whole life of being in a West End play and I was able to feel more relaxed because I’d done it in New York and knew how it affected people. Also, I knew I probably wasn’t going to get fired!

Everyone had said British audiences would be more reserved but it was the total opposite – a love fest. The Brits and Aussies in the cast were very adept at learning how to perform at a high level but also enjoy themselves after the show. They were very good at educating me on how to do that. I think I was a little high strung in New York.

I never tire of the number Defying Gravity and get to revisit it when I perform my own show around the world. Singing that song, I step back into the shoes of that character but also see where I am at. What am I going through, how do I still need to empower myself? I once performed it at the White House in front of President Obama, the first lady and their daughters. They were within spitting distance – I might even have actually spat on them. It takes a lot of air and breath and saliva to get those notes out.