Jacobs & Benjamin begin performances in Wicked tonight

The Broadway company of Wicked welcomes two new principal cast members tonight at the Gershwin Theatre.

Arielle Jacobs assumes the role of Nessarose from Catherine Charlebois. She is perhaps best known for playing Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In The Heights,' both on Broadway and on National Tour. She has also played the Baker's Wife in the National Tour of 'Into The Woods' and Gabriella in the National Tour of Disney's 'High School Musical.'

PJ Benjamin returns to the role of The Wizard, taking over from Tom McGowan. This will mark his fourth engagement in the role. Mr. Benjamin's other Broadway credits include the role of Amos Hart in 'Chicago,' 'Ain't Broadway Grand,' 'Wind in the Willows,' 'Torch Song Trilogy,' 'Sophisticated Ladies,' 'Charlie and Algernon,' 'Saravá,' and his Broadway debut in 'The Pajama Game' in 1973.

Catherine Charlebois and Tom McGowan both played their final performances in their respective roles on 8 March 2015.

The principal cast of Wicked includes Caroline Bowman (Elphaba), Kara Lindsay (Glinda), Matt Shingledecker (Fiyero), Arielle Jacobs (Nessarose), Robin De Jesus (Boq), PJ Benjamin (The Wizard), Kathy Fitzgerald (Madame Morrible), and Timothy Britten Parker (Doctor Dillamond).

The Broadway musical Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre on 30 October 2003, following previews from 8 October, and is currently selling tickets through to 6 September 2015.

Synopsis: "Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch."

Wicked has music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire.

The musical is directed by Joe Mantello, with choreography by James Lynn Abbott, scene design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner and sound by Tony Meola.

Wicked is produced on Broadway by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.