Green, Black & queer: The power of otherness and “Defying Gravity” in ‘Wicked’
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 groundbreaking — not only because she is a Black woman but because she’s also openly queer, an intersection of identities rarely seen in the role.
In Wicked, Elphaba’s green skin marks her as an outsider, raising an essential question: Why did it take so long for a story about “otherness” to embrace the casting of someone who embodies marginalized identities so personally?Subscribe to Native Son’s newsletter for more news, information, and conversations about Black gay and queer everything.In an article with Variety, Erivo reflected on the deeper resonance of Elphaba’s journey for audiences who’ve experienced exclusion.
