As the hit musical returns to Belk Theater, actor Jessie Davidson follows her own yellow brick road.
by Gayvin Powers
Being green isn’t easy, but it’s a journey worth taking. Just ask Jessie Davidson, who plays Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked, which is playing at Blumenthal Arts’ Belk Theater through Oct. 26. Audiences have flocked to the Tony Award-winning production, delighting in the brave, misunderstood lead character, Elphaba, ever since Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, was adapted into a musical in 2003.
Maguire’s book reimagines the story and characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, enhancing the themes of love, friendship, loyalty, intelligence and courage. For anyone who has ever felt out of place or different, Elphaba speaks to the parts in all of us that yearn to be heard and seen.
For two decades, Davidson looked up to the legendary Idina Menzel, the first Elphaba who graced the stage. She’s now following in Menzel’s footsteps.
“I fell in love with Wicked as a 9-10-year-old, and now I get to give that to other kids,” says Davidson, who recently starred as Vivian Ward in the touring production of Pretty Woman: The Musical. “Now I get to meet them at the stage door. Many times they tell me this is the first time they’ve seen a show, and it’s like the planting of a seed, or a dream.”
From a young girl to a theatrical performer who embodies Elphaba’s green complexion each night, Davidson has become even more enamored with the character now that she plays her onstage.
AN ICON REIMAGINED
How did the Wicked Witch of the West, Baum’s original villain, turn into a vulnerable hero who has drawn crowds for more than two decades? It started with Maguire’s personal plight of feeling like an outsider, which inspired him to reimagine the iconic character as someone who is misunderstood.
“From the beginning of the show, Elphaba can’t help but stand up for what she believes in,” Davidson says. “Throughout the show, she learns how to harness her power, to use it for good, make lasting change and build real relationships.”
The character’s name, Elphaba, stems from the initials “LFB” — Lyman Frank Baum. “[Elphaba’s last name] Thropp is the sound that a house makes when it falls on your sister,” the author said on the Today show in March 2024.
Elphaba’s evolution as a character resonates with audiences, tapping into the human need to be connected, included and seen. The beauty lies in her transformation.
“She’s like an onion,” Davidson says. “At the beginning of the show, she is so guarded and so hurt. You watch her heal and teach others how to heal.” Throughout this process, “She creates lasting friendships and figures out what it means to be a woman.” This metamorphosis has influenced Davidson as well.
“As I’m going through this journey with her, I’m learning so much about myself … She’s just goodness from start to finish.”
GETTING INTO CHARACTER
When makeup artist Tish Ferguson begins “painting” Davidson green before each show, the bewitching process begins.
“It feels like I’m a house that’s being painted,” Davidson says. “It’s like broad strokes with big brushes.” The change starts on the outside, then continues as the actor begins to embody the character internally, too.
“I see myself so differently when I’m green,” Davidson continues. “That impact is something that I didn’t understand until I felt it. I looked down at my hands, and they were different. Everywhere in my peripheral vision was a hint of green. There is a constant reminder throughout the show of what is going on for this person.”
Once Davidson is covered up with the last makeup application, Elphaba breathes life, ready to enchant the audience.
TRUTH ONSTAGE
When guests come to a performance of Wicked, many have already read the book, watched the movie or seen the musical. Their views of Elphaba are subjective. Davidson says that inherent expectation is her biggest challenge in taking on the role.
“She means so much to so many people.” Because of that, “I want to give people me in the role, authentically. If I try to be something that I’m not, or a version that people love, it’s inauthentic.”
Davidson recalls a fond moment with Lisa Leguillou, associate director of Wicked, that made a lasting impression.
“She said, ‘Whenever you start losing your footing, just get back on stage, listen and tell the truth.’ And this cast is very good at being truthful onstage. There is a real depth to the work that comes organically.”
STARTING TOGETHER
Playing Elphaba is no small task — it takes a village. Or in this case, it takes Shiz University, the fictional college in the story.
“The biggest reward is the people I go to work with every day: my Glinda, my Fiyero, my Nessa, my Boq, my Dillamond, my Morrible, my wizard, the entire ensemble, the people working backstage and the band,” says Davidson. “Everyone makes this place run and also leads with love. That’s really what it’s all about.”
Part of that synergy might stem from the fact that, for only the second time, the production started fresh with an entirely new principal cast. In the past, when contracts ended, a new actor or actors would be added into an existing show.
“This is a real gift that we were given,” Davidson says. “We’ve had the benefit of starting together. That’s helped build our chemistry.”
From the breathtaking set design to the iconic music, Wicked is magic from beginning to end. For Davidson, performing onstage as Elphaba is a childhood dream come true. “I feel like this is a role that paved the path forward for me since I was young. Every day feels like a celebration.” SP
Embrace your inner Elphaba and join Davidson alongside Zoe Jensen as Glinda as they enchant Belk Theater Sept. 24-Oct. 26, celebrating what it means to be green. Tickets to Wicked start at $46.58.
Featured image: Jessie Davidson as Elphaba in Wicked. Photographs courtesy Blumenthal Arts.
