UK Tickets has heard on the grapevine that Carmen Cusack is scheduled to be the new Elphaba in the London production of Wicked undergoes an extensive cast change in May 2009.

Carmen is currently starring as Elphaba in the US touring production and has proved to be one of the most well received Elphabas to date, having previously been standby to Lisa Brescia’s Elphie in the Chicago production. Carmen leaves the tour this month to be replaced by her standby Donna Vivino.

Texan Carmen is no stranger to the West End stage, having previously appeared in the RSC’s The Secret Garden at the Aldwych and as Fantine Les Misérables at the Queens.

On Saturday 2 May 2009, the current cast (plus Kerry Ellis who returns from Broadway to take the role of Elphaba back from Alexia Khadime on 1 December) will play their last performance and a new bunch of principles will take over on Monday 4 May 2009. Cast changes for Wicked productions worldwide are considered a very big deal by the show’s enormous following, and if a well established and popular US Elphaba steps onto the Apollo Victoria stage, we can probably expect the biggest deal yet.

Wicked is currently booking until 28 September 2009 and you can get your tickets here.