Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle
  • News
    • All Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
    • All Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
    • All Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
    • All Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
    • All Lifestyle
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well, Well, Well
    • All Politics & Social Issues
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Moms
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Career
    • Charity
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      It's just as comfy but a tad more exciting. Read More
    • It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      There's a reason why they're trending. Read More
    • 8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      The pros are weighing in on this trick, celeb-loved trend. Read More
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion
    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    It's all about your skin's undertones.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity
    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    Big hair, tiaras, and gold lids — oh my!
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty
    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    Plus, when and how to use them.
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair
    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    It's really quite simple.
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    Leos should wear glitter, of course.
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well, Well, Well
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues
    50 Badass Change Makers

    50 Badass Change Makers

    The world may feel heavy at the start of 2022, but this list of change makers has us optimistic for brighter days to come.
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Moms
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Career
    • Charity
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture
    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    From plaid skirts to slip dresses, we're ready to copy it all.
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Fashion
  3. How Brittney Johnson, Broadway's First Black Glinda, Got Ready for Her Wicked Debut

How Brittney Johnson, Broadway's First Black Glinda, Got Ready for Her Wicked Debut

Feb 16, 2022 @ 11:30 am
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Brittney Johnson, Shows Us What It's Like to Get Ready For Her First Night in the Role
Credit: Brittney Johnson/ InStyle

Although Broadway's first production of Wicked premiered back in 2003, 19 years later, the show continues to make headlines and have historical moments. We squealed with glee upon learning that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo would star in the movie version of the musical, and looked on in awe as Carla Stickler filled in as Elphaba during a recent COVID surge — 7 years after leaving the role and becoming a software engineer.

Now, all eyes are on Brittney Johnson, Broadway's first Black Glinda, who took over the role on Feb. 14, to a thunderous welcome from the crowd. Johnson had been an understudy for Glinda since 2019, and previously appeared on Broadway in Les Misérables and the Carole King musical after making her debut in 2014 as an ensemble star in Motown. However, Wicked had been her ultimate goal since graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and even though, as she recently told The Hollywood Reporter, it took some time to even land an audition, she never gave up on that dream. Clearly, her perseverance paid off.

So this role is a longtime coming, and a hot ticket for theater fans and visitors to NYC, alike. But, even if you can't take in the show at the Gershwin Theater, you can get a peek at the action. For her big debut, Johnson took InStyle behind the scenes, showing us how she preps for a performance and giving us a closer look at the costumes.

RELATED: Idina Menzel Thinks She Should Have Been Lea Michele's Sister on Glee — Not Her Mom

Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How She Starts the Day

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"I like to start my day in meditation and prayer. When I have a lot on my mind, I'll do a brain purge into my journal. I think it's nice to take a moment to be still and remember what you're grateful for before the day begins — especially a busy day like today!"

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Taking Some Time for Fitness

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"I love to lift weights at the gym! Being strong and pushing my body beyond what it was capable of even the day before is so empowering to me."

2 of 13

3 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Taking Some Time for Fitness

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

Her Broadway bootcamp continues.

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Her Pre-Show Outfit

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"Usually, I wear something comfortable and ride my bike to the theatre. But today, I pulled out all the stops!"

4 of 13

5 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

An Iconic Moment

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"I got to the theatre early so that I could take my time getting ready and I was overwhelmed seeing my photo outside for the first time! This is a moment I have dreamed about for many, many years!"

5 of 13

6 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Sweet Family Shot

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"My family came up from Maryland and Virginia to support me!"

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smiles All Around

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"My boyfriend and my best friend were with me all day taking care of me, making sure I had everything I needed so that I could be as relaxed as possible for my big day."

7 of 13

8 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Getting Ready Process

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"Once I get to my dressing room, it's time to get ready for the show! A lot of people don't know this, but most Broadway performers do our own makeup. It took me a few times to perfect it, but I'm pretty good now if I do say so myself. Haha! I like to warm up my voice while I put on my makeup."

8 of 13

9 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Time to Get Dressed

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"Putting on this legendary dress and crown is when it all feels real, and I start to really get in the zone."

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

That Pre-Show Feeling

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"It's not so much a 'nervous' feeling [before the show], but more of a focused preparation for the epic story we're about to tell!"

10 of 13

11 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Quick Change

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"My amazing dresser Tracey is LITERALLY the glue that holds me together during a show. Not only does she make sure that I make all my quick changes, but she is with me the entire show taking complete care of me. My show cannot happen without her!"

11 of 13

12 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Closer Look at the Costumes

Wicked
Credit: Jenny Anderson

"One of my favorite costumes in the show is this one that I wear at the top of Act 2. The updo with the fascinator hat, and the cute little bustle behind me make me feel so flirty and feminine!"

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

After the Show

Wicked

"Today was such an incredible day. I'll never forget it as long as I live. I got to share this historic moment with the people that I love and I am so grateful. I simply 'couldn't be happier!' I hope to see you at the Gershwin Theatre soon! I'll be the one in the bubble."

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 13 How She Starts the Day
    2 of 13 Taking Some Time for Fitness
    3 of 13 Taking Some Time for Fitness
    4 of 13 Her Pre-Show Outfit
    5 of 13 An Iconic Moment
    6 of 13 A Sweet Family Shot
    7 of 13 Smiles All Around
    8 of 13 The Getting Ready Process
    9 of 13 Time to Get Dressed
    10 of 13 That Pre-Show Feeling
    11 of 13 A Quick Change
    12 of 13 A Closer Look at the Costumes
    13 of 13 After the Show

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    InStyle

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Accolades Licensing
    • Content Licensing

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithInStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright InStyle. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

    View image

    How Brittney Johnson, Broadway's First Black Glinda, Got Ready for Her Wicked Debut
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.