Kristin Chenoweth is back in the spotlight with a new chapter. After earning acclaim as the original Glinda in Wicked, she’s re‑emerging on Broadway in a production that asks her to show another side entirely. In a candid interview she walks us through the journey — and what audiences should (and shouldn’t) expect.
It’s been nearly ten years since Chenoweth anchored a major Broadway show, and her return is in The Queen of Versailles, a musical loosely based on the real‑life saga of Jackie Siegel and the ambitious mansion she and her husband attempted to build. Rather than rely on the familiar character of Glinda, Chenoweth embraces a role that’s darker, more layered and decidedly outside her comfort zone. “Don’t expect Wicked,” she told the press, “this is very different.”
That distinction matters. Having built her early career on the luminous optimism of Glinda, Chenoweth now acknowledges that the narrative she’s embodying demands something more grounded. It’s a rawer story of excess, vulnerability and reinvention. Under the banner of her longtime collaborator Stephen Schwartz, she’s diving into new creative territory — while still honouring the musical theatre roots that launched her.
The connection to Wicked remains alive: Chenoweth had a cameo in the first film adaptation of the show, and many fans are watching whether she’ll appear in the sequel Wicked: For Good. But as she emphasises, her current focus isn’t nostalgia. It’s growth.
Off‑stage, Chenoweth is equally engaged. She mentors aspiring performers, runs a bootcamp for young actors, and speaks openly about her health challenges, including Meniere’s disease, which has impacted her balance and hearing. Her beauty‑and‑wellness routine has evolved accordingly — less about the big Broadway lights, more about resilience and authenticity.
In short, this phase feels deliberate. Bauming on her legacy doesn’t interest her. She’s offering a new voice, a new story, and inviting fans to follow her there. The stage lights may be familiar, but the show is different — and for Kristin Chenoweth, that may be the most exciting part.