Brittney Johnson made theater history, while many people celebrated Valentine’s Day with traditional chocolates and flowers.
The Gershwin Theatre stage was gently lifted onto the young Broadway veteran to play the part of Glinda, breaking down a racial divide on the day of love.
“This is not only for me. It’s also one of the most rewarding aspects of it.” She says that it isn’t all about her. “It’s all about what it means to other people, for those that will see me do it, or for those that just know I’m there.”
Johnson is part of a sisterhood of American women who recently broke boundaries on American stage, including Emilie Kuatchou who was the first Black woman to portray Christine on Broadway and Morgan Bullock, who has been Riverdance’s first Black female dancer.
Johnson states that Johnson sees things changing and is optimistic about the future. “Because certain conversations are beginning to happen now people’s eyes will be opened in ways they never had before. This could be because they don’t need to or because they didn’t realize what they didn’t.
Based on Gregory Maguire’s cult novel, “Wicked” tells the story of two young witches to be, one a green brooder, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and the other blond, bubbly, who is Glinda the Good Witch.
Johnson ended the 19-year-old run of white actors portraying Glinda in any professional “Wicked”, a landmark made all the more significant because Glinda is the essence of goodness.
She says, “I believe it’s something that, particularly for little Black children that come and feel that energy being given to Glinda — someone that looks like them — it might be something they experience from their real lives.” It’s important to witness someone who looks like you being loved.
Johnson was literally swept into Johnson’s world on the day she got the role. The show’s charming custom was that the former actor who played Glinda placed a note of encouragement, love and sometimes photos on the inside of her curtain for her first night. Every Glinda new to the show sees it when she makes her entrance.
It was my first time. “I usually see other people’s photos and encouragement words, but this was the first note that was left for me,” she said. It’s very moving to have it for you.
Lindsay Pearce, who plays Elphaba as her co-star, said Johnson is “obviously destined for this” and that she has never seen anyone work harder. Johnson is described as a gracious, funny and goofy character by Pearce.
Pearce was backstage, watching Johnson sing “Popular” on Valentine’s Day. Pearce noticed a little Black girl sitting in the front row and clapping her hands with delight.
Theater belongs to everyone, that’s why it is so important. She says that it’s not something that belongs to people who look a certain or sound a certain. “Theater is supposed to reflect the world’s appearance, and that’s exactly what the world appears like.”
Johnson has also appeared on Broadway in “Les Miserables”, “Motown the Musical,” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”. Johnson was also a guest in Kristin Chernoweth’s Broadway concert show. She teamed up with the original Glinda. Since 2018, she has been a part of “Wicked”, moving from ensemble to Glinda understudy to Glinda standby. Although she was temporarily onstage as Glinda in the 2020 pandemic, it was only temporary.
Johnson had seen her contract through and moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and TV projects. Johnson was lured back to Oz by “Wicked”, who promised Glinda full-time.
She says, “It did not feel like finished business.” “I felt that I had more to do on this particular show. This call was the best thing I could do for myself.
Johnson was raised in Maryland, near Washington. Johnson’s mom claimed that she sang before she could talk. Johnson laughs and says Johnson “She said I was a drama queen since I was a kid.”
In high school, she was hooked on musical theater. She was convinced by her performances in “Les Miserables” 10th grade, and “Sunday In The Park with George” her senior year that musical theater was the right thing for her.
She says, “I was raised believing and knowing that I could accomplish anything.” “I’m not afraid to be the first or only Black person in a space or situation.”
Was it possible to be the first Black Glinda, perhaps? It was on her horizon. She replies, “It wasn’t out of my realm for me that could be,” she says. “But after five to ten years of seeing no movement in that direction for me, I believe you can start to let that dream go.”
It was a complete circle moment for Johnson, who had seen “Wicked”, at the Kennedy Center at age 15. She also saw it with her mother. The story was amazing. The music was my favorite part.
She now has the role of Glinda and can’t wait for her to give the good witch her spin. She believes that “Wicked” offers a lot of freedom for actors to express themselves.
They encourage us to play the role and see how it fits. She says it’s not a mold that you must fit into. “There are things I learn about her and the role every day. You can only discover certain things when you get the chance to experience it multiple times.
