Brittney Johnson is currently making history as the first Black actor to play Glinda in “Wicked,” but she’s also had a lot of Broadway experience in jobs that are in many ways eve…
experience in jobs that are in many ways even more challenging than a starring role: filling the save-the-day shoes of an understudy, a swing or a standby.“I’m so grateful that my first Broadway show was as a swing,” Johnson said on the new episode of Stagecraft,‘s theater podcast. The actor made her debut in 2014 in “Motown,” in which she had to be prepared, at a moment’s notice, to play one of nine roles, including Diana Ross.
Johnson joined “Wicked” in 2018 as an ensemble member and understudy, and also spent time as a standby for Glinda, going on when the regular lead was absent. In 2019, she became the first person of color ever to play Glinda on Broadway, and as of Feb. 14, she’s the first Black actor to play Glinda full-time.