Character Study: Jackie Burns on Becoming Elphaba in "Wicked"

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Eight years ago, Jackie Burns sat in the second row of the Gershwin Theatre and watched Idina Menzel play Elphaba in "Wicked," and now she's living her dream playing the green girl herself. "She's helped me be strong in my own convictions," Burns said of her iron-willed character. "She's been an outcast her whole life and she's dealt with it, and come out to be this beautiful person who isn't jaded." The physical transformation, it turns out, takes a little more getting used to. "At first it's not very beautiful, I won't lie to you," Burns laughs. "When your whole face is green and your features aren't drawn on yet, so you look like a turtle really. But then one the make up is on it's beautiful." Click on to witness Burns' transformation into this Broadway force of nature.

[@SaffronGrey]

Going through all the "becoming Elphaba videos. So many different women playing this role, it's amazing to see how many people across the globe have played her, will play her, and want to play her. I want to play her.

[@Kinochan28]

I´m watching all those videos right now, and yes I want to be Elphie

[@95centchicken15]

Seeing if u forgot this comment

[@jasmineelyse]

She was my elphaba when I saw wicked 💚💚

[@jschaeffer3440]

Jasmine Elise same! She was amazing she made me cry and she gave me chills

[@faithkidwell9757]

“At the end I feel so pretty as elphaba” Well it helps if your already fricking stunning

[@HazelOct]

I got emotional at hearing her speak about Elphaba. Elphaba is such an incredible person but people are so horrible to her. She most definitely stands up for what's right and has a beautiful heart.

[@OperaGhostObsession]

I LOVE when the performers once saw the show and never knew they'd be on that stage years later. like Jackie or Sierra Boggess.

[@tomtrefry170]

Jackie sounds as thought she has bonded with the character she plays (Elphaba). Her description is perfect :)

[@pjcp97]

she kinda resembles idina omg

[@YasniDaCubanito]

+Justine Peralta She's actually Idina's Standby in "If/Then" , fun fact (: (coincidence)

[@imactuallyadisneyprincess9470]

+BiancaDel River coincidence I think not

[@lalalaurenshay]

AAH! I saw Wicked a few years ago and Jackie was playing Elphaba!

[@AtsumuMiya123]

OMG GUYS SHE'S RETURNING TO THE SHOW!

[@miriluvs2s1ng]

I love her! I just saw wicked tonight and I met her at the stage door. She is so down to earth and she is such an amazing person!

[@HeriCruzJr]

She's a CT girl who wanted to be on Broadway. I'm a CT guy who's desperately praying to be on Broadway. This is my inspiration.

[@zeldaglitchgamer]

heric53 I'm with you there man. I wish you the best

[@aidenoliver1681]

SAAAAAMMMME

[@uhmno7944]

Same but I’m like 4 year to young still

[@laurenring9721]

CT girl who wants to be on Broadway SO DESPERATELY. Unfortunately, my vocal skills are.... less than. I’m a pretty good actor tho!

[@hunter8749]

She's coming back!

[@onesparkdancer2006]

This is my favorite musical!!!

[@TechGirl84]

Jackie Burns said that Elphaba isn’t “jaded”! Get it? She’s green, but she’s not jaded! Lol! 😂

[@amethystrosalia]

I saw Jackie Burns On Broadway, She Was Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nicolejones7673]

She's back!!!! Jackie will be returning to broadway as Elphaba as Jenny's replacement on July 31st

[@sophiaramirez5961]

She has beautiful eyes.

[@americangirlemzies13]

I LOVED her performance soooo much! She is one great powerhouse!

[@mr5finger]

I JUST WATCHED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM FROM CONNECTICUT TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@Massa5306]

Saw her last night and she nailed it. Great show

[@wendymaciver]

I love seeing how craig changes how he does the Green over time

[@marissadingess4201]

I SAWE HER IN IF/THEN SHES AMAZING❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@rooneycaulfield9921]

I AM BLESSED I SAW HER LIVE ON BROADWAY!!!!!! XDDDDD

[@isabelg]

I just watched her last week on Broadway and she was utterly amazing. Her voice was so strong and she hit the notes dead on! she was so beautiful, funny and she truly did Elphaba justice! She does have a resemblance with Idina Menzel and even Lea Michelle. I was so glad and lucky to have seen Jackie Burns live in my first Wicked experience =)

[@bloomingrose322]

Just saw Wicked yesterday, So Amazing!!! Jackie did a wonderful job as Elphaba!! Anyone interested in seeing it should see it now while she is still playing her!!!!

[@estherrosi-kessel5192]

I saw Jackie Burns on Broadway as Elphaba in May 2018 and she’s AMAZING. I’ve only seen Wicked once but she’s my favorite Elphaba, I’ve seen clips of others. I would love to play Elphaba someday.

[@christinamarie485]

i saw her over the summer and she was STUNNING, soooo amazing!!!!

[@addie-eileenpaige6460]

I saw her as Elphaba on Broadway the first time I saw this show. Plus, this was the first Character Study I ever watched.

[@tillyboos]

I saw her play Elphaba in Chicago on tour. She is one of my FAVORITE Elphaba’s.

[@jpk0498]

When she said she was from CT I though OMG IM IN CONNECTICUT.....

[@musicman7416]

she is Idina's stand by in If/Then. :)

[@That_Ozian]

I'm not crying you're crying

[@torim1224]

IM IN LOVE WITH JACKIE!!! I'm the number one Jackie burns stalker™

[@broadwaymike92]

She really does!!

[@AngharadWarren]

It's Craig!!!

[@gavi3]

I love how she even has a green mic and the lace on her wig is green too!

[@alex12300100]

Jackie Burns is one of the most beautiful Elphabas

[@debrawyley3929]

I love this musical

[@harajukukevin6657]

awwww shes great! dreams come true!

[@WendIaBergman]

She really does, when I saw the show the whole time I kept thinking she looked a lot like Idina, I got to meet her at stage door and she is SO nice. I think her and Idina can pass for sisters!

[@clown-cult96]

Wow another Elphaba...

[@kmasucci]

I think Craig is a bigger star than Elphaba!

[@marieagnethepihl8971]

Everybody loves Craig!

[@barbaragorski4508]

Ikr he is so funny and relateable

[@KhiavDim]

She's a beautiful Elphaba.

[@sarahsmadamssss]

I LOOOOOVE Character Studies! Do more! :)

[@broadwaymike92]

It's Offical!! Jackie is going to be Idina's standby in the upcoming new musical If/Then!!

[@laurenring9721]

I live in CT and this is my dream- I’m not a singer (I couldn’t love singing more, my voice just is not great) but my acting is pretty good!

[@agentconneticut6161]

it's not easy being green

[@nolagallagher3290]

Agent Conneticut what have you done

[@zeldaglitchgamer]

OMG! I'M FROM CONNECTICUT!!!

[@albertesolveigbkgaardmorte9356]

Craig! Love that guy

[@avitalgoldberg-curran4956]

hopefully I'll be able to say that!!!!!

[@KACDWFCD]

♡J♡A♡C♡K♡I♡E♡B♡U♡R♡N♡S♡

[@jaydastewart4848]

I saw the play

[@beaniebaby3s3]

and i have sooooooo much respect for them especially a man as talented as Stephen i mean godspell pippin and more hes amazing along with everyone else who helps create all those amazing shows but in my opinion if a person such as you and i can have so much respect for theatre and WICKED and yes they are amazing and experts and the creators but there are some people (like i might want to do) who devote their lives and put their hearts into the theatre...who know and love everything which i do.

[@BlackPearlGurl]

I don't see the point of applying the flesh-toned foundation before applying the green... As a makeup enthusiast myself, I would've just added green to lighter foundation or just went straight for it because even if she had blemishes, the artist could counteract the redness with the green. Just an observation.

[@alexaliona]

there's probably another paint other than the green chromacake that wouldn't stain as badly or take so long to remove

[@alexaliona]

nicolas honsharuk true

[@cantkeepasecret]

What is the green suite thing she wears under her costume to cover up her skin called? I really want to play her for halloween but don't want to completely paint myself.

[@RizwanJaganiViolist]

Dee Roscioli talks about it in a video. It's a unitard with a black pant like thing. You could probably use a green long sleeve rash guard (kinda like under armor)

[@TheKennygal]

I was saying the exact thing to myself!

[@MelchiGabor1]

me too girl, me too.

[@TwilightIsLIfe4493]

She looks like Indina Menzel without her make up and costume and wig ;)

[@caitlinhsu9074]

3:17 is that Boq's suit jacket hanging on the wall?

[@beaniebaby3s3]

i would love to be kinda like susan blackwell...haha i really want to be a writer my dream would be to be a critic or writing for broadway.com but that kinda screws up the fact that i might want to do some acting...not full time all i know for my future career is: 1. i want to work with organizations #spellcheck like Trevor 2. want to be involved in theatre somehow 3. (most importantly) I WANT TO LIVE IN NYC

[@sherrezadestale3463]

does anyone know where I can get that kind of green bodysuit online?

[@xavierbranch2583]

when her make up and costume and wig is on and ready, she kinda looks like Indina Menzel

[@MsSmiIeyFace]

I really want to star in wicked someday :)

[@adriennevalencia150]

"She's a beautiful person who isn't jaded." Jade-ed...I wonder if she meant that as a pun?!

[@lilgrasshoppah]

technically she IS jaded... technically.

[@MrDefyinggravity1]

she reminds me abit of Teal Wicks

[@mayaharrison3138]

cooool

[@talibelej6632]

CRAIG!!!

[@lucyshearer7117]

CRAIGY!!!!!!!!

[@TwilightIsLIfe4493]

"isn't JADEed" lolz

[@beaniebaby3s3]

(hope u meant that as a joke eeeeee :P) the college of my ipad and home computer majoring in a LOVE of Broadway and minoring in not really having any friends

[@beaniebaby3s3]

I'm sorry but as a wicked expert I just don't know why but Jackie is my least favorite

[@xoteish]

🤦🏽‍♀️