My Broadway Crush: Eden Espinosa

I wrote this to share the amazingness of Broadway actress Eden Espinosa, whom everyone should know about!

Like a lot of people, I first knew Eden Espinosa through Wicked. Indeed, she played the green witch Elphaba on and off Broadway for several years. I actually noticed her really quickly because of a video that I saw of her and Megan Hilty (who played Glinda, the Good Witch) performing “Popular” and I immediately loved her.

Eden has been involved with Wicked for several years. She was in the original production of Wicked as the Elphaba standby (played at that time by Idina Menzel who originated the role) in 2003. Then she reprised the lead in 2006. She also performed as the Wicked Witch of The West in San Francisco in 2005 and again in 2010 for the Wicked’s First National Tour. She was also asked to play the part for the opening production of Wicked in Los Angeles in 2007 and she stayed until the company closed in January 2009.

Even if I really love Idina Menzel and her performance as Elphaba, Eden remains one of my favourites actresses for the role. I love her voice and her acting; she really puts all her heart into what she is doing. And given the numbers of times, she was called to reprise the role on and off Broadway, I think people also loved her.

Something that is shown by her winning the Broadway.com award “Favorite Female Replacement” in 2006.

Eden Espinosa as Elphaba in Wicked (From Eden's Instagram)

But, Eden isn't only known for being the green witch. She also performed in a musical called Brooklyn in which she originated the lead role of the same name. Unfortunately, this musical only played for two years from April 2003 to June 2005. Thus, we only have access to a few videos on YouTube of her wonderful performance as Brooklyn where she belts out a beautiful song called “Once Upon A Time”.

More importantly, Eden was cast to play Maureen for the closing Broadway company of Rent from May to September 2008. As the phenomenal show, written by the late Jonathan Larson, received a wide success, they decided to make to film the final performance. Rent is one of the most beautiful and moving musicals I ever saw (it celebrates life and outcasts!) and the whole cast is amazing! Eden is playing and singing so marvellously that it is worth watching it, (also it’s available on DVD).

Although Eden started her Broadway career with Wicked, it wasn’t the first time she hit the stage. Indeed, when she was still in school, she worked at Disneyland as a performer in different shows around the park. There, she played Ariel and Pocahontas. I’m pretty sure the people there didn’t realize how amazing she will become! That also shows us Eden’s devotion and passion for musical theatre and singing (and what’s better than playing Disney’s princesses?) And apparently, Eden’s career within the Disney world is not over as she voiced Orizaba, a moth fairy, in the cartoon Elena of Avalore, and is currently voicing Rapunzel’s confidant, Cassandra in the movie Tangled and the series of the same name. I personally think that they couldn’t have chosen a better actress!

After requests from her fans, Eden finally made an album in which she reprised theatre songs and reshapes them to add her own personal touch.

Her album “Look Around” came out in 2012 and she did a beautiful interpretation of “One Song Glory” from Rent and “I’m Not That Girl” from Wicked (they’re my favourites). In August 2014, her song “Stone Cold Sober” won the Independent Music Award for Adult Contemporary Song of the year. It’s a wonderful way to show her how her music is important to us! Thankfully, Eden said in 2016 that she was in the early development of her new studio album. We still have no news but, if it’s as good as the first one, I’m looking forward to it! 

Eden Espinosa (2017) (photo: Christopher Boudewyns)

But she didn’t completely abandon the stage! Indeed, in 2016, she appeared in two musicals. She headlined the world premiere of the new musical Rain as Sadie, one of the main characters; and played the role of Eva Perón in the production of Evita in Nashville, which was one of her dream roles.The Californian actress who now lives in New York made her solo concert debut in her show “ME” in December 2008 in Los Angeles and in Joe’s Pub in NYC. Since then, she has been performing in several shows like “From Eden With Love” and orchestras like “Charlotte Symphony Orchestra”.   

If we’re talking of Eden Espinosa, we cannot not talk about Megan Hilty and Shoshana Bean who are as amazing as Miss Espinosa. This trio met while playing in Wicked, and have been inseparable since then. Indeed, Shoshana performed as Elphaba and Megan as Glinda. After this experience, they became really good friends and stayed very closely in touch. In 2014, they sang together once again at The Cutting Room for one of Shoshana’s show. That was a truly magical experience (and seeing them together once more was too much for my heart). From Eden and Shoshana's Instagram, they see each other quite often (Megan has two babies now so she must be pretty busy)! 

Eden Espinosa, Shoshana Bean, and Megan Hilty (from Shoshana's Instagram)

On a more personal level, we know that on October 2011, Eden married Joseph Abate, a managing producer (who also produced her album) in California.

Also, Eden isn’t only a singer and performer, she also has a heart in gold. For a very long time, she has participated in various association in order to help children achieve their dreams, like “Chats 4 Charity,” and in January 2014, she became an active member of “Broadway Artists Alliance” as a teacher in a Wicked Theme Master Class.

So, if you never heard of her before, I suggest you to go check out some of her performances (you can find some on the Internet). In my opinion, this woman is wickedly talented and deserved a worldwide recognition. Eden is such a good-hearted person and she is always ready to help others and give some of her time to encourage young people to follow their dreams. Everybody should know her!

For me, she is my favorite Elphaba, and she’ll always have a special place in my heart.

Eden as Elphaba in Wicked, from Eden's Instagram