Jenna Bainbridge is set to make history as the first authentically disabled actor to play Nessarose in Broadway's Wicked. In a pivotal scene, Nessarose's feelings of dependence on her sister, Elphaba, are voiced in a powerful song, highlighting the ableist undertones present in the show. Bainbridge, who has personal experience with disability, hopes her portrayal will foster a deeper understanding of Nessarose's character. While the script remains unchanged, Bainbridge’s lived experiences provide a unique lens through which audiences can view the character's struggles and motivations.
"All of my life I've depended on you, how do you think that feels? / All of my life, I've depended on you and this hideous chair with wheels," she sings, reminding her sister that she is risking her life to save the animals of Oz but has never once used magic to help Nessa walk.
Beginning March 4, Jenna Bainbridge becomes the first authentically disabled actor to play Nessarose on Broadway. Although Bainbridge says nothing in the script has changed since she joined Wicked, her lived experience brings an honesty to Nessa that makes her desire to walk easier to understand.
It's arguably the most ableist scene in a show that calls Nessa a "tragically beautiful" and dependent villain, eventually known as the Wicked Witch of the East.
For theatergoers with disabilities, it speaks loudly, as Nessa blames her disability for her circumstances.
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