Beginning April 9, Ginna Claire Mason ‘13 will be playing the role of Glinda in the Broadway production of the musical “Wicked.”
Article by Andrew Stevens Purdy '20
According to Professor Cathy McNeela, when Ginna Claire Mason ’13 was a freshman Music Theatre student here at Elon, she told McNeela, “I’m so happy to be your voice student and I want to be Glinda on Broadway.” Fast forward ten years, and it has just been announced that Ginna Claire will in fact be playing Glinda on Broadway.
She is no stranger to the role, having previously performed as the standby for Glinda in the Broadway production, beginning back in Fall 2015. “The Gershwin Theatre became my home for 16 months,” said Mason, “and it was where I learned many lessons about preparedness. I found productive ways to fill my time offstage, and tried to use the terror of being thrown onstage last minute (one time after three months) to develop as a performer.”
After her run as a standby in the Broadway production, Mason re-auditioned to take over the role full-time in Wicked’s National “Munchkinland” Tour. She got the job, and “for 20 months, I bubbled up around the country, until the great thrill of learning that I was invited to transfer to the part on Broadway. I was given a few months off to rest, but now I am really looking forward to getting back into a Broadway performance schedule.”
Mason’s other notable credits include the Katherine understudy in the first National Tour of “Newsies,” Gloria in the first National Tour of “Flashdance: The Musical,” as well as Korie in “Duck Commander: The Musical.”
In 2017 Mason was honored by Elon as one of the Top 10 Under 10, an award that “highlights and celebrates alumni who have graduated within the past decade and who are distinguished in their professions and invested in the future of Elon and their community.” She was honored alongside fellow Music Theatre graduate Rob Marnell ’06.
When asked how her time at Elon helped prepare her for her career, Mason responded, “My greatest joy was having Cathy McNeela as the head of the Music Theatre department and as my voice teacher all four years. Elon’s Music Theatre program is world-class thanks to her passion, bravery and kindness.”
To see Mason in “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theatre, click here.