The Witches are on the Loose!

How do you feel about having lent your voice to Elphaba in the Italian version oft he movie—and now performing her live on stage in German?
It is a tremendous gift to be able to embody this character on two such different levels. In the studio, it's all about voice, nuances, and emotions in detail—while on stage, I not only sing and speak, but also immerse myself physically in Elphaba's world. The fact that I first dubbed her in the Italian film and now play her live in German is like a double journey through her soul —and both languages have revealed different aspects of her to me.

How do you see your character? What are her strengths and weaknesses? Are there aspects that you find more difficult to embody?
For me, Elphaba is a symbol of courage and integrity. She steadfastly follows her path, even when it is painful, and she stands up against injustice, even if it means standing alone. Her greatest strength is precisely that: her loyalty to what she believes is right. At the same time, this is also her weakness, because she often fights too much on her own and hardly lets anyone get close to her.

The biggest challenge for me is to show this inner conflict in a believable way—this balance between vulnerability and strength, idealism and anger.

How do you see Elphaba's relationship with Glinda?
For me, their relationship is the emotional heart of the play. Of course, they tease each other and make life difficult for each other — but underneath it all lies a genuine, deep affection. What particularly touches me is how much they both grow through this relationship. In the end, they realize with a single glance that true love means not holding on to the other person, but letting them go their own way, even if that means going their separate ways. For me, this scene is a manifesto of selflessness: knowing that you love someone — and letting them go because it's best for them.

Which songs in WICKED do you particularly like?
I love the big ensemble numbers—they are overwhelming every time. The richness of sound, the energy... they carry the story and create a force that makes me physically feel how special this moment is.

When I think of Elphaba's solos, “FOR Good” is particularly close to my heart. The inner conflict that is unleashed there – the emotional crescendo, the dramatic build-up – is constructed with incredible musical intelligence. The music translates exactly what is happening inside of her: the anger, the disappointment, the feeling of betrayal – and this gives rise to the turning point where she says: If you think I'm evil, then so be it. It's almost like spoken music – or music that expresses the inexpressible. For me, it's an absolute masterpiece.

Do you know how long it takes to transform into Elphaba in the makeup room — and back into Laura again?
The transformation takes about 90 minutes — makeup, hair, costume, microphone — everything has to be perfect. It's a real process that helps me getting into the role internally as well. And conversely, it takes almost as long for me to become “Laura” again after the performance. But honestly... a little bit of Elphaba always stays with me.

From October 1, you can finally see Laura Panzeri live on stage at the Stadttheater!