The "Transparent" actress and trans pioneer will play Madame Morrible on Broadway starting January 2020.

Alexandra Billings Is the First Trans Actress to Star in “Wicked”

Actress and transgender advocate Alexandra Billings is heading to the land of Oz.

The Transparent star has been cast as the next Madame Morrible in Broadway’s Wicked, the long-running theatrical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name. She’ll replace Tony nominee Nancy Opel in the role beginning January 20, 2020, at New York City’s Gershwin Theatre, according to Playbill.

Shiz is getting a new headmistress! We are thrillified to welcome Alexandra Billings to the #Broadway cast of #Wicked as Madame Morrible beginning 1/20. @THR https://t.co/SCvTNOEnej — Wicked the Musical (@WICKED_Musical) September 25, 2019

While Billings is no stranger to the stage, her casting is a major first for Wicked: The 57-year-old actress is the show’s first openly transgender star in its 16-year run on Broadway. Madame Morrible was originated back in 2003 by British actress Carole Shelley, who died last year. Other original Wicked cast members include Broadway icons Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.

This casting is another feather in Billings’ cap. She also became the first openly trans actress to play a trans character on television when she appeared in 2005’s Romy and Michelle: A New Beginning.

More recently, she portrayed Davina in Amazon’s Transparent, which ran for four seasons and draws to a close this week with a musical series finale.

In an Instagram post announcing her forthcoming role, Billings shared her excitement to play “the lady with the largest wigs in theatrical history.”

“I literally cannot believe my life,” she wrote. “I am truly blessed. And completely shocked.”

Nobody—not even the Wicked Witch of the West—can bring this star down. Break a leg, Alexandra!