by Alec Eng
Everyone remembers the little girl with the red sparkly shoes from Kansas. The same goes for the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Lion from the iconic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz (based on the 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum). The antagonist of the story, as just about everyone knows, is the Wicked Witch of the West. But in 2016, Jessica Vosk was able to change that as she brought the character to life in the Broadway musical Wicked, shedding new light on the scary witch everyone remembers watching as a child. Vosk’s journey doesn’t start there though. Growing up in Clinton, New Jersey, Vosk learned to sing in part by watching her father, who played in a band. After high school, she pursued a degree in musical theater at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. She then transferred to Montclair State University where she graduated with a degree in Communications and Public and Investor Relations. Fun fact: she worked on Wall Street for three years before pursuing what she actually loved, musical theater.
Vosk’s big break came in 2009, when she earned a spot as a vocalist in Kristina. Then, in 2014, she took on the role of Anita in West Side Story, which was nominated for a Grammy Award that year. This was like a dream come true for her, as she was finally standing in the spotlight. Her grit and passion for the musical theater profession would finally land her on Broadway, arguably one of the biggest stages in the U.S. In 2014, she appeared in the play Swing. The following year, she sang in the musical Finding Neverland. But it was as Elphaba in Wicked that she rose to stardom. From 2016-2019, Vosk portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West perfectly. Everyone would try and find time to watch the incredible play. The streets of Broadway would flood as people piled into the theater where the magic would happen. When I was in high school, I remember friends and classmates talking about how great of a musical Wicked was. Vosk’s role impacted many, bringing back the iconic character from The Wizard of Oz from a new point of view. In 2019, Vosk stepped away from the role of Elphaba, seeking new opportunities. She took on the role of Aunt Val in the world premiere of the musical adaption of Becoming Nancy. She won the Atlanta Best Actress in a Musical Award for her work as Aunt Val. Vosk is a remarkable talent and gave it her all throughout her performances over the last decade.
Outside of the theater, Vosk released her first album, Wild and Free, in the summer of 2018. The album consisted of a mix of musical theatre and pop. Featured on the album are some recognizable artists including Sara Barielles, Prince, and Sia. She also released a Christmas EP this past holiday season. She also co-hosts a podcast called “Killing it on Broadway.” Each week, Vosk and her co-host Jennifer Simard, interview celebrities from Broadway about their love of true crime and discuss one infamous case from their guest’s home suite. Vosk came to Geneseo in April of 2019 to perform some of her music.