Fiyero

Infobox character
colour = green
name = Fiyero
portrayer = Norbert Leo Butz


caption = Idina Menzel as Elphaba with Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero in the Original Broadway Cast of "Wicked"
first = "" (1995)
last = "" (1995)
cause = Death
nickname = Yero
alias =
species = Winkie
gender = male
age = twenty-three(at time of death)
born = unknown
death =
occupation = prince of the Arjiki Vinkus tribe
title = prince
parents =
siblings =
spouse = Sarima(though he loved Elphaba)
children = Irji, Manek, and Nor by Sarima; Liir by Elphaba
relatives =
residence = Kiamo Ko
creator = Gregory Maguire

Fiyero is a character in Gregory Maguire's novel "", as well as in the Broadway musical Wicked, which is based on the novel. He is a Vinkus prince who attends Shiz University, and eventually falls in love with Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). Between the two works, the character is portrayed somewhat differently.

Contrasts between portrayals of Fiyero

In the book, Fiyero is covered with blue, diamond-shaped tattoos and is unhappily married to a woman named Sarima and father to three children: Irji, Manek, and Nor. He meets an early demise when he is brutally murdered by The Wizard's secret police, presumably because he is affiliated with Elphaba, who is now a fugitive from The Wizard. It is also noted that Fiyero has dark skin.

In the musical, the character has no tattoos (simply because the small designs did not translate well to the stage) and never married, but he is engaged (rather reluctantly) to Glinda. He is at first a careless, happy-go-lucky kid, but when he meets Elphaba, he begins to understand that there is more to life than having fun and never thinking. In the middle of his discovery, he is transformed unwittingly into the Scarecrow by Elphaba as she tries to save him from the Wizard's Guards. He helps Elphaba stage her death and escapes with her out of Oz.

In the musical, Fiyero is the vehicle that makes a happy ending possible, by helping Elphaba escape. This is contradictory to the book, where he accidently contributes to the Witch's downfall. He was worriedly waiting for Elphaba, who had disappeared, when he was attacked and murdered by the Gale Force. Fiyero's death affects Elphaba deeply, leaving her struck with grief. She is left haunted by a sense of guilt and failure that eventually drives her to seek out Fiyero's widow and children in the isolated Vinkus castle, Kiamo Ko. Unfortunately for Elphaba, Sarima refuses to even listen to her confession concerning her late husband. Sarima does, however, due to custom, allow Elphaba to stay semipermanently in the castle with Liir, Elphaba's illegitimate son with Fiyero. This is where Elphaba is later (accidentally) killed by Dorothy.

Actors who have played Fiyero

In the musical, "Wicked", the part of Fiyero was first played on Broadway by actor Norbert Leo Butz. Butz was replaced by Kristoffer Cusick and Taye Diggs before briefly returning to the role. He was later permanently replaced by Joey McIntyre, and then David Ayers, who was subsequently replaced by Derrick Williams. In Chicago, Cusick originated the role and was replaced by Brad Bass, then Derrick Williams and Michael Seelbach. On tour, Williams originated as Fiyero; when he left to replace David Ayers on Broadway, Sebastian Arcelus became the second touring Fiyero. Cliffton Hall took over the role in October 2006. In January 2007, Sebastian Arcelus assumed the role in the Broadway production, and was followed by David Burnham, who created the role in the original LA workshops, in January 2008. Aaron Tveit took over the role on Broadway for Burnham on June 24, 2008. For the Los Angeles company Kristoffer Cusick once again originated the role of Fiyero beginning February 2007, and was then replaced by Derrick Williams in May 2008. Adam Garcia originated the role of Fiyero in the West End production in September 2006 before being replaced by former standby Oliver Tompsett on July 16, 2007. In the Australian version, the role of Fiyero is being played by Rob Mills.In the German version, Fiyero is played by Mark Seibert and covered by Artur Molin and Jens Simon Petersen. Mark Seibert will leave the show on September 12 2008.