When she took on the role of Glinda full-time in February 2022, Brittney Johnson became the first Black woman to play the “Good Witch,” the role originated by Kristin Chenoweth, in the iconic Broadway play “Wicked.” Her time in the show has come to an end a year later, and to mark the milestone she documented her final day as Glinda for WWD. Below, a behind-the-scenes look at her big day.
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Incumbent President Daniel Noboa clutched onto a razor-thin lead in violence-hit Ecuador's election Sunday, amid a fierce challenge from a leftist rival who looked set to force a second-round run-off. Both Noboa and Gonzalez were shadowed by a phalanx of special forces, hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2023 election, when a leading candidate was assassinated.
As night settles over Afghanistan's capital, only a few small lights and neon signs pierce the darkness and thick blanket of winter pollution. he told AFP. - 'Weddings are a necessity' - Bunches of plastic flowers, throne-style sofas, gilded trimming and neon lights fill the complex's four halls, some of which can accommodate up to 7,000 guests.
Marriages in China dropped by a fifth last year despite manifold efforts by authorities to encourage young couples to wed and have children to boost the country's declining population. More than 6.1 million couples registered for marriage last year, down from 7.68 million a year earlier, figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed. Declining interest in getting married and starting a family has long been blamed on the high cost of childcare and education in China.
As the Midwest and Northeast dig out from back-to-back winter storms, new systems are building and are expected to dump more snow from the middle of the country to the East Coast this week. Plenty of cold air remains is in place to the north, helping to bring set the stage for a wide band of wintry mix and snow, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
Asian shares were trading mixed on Monday, as investors found bargains despite worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's various tariffs. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 0.1% in early trading to 38,746.96. The Japanese government reported a record current account surplus last year of 29 trillion yen ($191 billion), underlining strong returns on overseas investments, boosted by a weak yen and recovering Japanese exports.
Two rare black wolves, likely siblings, were spotted on camera crossing a stream in a Polish forest, a conservation organization said Sunday.
Pope Francis’ point-man on migration and development has urged the Trump administration to remember Christian principles about caring for others, saying people are being “terrorized” by the U.S. crackdown on migrants and vital church-run aid programs are being jeopardized by the planned gutting of USAID. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Czech-born Canadian Jesuit, is one of the cardinals most closely associated with Francis’ pontificate and heads the Vatican office responsible for migrants, the environment, the church’s Caritas Internationalis charity and development. In an interview with The Associated Press, Czerny said every incoming government has the right to review its foreign aid budget, and to even reform an agency like USAID.
President Donald Trump announced he is directing the treasury secretary to stop the production of pennies as a cost-cutting measure.
Equities were mixed in Asia on Monday after Donald Trump ramped up his trade war by announcing huge tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and warned every country would face "reciprocal" levies.He also said he would announce "reciprocal tariffs" to match his government's levies to the rates charged by other countries on US products.
President Donald Trump says he has directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies, citing the rising cost of producing the one-cent coin. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.” The move by Trump is the latest in what has been a rapid-fire effort by his new administration to enact sweeping change through executive order and proclamation on issues ranging from immigration, to gender and diversity, to the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
Hardliners are squaring off against their top tax writer as Republicans try to assemble a package President Donald Trump's priorities.
A rare dispute between New Zealand and Kiribati has renewed focus on the Pacific island nation, highlighting the existential threat it faces from the climate crisis – against the backdrop of a tussle between the world’s biggest powers for regional dominance.
President Donald Trump said that he'll announce reciprocal tariffs, including 25% on steel and aluminum imports amid trade disputes with Canada, Mexico and China.
The first of these upcoming systems will start from the Plains on Monday, with the heaviest snowfall expected to drop a potential 2 to 5 inches across Kansas.
President Donald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his plans for the US to redevelop Gaza, saying that he viewed the war-torn enclave as a “big real estate site.”
A trio of top Trump administration officials will make separate trips to Europe this week, with security and Washington's commitment to Ukraine expected to be at the heart of their discussions.President Donald Trump -- pushing his "America First" agenda -- has questioned US security commitments in Europe and called on allies to drastically boost their defense spending, while his administration has been largely quiet so far on his plans for future Ukraine aid.
President Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to Washington -- and his latest target is the US Department of Education.The question is, 'Will Trump destroy the Department of Education on his own?"
Prosecutors will begin to tell a jury Monday how Hadi Matar allegedly staked out the venue where Salman Rushdie was giving a talk before lunging at the "Satanic Verses" author, blinding him in one eye."I am proud of the work I've done, and that very much includes 'The Satanic Verses.'
The United States will move to impose 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports this week, President Donald Trump said Sunday, the latest in a slew of trade levies he has announced.Canada -- which Trump has already threatened with tariffs -- is the largest source of steel and aluminum imports to the United States, according to US trade data.
Israel completed its withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor on Sunday, a key road that splits Gaza in half, as part of its commitments under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
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