In the screen adaptation of Wicked releasing in cinemas, Karis Musongole plays Young Elphaba alongside her on-screen sister Young Nessarose played by Cesily Collette Taylor. Karis was directed by Jon M. Chu, and reunited with the cast Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande-Butera (Glinda), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero) and Ethan Slater (Boq) for the European premiere at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Having made her professional stage debut in Les Misérables at The Lowry and Leeds Grand, Karis went on to be part of the Child Ensemble in Oliver! at the Leeds Playhouse, and most recently, she played Susan in Miracle on 34th Street over Christmas 2024 at HOME Manchester. Karis, along with her fellow Elm Arts students, were contestants on 2023 on Britain’s Got Talent as The Pixiebelles, reaching the Semi-Finals. We spoke to Karis about playing Young Elphaba in the screen adaptation of Wicked, performing as Susan in Miracle on 34th Street and being a Semi-Finalist with The Pixiebelles on Britain’s Got Talent.

You can currently be seen on screen in the recently-released film Wicked as Young Elphaba, do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role?

I was really excited because this would be my first feature film. I also remember that I cried happy tears when my mum told me that I got the part.

How was it sharing the role of Elphaba with Cynthia Erivo and what was it like getting into costume?

To share the role with a wonderful person like Cynthia was amazing. I met her for the first time on set when she was taking a break from filming and she was so lovely and kind to me, she’s just a beautiful person inside and out. I have learnt so much from her and she inspires me to really reach for my goals.

Getting into costume was so fun. I’d spend some time in hair and makeup, turning green, getting my hair curled and getting fake green nails and then the team from wardrobe would help me get into my dress and boots with the glasses going on last. Turning green was probably the best part and putting on the fake nails because it was the first time I ever tried on fake nails. I also really enjoyed putting on the glasses and the freckles, but everything was so fun. Everything about the costume was really cool, I loved it all.

What was it like meeting the rest of the cast, which includes Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq and Cesily Collette Taylor as your on-screen sister Young Nessarose, and being directed by Jon M. Chu?

I didn’t get to meet Jonathan Bailey or Ethan Slater on set but I did have a chance to meet Jonathan Bailey at the European premiere. I first met Ariana Grande-Butera and Cesily Collette Taylor on set, which was amazing. Meeting Ariana Grande was probably a time I’ll never forget, along with meeting Cynthia Erivo and Cesily Collette Taylor. But meeting Cesily Collette Taylor and spending time with her was something I’ll never forget. She is so much fun and has the cutest laugh. We always had fun when we got together. She is beautiful, confident and really shines in the spotlight. She’s so talented and I can’t wait to see what she does as she grows up! Working with Jon M. Chu was also fantastic! He was another amazing person to work with. I hope I get to work with him again in the future.

What did you enjoy most about filming as Young Elphaba and being part of Wicked?

Everything! Meeting Cesily Collette Taylor and shooting the scene in the garden with her was fun. Also, filming the flying scene was just incredible, definitely! I think that was the best thing. It was hard at first but so much fun once I got used to it.

How did you find the experience attending the European premiere at Royal Festival Hall in London alongside your fellow cast members?

It was so exciting and fun, it was the best thing being reunited with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera!! It was also the first time I watched the film after it was all put together.

What was it like watching the completed film for the first time?

The film itself is just amazing, and the full cast were just brilliant which is what helped create such a wonderful film. The story behind it is quite emotional but it’s a storyline that a lot of people can relate to or at least be touched by it.

As a theatre actor, you have recently finished playing Susan in Miracle on 34th Street at HOME Manchester, what was the show like to perform in?

Absolutely brilliant, Harriet O’Shea and Lillie May Babb, who also played Susan, were just wonderful people to work with, they were both so funny, professional and kind. I got to spend loads of time with them in rehearsals, which was really fun. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them much after the show went live because we were on stage on different days, but it was lovely getting to know them throughout rehearsals. I’ve made so many friends from the rest of the young company and fortunately still in touch with them.

How much did you know about Miracle on 34th Street before auditioning and was there anything that drew you to the Christmas show?

If I’m honest, I didn’t know anything about Miracle on 34th Street before I did the show. The thing that drew me to the Christmas show was just the Christmas spirit. I love Christmas time and I just thought it would be fun to do a Christmas-themed musical show.

How would you describe Susan and what was she like to play?

Susan is only seven but she’s very intelligent for a seven year old. She doesn’t believe in Santa Claus because her mother, Doris Walker played by Jessica Joslin, tells her he’s not real but with the help of Kris Kringle played by Adam Vaughan and Fred Gaily played by Matthew Hawksley, she begins to believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas. By the end of the show, Fred, Doris and Susan become a happy family that believes in Santa Claus.

Playing Susan was fun because I remember going through the script with all my friends and laughing at the things she said sometimes.

How was your time in the Child Ensemble of Oliver! at Leeds Playhouse?

Oliver! was another amazing stage production, I met so many talented performers that I learnt a lot from and the Ensemble was a mixture of different age groups so I made a lot of friends.

What are some of your favourite memories from performing in Les Misérables at The Lowry and Leeds Grand for your professional theatre debut?

At The Lowry, it would definitely be experiencing it with my good friend Robyn Pennington and making other new friends. It was my first professional performance so having a friend also cast in the same show was amazing. I also got to meet some very talented performers like Paige Blankson, who was cast as Cosette in the tour. She was so kind to me and I will never forget the card with a lovely message of support that she wrote to me.

At the Leeds Grand, it would have to be learning different ways to play the characters and making new friends like in The Lowry. I was reunited with most of the cast that had performed at The Lowry but also made new friends.

In 2023, you were a Semi-Finalist on Britain’s Got Talent as part of The Pixiebelles, how was the experience performing in the live Semi-Finals?

To perform in the live Semi-Finals was just grand and something I will never forget. I got to do it with my friends from Elm Arts and then all my friends from school and my family got to watch us on TV. Everyone was buzzing at being on TV. We made lots and lots of new memories which we will never forget. The best thing is we can watch the performance back on YouTube.

What was it like auditioning for the show and hearing the judges’ comments?

It was great, to think I was in the same room as Bruno (Tonioli), Alesha (Dixon), Amanda (Holden) and Simon (Cowell) is just crazy, although it was Pixiebelle’s dream to audition on BGT, it was also my dream as I had watched BGT many times and I never thought I would be standing on their stage. It was a dream come true.

How did you get into performing and was it something you always wanted to do?

I was in a school nativity play and one of my teachers saw that I had the talent in me so she had a chat to my parents and gave them a leaflet for a local musical theatre training school, which at the time was run by Ferne Collins (co-founder of Elm Arts Company). I started attending her class once a week and after just a few months, she started coaching me on a one-to-one basis and before long I was able to join the comp team. This meant I could enter regional vocal competitions as a solo performer or as part of a group. I have been training with Ferne since I was four years old and I’m still with her now.

Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?

I like musicals, I like Wicked, Hamilton, Mean Girls and Coraline, along with many other entertaining musicals. Wicked is obviously my absolute favourite.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Usually singing, or spending time with friends and family but I don’t get a lot of free time because I’m either at school or out of school classes.

What are you hoping this year brings for you, and do you have any upcoming acting projects that you can share?

Nothing has been confirmed yet but I’ve just finished Miracle on 34th Street and my agent (Lauren Kelly Casting) is working hard to find new roles for me! I’ve had a few auditions and recalls so far but I’m excited to see what the new year brings for me!