Actor Taye Diggs joining wife in 'Wicked'

Diggs will play Fiyero, the romantic lead in the show, which is based on Gregory Maguire's cult novel about the two witches of Oz. Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth star as the witches and Joel Grey plays the Wizard of Oz.

The 32-year-old actor replaces Norbert Leo Butz, who's on a leave of absence because of a back injury. Diggs will appear in "Wicked" through Jan. 18. Until he joins the cast, Butz' understudy, Kristoffer Cusick, will play Fiyero. Butz returns to the musical Jan. 20.

Diggs previously played lawyer Billy Flynn on Broadway in "Chicago" and appeared in "Rent." His films include the movie version of "Chicago" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."