Wicked’ Broadway Star Completes NYC Marathon, Performs in Two Shows the Same Day

NEW YORK — On Sunday, Broadway performer Jordan Litz showcased not only his theatrical talents but also his athletic prowess by completing the iconic New York City Marathon and then heading straight to a matinee performance of “Wicked.”

Since May 2023, Litz has captivated audiences as Prince Fiyero in the beloved musical. This weekend, he joined thousands of runners navigating the challenging course through all five boroughs of New York City.

Litz impressively crossed the marathon finish line with an average pace of 8 minutes and 26 seconds per mile. With little time to spare, he quickly transitioned from marathon runner to Broadway star, preparing for the 2 p.m. matinee performance. The marathon commenced shortly after 9 a.m. ET.

In an interview with the New York Times, Litz shared insights into his rigorous preparation, revealing that he often tackled long runs of 18 or 19 miles before taking the stage for double performances as Prince Fiyero.

“My body’s ready for it,” he confidently stated on Saturday, adding, “At the end of the day, as long as I’ve refueled, I feel fine.”

He was hoping to finish the marathon with seven minutes per mile so he could have an hour to celebrate, refuel and prepare for his performance, which he says usually leaves him “wobbling through life” after a marathon. 

“I’m crazy,” Litz told NBC News. “I’ve always been that kind of person, even when you asked my college teammates when I was a swimmer, I just loved to grind, and I loved to beat up my body and push it to the limits. So a marathon seemed like the logical next step for that kind of thing.”

He told the Times his main focus is refueling as much as possible and stretching since the stage they perform “Wicked” on is not flat. 

“It’s at a two-degree incline, which destroys your body. The dance moves, in combination with being on a rake stage, is a recipe for all kinds of injuries,” he said. 

Litz ultimately completed his marathon and took to the stage shortly after. He will also perform during the evening schedule, which starts at 7 p.m. ET. 

Runners also included other big Broadway names like Anthony Ramos, who played Philip Hamilton and John Laurens in the Broadway musical “Hamilton” and Patina Miller, who played Deloris Van Cartier in the stage adaptation of the “Sister Act” and starred in the stage performance of “Pippin” as Pippin, and television hosts, actors and participants. 

Miller ended her race with a time of 3:52:44, while Ramos finished it with a time of 4:44:31. 

Longtime “The Amazing Race” host Phil Keoghan also finished the marathon with a time of 4:16:14. 

The 26.2-mile course took runners through all five boroughs of New York, starting in Staten Island and ending in Manhattan’s Central Park. This is the 49th year the race has been in all five boroughs. Before that, the route was completely in Central Park. 

The first race had only 55 finishers while a record 55,642 people finished last year, the largest in the history of the sport until the London Marathon broke it earlier this year, according to the Associated Press.