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Wicked (musical)

April 06, 2024

This article is about the musical. For the Broadway cast recording, see Wicked (musical album). For Part One of the film adaptation, see Wicked (2024 film). For Part Two of the film adaptation, see Wicked Part Two.

Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. It is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is in turn based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adaptation.

Wicked
The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz
Official poster of the original San Francisco production
MusicStephen Schwartz
LyricsStephen Schwartz
BookWinnie Holzman
BasisWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire
PremiereMay 28, 2003: Curran Theatre, San Francisco
Productions2003 San Francisco (tryout)
2003 Broadway
2005 1st U.S. tour
2006 West End
2009 2nd U.S. tour
2013 1st UK/Ireland tour
2017 2nd UK/Ireland tour
2023 3rd UK/Ireland Tour
Multiple international productions (see below)
AwardsDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical
Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical

The musical is told from the perspective of two witches of the Land of Oz. Its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (later known as the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later known as Glinda the Good), whose friendship struggles through their opposing personalities, viewpoints, same love interest, reactions to the Wonderful Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's fall from grace.

Produced by Universal Stage Productions, in coalition with Marc Platt, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone, with direction by Joe Mantello and choreography by Wayne Cilento, the original production of Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003, after completing pre-Broadway tryouts at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in May and June of that year. Its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard.[1] The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards, while its original cast album received a Grammy Award. On April 11, 2023, with its 7,486th performance, it surpassed Cats to become Broadway's fourth-longest running show.[2] A typical performance of the show takes about two hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.[3]

The success of the Broadway production has spawned many productions worldwide, including a long-running West End production. Wicked has broken box-office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London. In the week ending January 2, 2011, the London, Broadway, and both North American touring productions simultaneously broke their respective records for the highest weekly gross.[4][5] In the final week of 2013, the Broadway production broke this record again, earning $3.2 million.[6] In 2016, Wicked surpassed $1 billion in total Broadway revenue, joining The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King as the only Broadway shows to do so. In 2017, Wicked surpassed The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway's second-highest grossing musical, trailing only The Lion King.[7]

A two-part film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Galinda, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as the Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is currently in the works. The first part is set for release on November 27, 2024, with the second part to follow a year later on November 26, 2025.

Inception and development edit

 
Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz

Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discovered Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West while on vacation, and saw its potential for a dramatic adaptation.[8] However, Maguire had released the rights to Universal Pictures, which had planned to develop a live-action feature film.[9] In 1998, Schwartz persuaded Maguire to release the rights to a stage production[10] while also making what Schwartz himself called an "impassioned plea" to Universal producer Marc Platt to realize Schwartz's own intended adaptation. Persuaded, Platt signed on as joint producer of the project with Universal and David Stone.[9]

The novel, described as a political, social, and ethical commentary on the nature of good and evil, takes place in the Land of Oz, in the years surrounding Dorothy's arrival. The story centers on Elphaba, a misunderstood, smart, and fiery girl with emerald-green skin, who grows up to become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda, the beautiful, blonde, popular girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good. The story is divided into five scenes based on the location and presents events, characters, and situations adapted from L Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its 1939 film adaptation in new ways. It is designed to set the reader thinking about what it really is to be "Wicked", and whether good intentions with bad results are the same as bad intentions with bad results. Schwartz considered how best to condense the novel's dense and complicated plot into a sensible script.[10] To this end, he collaborated with Emmy Award-winning writer Winnie Holzman to develop the outline of the plot over the course of a year,[11] while meeting with producer Marc Platt to refine the structural outline of the show, creating an original stage piece rather than a strict adaptation of Maguire's work.[10]

While the draft followed Maguire's idea of retelling the story of the 1939 film from the perspective of its main villain, the storyline of the stage adaptation "goes far afield" from the novel. Holzman observed in an interview with Playbill that: "It was [Maguire's] brilliant idea to take this hated figure and tell things from her point of view, and to have the two witches be roommates in college, but the way in which their friendship develops—and really the whole plot—is different onstage."[12] Schwartz justified the deviation, saying: "Primarily we were interested in the relationship between Galinda—who becomes Glinda—and Elphaba... the friendship of these two women and how their characters lead them to completely different destinies."[13] Other major plot modifications include Fiyero's appearance as the scarecrow, Elphaba's survival at the end, Nessarose using a wheelchair instead of being born without arms, Boq having a continuing love interest for Glinda and eventually becoming the Tin Woodman instead of Nick Chopper, cutting Elphaba's years in the Vinkus, the deletion of Liir's birth, Fiyero not having a wife and children, Doctor Dillamond being fired instead of being murdered, and Madame Morrible going to prison instead of dying.[14]

 
The Curran Theatre in San Francisco, where Wicked made its debut

The book, lyrics, and score for the musical were developed through a series of readings.[10] In these developmental workshops, Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award–winning actress whom Schwartz had in mind while composing the music for the character,[15] joined the project as Glinda. Stephanie J. Block played Elphaba in the workshops (she played Elphaba in the first national tour and later as a Broadway cast replacement) before Idina Menzel was cast in the role in late 2002. Earlier that year, the creators recruited New York producer Stone, who began planning the Broadway production. Joe Mantello was engaged as director and Wayne Cilento as choreographer, while designer Eugene Lee created the set and visual style for the production inspired by W. W. Denslow's original illustrations for Baum's novels and Maguire's concept of the story being told through a giant clock.[15] Costume designer Susan Hilferty created a "twisted Edwardian" style in building more than 200 costumes, while lighting designer Kenneth Posner used more than 800 lights to give each of the 54 distinct scenes and locations "its own mood".[15] By April 2003, the show was in rehearsals.[15]

Following the out-of-town tryout in San Francisco in May and June 2003, which received mixed critical reception, the creative team made extensive changes before its transfer to Broadway.[15] Holzman recalled:

Stephen [Schwartz] wisely had insisted on having three months to rewrite in between the time we closed in San Francisco and when we were to go back into rehearsals in New York. That was crucial; that was the thing that made the biggest difference in the life of the show. That time is what made the show work.[16]

Elements of the book were rewritten, while several songs underwent minor changes.[15] "Which Way is the Party?", the introductory song to the character Fiyero, was replaced by "Dancing Through Life".[17] Concern existed that Menzel's Elphaba "got a little overshadowed" by Chenoweth's Glinda,[18] with San Francisco Chronicle critic Robert Hurwitt writing, "Menzel's brightly intense Elphaba the Wicked Witch [needs] a chance of holding her own alongside Chenoweth's gloriously, insidiously bubbly Glinda."[19] As a result, the creative team set about making Elphaba "more prominent".[18] In making the Broadway revisions, Schwartz recalled, "It was clear there was work to be done and revisions to be made in the book and the score. The critical community was, frankly, very helpful to us."[18]

Synopsis edit

Act One edit

 
Fabi Bang making Glinda's Act One entrance in the original Brazilian production

The citizens of the Land of Oz are celebrating the recent death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda the Good arrives and reveals the Wicked Witch's backstory: her mother had an affair with a traveling salesman while her father, the governor of Munchkinland, was away. As a result of that affair, Elphaba Thropp was born. Both of her parents were shocked by their daughter's green skin. Her father rejected her, cursing Elphaba to have a troubled childhood ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). When a citizen asks Glinda, "Is it true you were her friend?", Glinda begins to reminisce about her past with Elphaba.

In a flashback, Elphaba arrives at Shiz University ("Dear Old Shiz") with her sister, Nessarose, who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair. The school's headmistress, Madame Morrible, assigns Elphaba to share a dormitory room with the popular, bubbly Galinda Upland. Elphaba, anxious, uses magic to pull Nessarose's wheelchair back to her after Madame Morrible attempts to depart. Madame Morrible recognizes Elphaba's potential and decides to teach Elphaba sorcery. Madame Morrible tells Elphaba she has the chance to work with Wonderful Wizard of Oz, something Elphaba has dreamed of her whole life ("The Wizard and I").

Galinda is disdainful towards Elphaba, and Elphaba grows to hate Galinda just as much; they clash with each other constantly ("What Is This Feeling?"). In a history class taught by Doctor Dillamond, the only Animal professor at Shiz University, Dillamond begins to suffer from discrimination, even from the students. Dillamond informs Elphaba of a conspiracy to stop all Animals from speaking, and she vows to tell the Wizard of the conspiracy and help him stop it if she ever meets him ("Something Bad").

Meanwhile, a roguish prince, Fiyero, begins attending Shiz. Galinda is charmed by Fiyero's good looks and shallow philosophy. Fiyero arranges a party for his fellow Shiz students later that evening. Boq, a Munchkin who has a crush on Galinda, tries to invite her to the party. Galinda convinces Boq to instead invite Nessarose out of pity, leaving her free to go with Fiyero. Nessa becomes enamored with Boq and tells Elphaba to thank Galinda for her "help". At the party, Madame Morrible stops by to tell Galinda that Elphaba had asked her to admit Galinda into her sorcery class. Elphaba arrives wearing a hat that Galinda gave her as a practical joke; the other students laugh at her. Galinda has a change of heart and decides to dance with Elphaba, and soon everyone joins them, finally allowing the girls to bond ("Dancing Through Life").

In their dormitory room, Galinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover ("Popular"). The next day, Dr. Dillamond tells the class that he is leaving because he is no longer permitted to teach. Elphaba is the only student who objects. A human professor introduces the students to the technical advantages of "the cage", which is designed to prevent any animal from speaking. Elphaba refuses to contain her anger, and, in the ensuing chaos, she escapes alongside Fiyero, taking with them the lion cub that was imprisoned within the cage. Elphaba and Fiyero share a private moment; Fiyero then leaves. Elphaba laments that Fiyero will never love her as much as he loves Galinda ("I'm Not That Girl"). Madame Morrible arrives and tells Elphaba that the Wizard wants to meet her. Boq, Nessa, Fiyero, and Galinda say goodbye to Elphaba at the train station. Galinda tries to impress Fiyero by changing her name to Dr. Dillamond's pronunciation of her name, "Glinda", in solidarity with Dillamond, but Fiyero barely notices as he says goodbye to Elphaba. Elphaba invites Glinda to go with her to the Emerald City ("One Short Day").

Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard of Oz, who is not as scary as they thought ("A Sentimental Man"). He promises to grant Elphaba her request if she proves herself. Madame Morrible appears and explains she is the Wizard's new "press secretary." She gives Elphaba a book of spells, the Grimmerie, which only the magically gifted can read. Elphaba is asked to perform a levitation spell on the Wizard's monkey servant, Chistery. Her attempt does allow him to fly, but only by making him sprout wings painfully. She discovers that the Wizard is behind the suppression of the Animals and that he is a fraud who uses simple parlor tricks and lies to stay in power. Elphaba flees the Wizard's chamber, and Madame Morrible spreads a message throughout Oz that Elphaba is a wicked witch who cannot be trusted. Glinda finds Elphaba and advises her to go back and apologize, but Elphaba refuses and declares she must do what is right. She then offers to take Glinda with her. Glinda declines but decides to secretly support Elphaba. Elphaba repeats the levitation spell on a broom and flies away from the Emerald City, leaving Glinda behind ("Defying Gravity").

Act Two edit

 
Myra Ruiz as Elphaba in the original Brazilian production

Some time later, Elphaba's opposition of the Wizard's regime has earned her the title "The Wicked Witch of the West." Glinda has become the lead spokesperson for the Wizard's regime, given the title "Glinda the Good" and positioned by Morrible as the nation's defender against the Witch. A press conference to celebrate Fiyero's appointment as Captain of the Guard (a position he has accepted in order to find Elphaba) is hijacked by the public's panicked rumors about Elphaba, one of them claiming that she can be melted by water. Fiyero is furious at the absurdity of the rumors. Glinda unsuccessfully tries calming Fiyero by insisting that Elphaba does not want to be found. Fiyero is further shocked when Morrible announces that he and Glinda are engaged. Fiyero abruptly leaves, angry with Glinda for not informing him of the announcement before the press conference. Glinda attempts to act cheerful for the press, but she knows her dream life has come at a great price ("Thank Goodness").

Elphaba visits Nessarose, who is now the governor of Munchkinland following the death of their father. Nessa has taken away the Munchkins' rights to prevent Boq from leaving her. Elphaba tries to convince Nessa to join her fight against the Wizard, but Nessa refuses; she is resentful that Elphaba never used her magic powers to help her. Elphaba tries to help by enchanting Nessa's shoes, giving her the ability to walk. Nessa is thrilled and now believes Boq will truly love her. To Nessa's shock, Boq sees her new ability as proof that she no longer needs him. Boq declares he intends to tell Glinda of his love for her before she marries Fiyero. Nessa takes the Grimmerie in order to cast a love spell on Boq to make him fall in love with her. She pronounces the incantation wrong and accidentally shrinks his heart. She cries for Elphaba to save him and prevent her from having to "live a life of loneliness" ("The Wicked Witch of the East"). Elphaba casts another spell to save Boq's life, transforming him into a Tin Man who does not need a heart to live. Boq is horrified by his new body, and Nessa tells him Elphaba is responsible.

Elphaba returns to the Emerald City to free the monkey servants and comes across the Wizard himself. He tries once again to convince her to work with him, telling her that he is simply a mediocre man who came into his position by chance and was led to stay by the citizens of Oz who revered him ("Wonderful"). Elphaba is almost won over until she discovers Dr. Dillamond, who has lost the power of speech. Elphaba then vows to fight the Wizard to the end. At that moment, Fiyero and the Guards enter, followed by Glinda. Fiyero helps Elphaba escape and decides to escape with her, leaving Glinda behind. Broken-hearted, Glinda tells the Wizard and Madame Morrible that they can capture Elphaba by spreading a rumor that Nessarose is in trouble, so Elphaba will be forced to show herself to save Nessa. Upset by Fiyero's betrayal, Glinda leaves the room. Morrible and the Wizard decide a rumor will not fool Elphaba; Morrible proposes "a change in the weather". Alone, Glinda laments that Fiyero truly loves Elphaba, and it is unlikely he ever truly loved Glinda herself ("I'm Not That Girl" (Reprise)).

Hidden away in the forest, Elphaba and Fiyero confess their love for each other ("As Long As You're Mine"). Their happiness is interrupted when Elphaba senses Nessarose is in danger. She is correct; a house has fallen out of the sky and crushed Nessarose to death. Elphaba arrives at the scene and finds Glinda has given Nessa's shoes to the house's occupant, Dorothy Gale. After a fight between the two witches, the Wizard's guards arrive. Fiyero arrives and holds Glinda hostage to allow Elphaba to escape. Glinda pleads for the guards not to harm Fiyero, but they do not listen. At Kiamo Ko castle, Elphaba casts a spell to make Fiyero invincible to any weapon but is unsure how well the spell will work. She realizes that every good deed she tried to do was perceived as evil, and finally accepts her reputation as a wicked witch ("No Good Deed").

Meanwhile, the citizens of Oz, led by Madame Morrible and Boq, set off to capture Elphaba. Glinda realizes Madame Morrible summoned the tornado that brought the house that crushed Nessarose. Morrible threatens Glinda and alleges that Glinda is not as virtuous as she pretends to be. Glinda flees in horror as the crowd calls for Elphaba's death ("March of the Witch Hunters"). Meanwhile, Elphaba has captured Dorothy, refusing to release her until she relinquishes Nessarose's shoes. Glinda arrives to warn Elphaba of the danger she is in, and tries to convince her to release Dorothy. Although Elphaba refuses, the two forgive each other. Elphaba gives the Grimmerie to Glinda, and they embrace for the last time before sharing a tearful goodbye ("For Good"). Elphaba tells Glinda to hide. Glinda watches from the shadows as Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, melting her. The only remains of her are her pointy hat and the Green Elixir she had slept with under her pillow.

Back at the Emerald City, Glinda confronts the Wizard with the bottle, which he recognizes as his own; he was the man Elphaba's mother had an affair with, and the Elixir was the cause of Elphaba's green skin. Glinda banishes the Wizard and throws Madame Morrible into prison for murdering Nessarose. Meanwhile, Fiyero, now a scarecrow, arrives at the spot where Elphaba melted. He knocks on the floor; Elphaba steps out from a trap door, having faked her death. They embrace, and Elphaba laments that she will never see Glinda again. Simultaneously, Glinda informs the People of Oz that the Wicked Witch has been killed and that she would like to earn her title as "Glinda the Good". As the citizens of Oz celebrate and Glinda mourns quietly, Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz ("Finale").

Casts edit

Original casts edit

Character San Francisco [20] Broadway[21] First US Tour[22] Chicago[23] West End [24] Los Angeles[25] Melbourne [26] San Francisco[27] Second US Tour[28] First UK/Ireland Tour[29] Tenth Anniversary Tour[30] International Tour[31] Second UK/Ireland Tour[32] Third UK/Ireland Tour[33] Second Australian Tour
2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2013 2014 2016 2017 2023 2023
Elphaba Idina Menzel Stephanie J. Block Ana Gasteyer Idina Menzel Eden Espinosa Amanda Harrison Teal Wicks Marcie Dodd Nikki Davis-Jones Jemma Rix Jacqueline Hughes Amy Ross Laura Pick Sheridan Adams
Glinda Kristin Chenoweth Kendra Kassebaum Kate Reinders Helen Dallimore Megan Hilty Lucy Durack Kendra Kassebaum Heléne Yorke Emily Tierney Lucy Durack Carly Anderson Helen Woolf Sarah O'Connor Courtney Monsma
Fiyero Tigelaar Norbert Leo Butz Derrick Williams Kristoffer Cusick Adam Garcia Kristoffer Cusick Rob Mills Nicolas Dromard Colin Donnell Liam Doyle Steve Danielsen Bradley Jaden Aaron Sidwell Carl Man Liam Head
Madame Morrible Carole Shelley Carol Kane Rondi Reed Miriam Margolyes Carol Kane Maggie Kirkpatrick Carol Kane Marilyn Caskey Marilyn Cutts Maggie Kirkpatrick Kim Ismay Donna Berlin Robyn Nevin
Nessarose Michelle Federer Jenna Leigh Green Heidi Kettenring Katie Rowley Jones Jenna Leigh Green Penny McNamee Deedee Magno Hall Kristine Reese Carina Gillespie Emily Cascarino Emily Shaw Megan Gardiner Shewit Belay
Boq Kirk McDonald Christopher Fitzgerald Logan Lipton Telly Leung James Gillan Adam Wylie Anthony Callea Eddy Rioseco Ted Ely George Ure Edward Grey Iddon Jones Jed Berry Kurtis Papadinis
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Robert Morse Joel Grey David Garrison Gene Weygandt Nigel Planer John Rubinstein Rob Guest David Garrison Tom McGowan Dale Rapley Reg Livermore Steven Pinder Simeon Truby Todd McKenny
Doctor Dillamond John Horton William Youmans Timothy Britten Parker Steven Skybell Martin Ball Timothy Britten Parker Rodney Dobson Tom Flynn David DeVries Glen Hogstrom Adam Murphy

Notable replacements edit

Broadway (2003–) edit

1st & 2nd US National Tours (2005–) edit

West End (2006–) edit

Melbourne/Australian Tour (2008–2015) edit

1st, 2nd, & 3rd UK/Ireland National Tours (2013–2019) edit

2nd Australian Tour (2023-24) edit

Musical numbers edit

"No One Mourns the Wicked" redirects here. For the TV episode, see list of Rizzoli & Isles episodes#Season 4 (2013–14).

Note: "The Wicked Witch of the East" is the only major piece not to be featured on the cast recording, as the producers felt "the song included too much dialogue and would give some of the plot away to people who have not seen the show."

Orchestration[34]

The original Broadway pit consisted of a 23 piece orchestra:

Music and recordings edit

Music analysis edit

 
The Wicked overture
The first 15 bars of the overture; note the identical chord progression to "As Long As You're Mine"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The score of Wicked is heavily thematic, bearing in some senses more resemblance to an opera than a traditional musical score. While many musical scores employ new motifs and melodies for each song with little overlap, Schwartz integrated a handful of leitmotifs throughout the production. Some of these motifs indicate irony – for example, when Glinda presents Elphaba with a "ghastly" hat in "Dancing Through Life", the score reprises a theme from "What Is This Feeling?" a few scenes earlier.[35]

Two musical themes in Wicked run throughout the score. Although Schwartz rarely reuses motifs or melodies from earlier works, the first – Elphaba's theme – came from The Survival of St. Joan, on which he worked as musical director. "I always liked this tune a lot and I never could figure out what to do with it," he remarked in an interview in 2004. The chord progression that he first penned in 1971 became a major theme of the show's orchestration. By changing the instruments that carry the motif in each instance, Schwartz enables the same melody to convey different moods. In the overture, the tune is carried by the orchestra's brass section, with heavy percussion. The result is, in Schwartz' own words, "like a giant shadow terrorizing you." When played by the piano with some electric bass in "As Long As You're Mine", however, the same chord progression becomes the basis for a romantic duet. And with new lyrics and an altered bridge, the theme forms the core of the song "No One Mourns the Wicked" and its reprises.[35]

Schwartz uses the "Unlimited" theme as the second major motif running through the score. Although not included as a titled song, although written by Alan Vaytsman, the theme appears as an interlude in several of the musical numbers. In a tribute to Harold Arlen, who wrote the score for the 1939 film adaptation, the "Unlimited" melody incorporates the first seven notes of the song "Over the Rainbow", which was added in 2026. Schwartz included it as an inside joke as, "according to copyright law, when you get to the eighth note, then people can come and say, 'Oh you stole our tune.' And of course obviously it's also disguised in that it's completely different rhythmically. And it's also harmonized completely differently.... It's over a different chord and so on, but still it's the first seven notes of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'."[35] Schwartz further obscured the motif's origin by setting it in a minor key in most instances. This also creates contrast in the songs in which it forms a part, for example in "Defying Gravity", which is written primarily in the key of D-flat major.[36] In the song "The Wicked Witch of the East", however, when Elphaba finally uses her powers to let her sister walk, the "Unlimited" theme is played in a major key.[35]

Recordings edit

See also: Wicked (musical album)

A cast recording of the original Broadway production was released on December 16, 2003, by Universal Music. All of the songs featured on stage are present on the recording with the exception of "The Wizard and I (Reprise)", "A Sentimental Man (Reprise)" and "The Wicked Witch of the East". The short reprise of "No One Mourns the Wicked" that opens Act II is attached to the beginning of "Thank Goodness".[37] The music was arranged by Stephen Oremus, who was also the conductor and musical director, and James Lynn Abbott, with orchestrations by William David Brohn.[37] The recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005[38] and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30, 2006.[39] The album was certified double platinum on November 8, 2010.[40] A fifth-anniversary special edition of the original Broadway cast recording was released on October 28, 2008, with a bonus CD including tracks from the Japanese and German cast recordings, "Making Good" – a song later replaced by "The Wizard and I" – sung by Stephanie J. Block with Schwartz at the piano, "I'm Not That Girl" by Kerry Ellis (featuring Brian May on guitar), Menzel's dance mix of "Defying Gravity" and "For Good" sung by LeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem.[41]

A German recording of the Stuttgart production was released on December 7, 2007, featuring a track listing and arrangements identical to those of the Broadway recording.[42] The Japanese cast recording was released on July 23, 2008, featuring the original Tokyo cast. It is notable for being the first (and so far the only) Cast Album of the show that includes Glinda's Finale dialogue.[43]

Productions edit

Original Broadway production (2003-present) edit

 
The original Broadway production has been at the Gershwin Theatre since its opening in 2003.

Wicked officially opened on June 10, 2003 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, after previews began on May 28, in a pre-Broadway tryout presented by SHN.[44] The cast included Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Robert Morse as the Wizard, Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero, Michelle Federer as Nessarose, Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible, John Horton as Doctor Dillamond, and Kirk McDonald as Boq.[15][20] Stephanie J. Block, who originally read the role of Elphaba in workshop development, was Menzel's standby during tryouts, but left before the show moved to Broadway to take a role in The Boy from Oz but she would then lead the 1st National Tour opposite Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda.[45] The tryout closed on June 29, 2003, and after extensive retooling,[15] the musical began previews on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre on October 8, 2003, and made its official premiere on October 30. Most of the original production team and cast members remained with the show. Principal casting changes included Joel Grey as the Wizard, William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond and Christopher Fitzgerald as Boq.[46]

On March 12, 2020, the show temporarily suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Performances resumed on September 14, 2021 with Lindsay Pearce as Elphaba and Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda. Chenoweth made a pre-curtain speech before the grand reopening of the show.[47][48][49][50]

North American productions (2005-present) edit

In 2005, the first national tour of Wicked (called the "Emerald City Tour" by the producers)[51] started in Toronto, Ontario, and went on to visit numerous cities throughout the United States and Canada.[15] Previews began on March 8, and officially opened on March 31. The original touring cast included Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba, Derrick Williams as Fiyero, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond, Logan Lipton as Boq, and David Garrison as the Wizard. The tour concluded at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15, 2015 with Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba and Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda[51]

 
A sit-down production of Wicked ran at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, California for more than a year.

Following a limited engagement of the first national tour from April 29 to June 12, 2005, a sit-down production opened at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago immediately following the tour as the original tour set was left in Chicago so the Chicago sit-down could happen.[52] The cast included Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba, Kate Reinders as Glinda, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Telly Leung as Boq, Heidi Kettenring as Nessarose and Gene Weygandt as the Wizard.[23] The production closed on January 25, 2009 with Dee Roscioli as Elphaba and Annaleigh Ashford as Glinda.[53] The tour returned to Chicago in 2010, 2013, 2018, and 2022.[54][55][56]

An open-ended production also appeared in Los Angeles, California, at the Pantages Theatre. Performances began on February 10, 2007, with an official opening on February 21. The cast included Megan Hilty as Glinda, Eden Espinosa as Elphaba, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, Adam Wylie as Boq, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, and John Rubinstein as the Wizard.[57] The production closed on January 11, 2009 with Hilty and Espinosa, after 791 performances and 12 previews.[58]

A San Francisco production of Wicked officially opened February 6, 2009, at SHN's Orpheum Theatre, following previews from January 27.[59] The cast included Teal Wicks as Elphaba, Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Nicolas Dromard as Fiyero, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, David Garrison as the Wizard, Deedee Magno Hall as Nessarose, Tom Flynn as Doctor Dillamond, and Eddy Rioseco as Boq.[60][27] The production closed on September 5, 2010 with Marcie Dodd as Elphaba and Alli Mauzey as Glinda, after 660 performances and 12 previews.[61]

The second national tour of Wicked (called the "Munchkinland Tour")[51] began in 2009 with previews on March 7 and official opening night on March 12 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, Florida.[62] The original cast starred Marcie Dodd as Elphaba, Heléne Yorke as Glinda, Colin Donnell as Fiyero, and Tom McGowan as the Wizard.[28] The production was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[63] It resumed performances on August 3, 2021 with Talia Suskauer as Elphaba, Allison Bailey as Glinda and Curt Hanson as Fiyero.[64] The production celebrated its 5,000th performance on July 30, 2022.[65]

London (2006-present) edit

 
Since its opening, the London production has played at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

A London production began previews at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from September 7, and with an opening night on September 27, 2006.[66] It celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016 with a special curtain call featuring former West End cast members.[67] The production was tailored slightly for a British audience, including minor creative changes to dialogue, choreography and special effects. A majority of them were later incorporated into all productions of Wicked, including the Broadway production and the two national tours.[68]

The West End production reunited the show's original creative team. Original London cast members included the return of Menzel as Elphaba,[69] Helen Dallimore as Glinda, Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible, Adam Garcia as Fiyero, Martin Ball as Doctor Dillamond, James Gillan as Boq, Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose and Nigel Planer as the Wizard.[24] After her limited engagement, which ended on December 30, 2006, Menzel was succeeded on January 1, 2007 by Kerry Ellis, who became the first British woman to play Elphaba.[70]

The production suspended performances on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[71] It resumed performances on September 15, 2021, in time for the production's 15th anniversary.[72] Sophie Evans, who was a maternity cover for Helen Woolf and Laura Pick, reopened the show and left when the cast changed on January 30, 2022.[73] Woolf returned from maternity leave and Lucie Jones took over as Elphaba.[74]

The show, which is already the 11th longest-running West End show in history, celebrated its 6,500th performance on September 10, 2023.[75]

UK/Ireland tours (2013-present) edit

The show began its first UK/Ireland tour on September 12, 2013 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, where it is played to November 16. It then toured the UK and Ireland before concluding in Salford on July 25, 2015.[29]

A second UK/Ireland tour began in December 2017 and ended in January 2019.[76] The cast included Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda, Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero, and Steven Pinder as the Wizard/Dillamond.[77]

A third UK/Ireland tour began on 7 December 2023 at the Edinburgh Playhouse, in Edinburgh where it played to 14 January 2024. It then tours the UK and Ireland before flying into its final location at the Manchester Palace Theatre in Manchester on 3 December 2024 and concluding on 12 January 2025. Laura Pick will return to lead the tour as Elphaba with Sarah O'Connor as Glinda and Carl Man as Fiyero. Simeon Truby will play the Wizard/Dillamond with Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible. Jed Berry will play Boq alongside Megan Gardiner, who will be playing Nessarose.[78]

International tour (2016-2018) edit

Wicked's international tour opened on July 13, 2016 at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, England. Jacqueline Hughes starred as Elphaba, with Carly Anderson as Glinda and Bradley Jaden as Fiyero. Alongside them are Steven Pinder as the Wizard and Dillamond, Kim Ismay as Madame Morrible, Emily Shaw as Nessarose, and Iddon Jones as Boq.[31]

German productions (2007-2011; 2021-2022) edit

Renamed Wicked: Die Hexen von Oz (Wicked: The Witches of Oz), the German production of Wicked began previews on November 1, 2007 and opened on November 15, at the Palladium Theater in Stuttgart. Willemijn Verkaik played Elphaba, Lucy Scherer played Glinda. The production was produced by Stage Entertainment and closed on January 29, 2010, and transferred to Oberhausen[79] where previews began at the Metronom Theater am CentrO on March 5, 2010, with an opening night of March 8.[80] The show closed on September 2, 2011.

On September 5, 2021 a brand new non-replica production opened at the Neue Flora Theatre in Hamburg, produced by Stage Entertainment, which previously had presented the show in Stuttgart, Oberhausen, and The Hague.[81] Vajèn van den Bosch and Jeannine Wacker have been cast as Elphaba and Glinda respectively.[82]

Australian productions edit

 
 
Australian productions have played at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne (left) and the Capitol Theatre, Sydney (right)

An Australian production officially opened on July 12, 2008, with previews commencing June 27 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.[83]

Amanda Harrison was originally cast as Elphaba, with Lucy Durack as Glinda. The original cast consisted of Rob Mills as Fiyero, Anthony Callea as Boq, Rob Guest as the Wizard, Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible, Penny McNamee as Nessarose and Rodney Dobson as Doctor Dillamond.[84] Guest unexpectedly died of a stroke months into the Melbourne season, with the role being taken up by Bert Newton.[85]

Closing in Melbourne August 9, 2009, the show transferred to Sydney's Capitol Theatre. Previews began on September 5, 2009, with the official opening on September 12. Shortly into the run, Harrison was forced to leave the role of Elphaba due to an illness, so current standby Jemma Rix and Australian theatre veteran Pippa Grandison began to share the role, each appearing in four shows per week.[86] Eventually, it was confirmed that she would not be returning to the cast.[87]

Closing in Sydney September 26, 2010, the production embarked on a national Australian tour which began at the QPAC Lyric Theatre in Brisbane. After a two-week delay due to the Queensland floods, performances began January 25, 2011, and ran until April 2. Rix became the sole lead Elphaba[88] with David Harris joining as the new Fiyero.[89] The touring production then moved to the Festival Centre in Adelaide, running from April 14 until June 4, 2011, with the final leg of the tour playing the Burswood Theatre in Perth, from June 19 to September 11, 2011, wrapping up more than three years of performances in Australia.[90]

An Asian tour began at Singapore's Grand Theater in Marina Bay from December 6, 2011 with Suzie Mathers taking over as Glinda opposite Rix.[91][92][93] After the Singapore engagement of the tour closed April 22, 2012,[94] performances began in Seoul, Korea from May 31 through October 6, 2012. The show then made its premiere in New Zealand, with previews taking place on September 17, 2013, and the official opening night on September 21. The Auckland run concluded on November 24, 2013, where it played the Civic Theatre.[95] The cast then moved on to the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila on a limited run from January 22[96] through March 9, 2014 after having been extended from its original closing date.[97]

At the time of the Wicked's 10th Anniversary on Broadway, the show announced it would return to Australia for a commemorative national tour, beginning in Melbourne on May 10, 2014.[98] Durack returned as Glinda, with Rix continuing as Elphaba.[30] The final cast included Mathers (who had returned once Durack announced her pregnancy)[99][100] as Glinda, Steve Danielsen as Fiyero, Simon Gallaher as the Wizard, Edward Grey as Boq, Emily Cascarino as Nessarose, Glen Hogstrom as Doctor Dillamond and original cast members Rix as Elphaba and Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible. After seven years and close to 2,000 performances across 8 different cities internationally, Wicked closed indefinitely at the Burswood Theatre in Perth on June 28, 2015.[101] As of September 7th, 2023, Wicked has returned to Australia with an exclusive season at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original Broadway production. The cast for which includes Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, Courtney Monsma as Glinda, Robyn Nevin as Madame Morrible, Todd McKenney as the Wizard, Liam Head as Fiyero, Adam Murphy as Dr. Dillamond, Shewit Belay as Nessarose, and Kurtis Papadinis as Boq. In October 2023, it was announced the production would then return to the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in March 2024.[102]

Subsequent international productions edit

A condensed thirty-minute version of the musical played at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Rix was part of the original cast, alternating the role of Elphaba with Jillian Giaachi and Taylor Jordan. The show, which opened on July 12, 2006, featured the preliminary storyline of Act 1 but Fiyero, Madame Morrible, Boq, Nessarose and Doctor Dillamond were absent and there were considerable changes in sets and costumes.[103] The final performance took place on January 11, 2011.[104] A Japanese production by the Shiki Theatre Company opened in Tokyo, Japan, on June 17, 2007, and subsequently moved to Osaka, Fukoka and Nagoya, before closing in Sapporo on November 6, 2016.[105][106][107]

 
Renault Theater, stage of the Brazilian version of Wicked in São Paulo

Another production, which was the first production to not be a replica of the original Broadway staging, opened at the City Theatre in Helsinki, Finland on August 26, 2010 after a preview performance took place on August 24 of that year. Directed by Hans Berndtsson,[108] the cast includes Maria Ylipää as Elphaba, with Tuukka Leppanen as Fiyero. The second non-replicated production ran in Copenhagen, Denmark from January 12 until May 29, 2011, and was presented by Det Ny Teater.[109][110]

A Dutch-language production began previews at the Circustheater in The Hague, The Netherlands on October 26, 2011 and was produced by Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties/Stage Entertainment. The official opening took place on November 6. Verkaik reprised her role of Elphaba from the German productions, becoming the first actress to play the role in two different languages.[111]

The first Spanish-language production opened in Mexico City, Mexico on October 17, 2013, following previews from October 10. Produced by OCESA Teatro, the replica production played at the Teatro Telcel and closed on January 18, 2015.[112]

The first Korean-language production began performances in Seoul on November 22, 2013 and is an all-new replica production. This production, located at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul, ran from November 22, 2013, to October 5, 2014.[113]

In November 2015, the company "Time For Fun", a leading company in the entertainment market in Latin America, announced the adaptation of the musical in Brazil, which debuted in March 2016 at the Renault Theatre in São Paulo. It is the largest stage that the musical has been mounted on yet.[114] Despite the production closing on December 18, 2016, on November 12, 2018, a Brazilian revival production of the show was announced, this time in Rio de Janeiro's entertainment center Cidade das Artes. Though it was expected to begin performances in mid-2019, after the announcement no news was released, and the production was never realized. It wouldn't be until 4 years later that Wicked would return to Brazil.[115]

At the end of 2020, while all Wicked productions worldwide were halted due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, a third Korean replica production of the show was announced on November 14. The show started previews in Seoul's Blue Square Theater 3 months later on February 12, 2021, which was the first Wicked performance after the Covid-19 shutdown. The production opened 4 days later on February 16, 2021, and played until May 2, 2021. It then transferred to Busan's Dream Theater, where it ran from May 20, 2021, until its closing date on June 27, 2021.

On June 30, 2022, the Shiki Theatre Company announced that a Japanese revival of the show is scheduled to start performances in October 2023. Not even half a year later, on October 7, it was announced that Wicked will return to Australia for an exclusive 20th-anniversary run, with performances starting in August 2023 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. They were be the first replica sit-down productions to open after Wicked reopened its main three productions (Broadway, the North American Tour, and West End) post-covid in 2021.

On October 19, 2022, it was announced that Wicked would get a non-replica revival in Brazil through a limited run, starting March 9, 2023, at the Santander Theater, in São Paulo, produced by Atelier de Cultura. Lead actresses from the 2016 run Myra Ruiz and Fabi Bang were announced reprising their roles as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. Their co-stars include Tiago Barbosa as Fiyero, Marcelo Médici as The Wizard, Diva Menner as Madame Morrible, Cleto Baccic as Doctor Dillamond, Nayara Venancio as Nessarose and Dante Paccola as Boq.

Response edit

Awards and nominations edit

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Wicked (musical)

The original Broadway production of Wicked was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 2004, including Best Musical, Book, Orchestrations, Original Score, Choreography, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scenic Design while receiving two nominations for Best Actress – for Menzel and Chenoweth.[116] Menzel won the Best Actress award, and the show also won the Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design, notably losing Best Book, Original Score and ultimately Best Musical to Avenue Q.[117] The same year, the show won 6 Drama Desk Awards out of 11 nominations, including Outstanding Musical, Book, Director, and Costume Design.[118][119]

Subsequent productions have received awards and nominations as well. The West End production received five Laurence Olivier Award nominations[120] and later won the Audience Award for Most Popular Show at the 2010 award ceremony.[121] The original Australian production received six Helpmann Awards out of 12 nominations, including Best Musical. Wicked was named the Best Musical of the Decade by Entertainment Weekly magazine and hailed "a cultural phenomenon" by Variety magazine.[122] While not technically an "award", the character of Elphaba was named 79th on Entertainment Weekly's list of The 100 Greatest Characters of the Past 20 Years.[123]

Critical reception edit

 
Touring cast members in the curtain call at a show in Omaha, Nebraska

In its out-of-town tryout in San Francisco, audience reaction was generally positive, and although critics tended to compliment the aesthetic and spectacle of the show, they disparaged the state of its book, score, and choreography.[124] Dennis Harvey of Variety praised the production as "sleekly directed", "snazzily designed", and "smartly cast", but disliked its "mediocre" book, "trite" lyrics, and "largely generic" music.[125] Karen D'Souza of the San Jose Mercury News wrote that "style over substance is the real theme in this Emerald City".[124]

The Broadway production opened on October 30, 2003, to mixed reviews.[126][127][128][129] However, Chenoweth and Menzel received acclaim.[129] Richard Zoglin of Time wrote: "If every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place."[130] Elysa Gardner of USA Today described it as "the most complete, and completely satisfying, new musical I've come across in a long time".[131] Conversely, Ben Brantley in the New York Times loved the production but panned the show itself, calling it a "sermon" that "so overplays its hand that it seriously dilutes its power", with a "generic" score. He noted that Glinda is such a showy role that the audience ends up rooting for her rather than the "surprisingly colorless" Elphaba, who is "nominally" the hero.[132] Despite these mixed reviews, interest in Wicked spread quickly by word-of-mouth, leading to record-breaking success at the box office. Speaking to The Arizona Republic in 2006, Schwartz said, "What can I say? Reviews are reviews.... I know we divided the critics. We didn't divide the audience, and that's what counts."[131][133]

International productions have opened to different critical receptions. The West End production opened to a slightly more upbeat response. The majority of critics have appreciated the spectacle of the lavish production, and the "powerhouse" performances of actors in the roles of the two witches. However, contemporaries have characterized the production as overblown, occasionally preachy, and suffering from more hype than heart. Although Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph described it as "at times... a bit of a mess," he praised Holzman's script, described Kenneth Posner's lighting design as "magical" and lauded Menzel's Elphaba and Helen Dallimore's Glinda.[134] Michael Billington of The Guardian gave it three out of five stars and remarked on the competence of all the lead actors; however, he complained that Wicked was "all too typical of the modern Broadway musical: efficient, knowing and highly professional but more like a piece of industrial product than something that genuinely touches the heart or mind."[135] Paul Taylor of The Independent called the topical political allegory "well-meaning but also melodramatic, incoherent and dreadfully superficial" and criticized the acting, songs and book, concluding that "the production manages to feel at once overblown and empty".[136]

The Japanese version of Wicked by the Shiki Theatre Company (劇団四季) won acclaim in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Nagoya. The original Wicked has toured in China with great popularity. A Chinese review by Harvard scholar Hansong Li appeared in the Shanghai Review of Books.[137]

Commercial reception edit

 
Playing at the Oriental Theatre for more than three years, the Chicago production continually broke box-office records.

Since its opening in 2003, the original Broadway production of Wicked has broken the house record at the Gershwin Theatre twenty times. It regularly grosses in excess of $1.6 million each week, making it one of the most lucrative productions on Broadway.[138][139] With a $14 million capitalization, the Broadway production took 15 months to break even, earning back its initial investment by December 21, 2004.[15] In its first year, it grossed more than $56 million.[140] In the week ending January 1, 2006, Wicked broke the record, previously held by the musical The Producers, for the highest weekly box office gross in Broadway history, earning $1,610,934.[141] It has gone on to break its own record numerous times, reaching $1,715,155 in November 2006,[142] $1,839,950, during the 2007 Christmas week, $2,086,135 for the week ending November 29, 2009,[143] $2,125,740 just a few weeks later for the eight performances ending January 3, 2010,[144] and over $2.2 million in the week ending January 2, 2011.[145] In the first week of 2012, the Broadway production broke a record again, earning $2.7 million. Wicked once again broke this record in the final week of 2012 when it grossed $2.9 million.[146] In the final weekend of 2013, Wicked became the first musical to gross $3 million in one week.[6]

Wicked's productions across North America and abroad have been equally financially successful. The Los Angeles production took the local weekly gross record, again from a performance of The Producers, bringing in $1,786,110 in the week ending March 4, 2007.[147] The production joined its Broadway counterpart in setting a new record over Christmas 2007 with $1,949,968, with records also set in Chicago ($1,418,363),[148] and St Louis ($2,291,608),[149] to bring the collective gross of the seven worldwide productions to a world record-breaking $11.2 million.[150] A new suite of records were set over Christmas 2010, with house records broken in San Francisco ($1,485,692), Providence ($1,793,764) and Schenectady ($1,657,139) as well as Broadway, bringing the musical's one-week gross in North America alone to $7,062,335.[151]

Wicked played to more than 2 million visitors in Chicago with a gross of over $200 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Chicago history by June 2007.[152][153] With an opening-week gross of $1,400,000, it continually set records and became the longest-running Broadway musical in Chicago history.[154][155] Producer David Stone told Variety, "we thought it [the Chicago production] would run 18 months, then we'd spend a year in Los Angeles and six months in San Francisco... but sales stayed so strong that the producers created another road show and kept the show running in Chicago."[156] In addition, over 2.2 million saw the touring production in its first two years, which grossed over $155 million[157] The Los Angeles production grossed over $145 million and was seen by more than 1.8 million patrons.[158] Over the 672 performances of the San Francisco production, Wicked sold over 1 million tickets with a cumulative gross of over $75 million.[159] While the Broadway production of Wicked welcomed its 5 millionth audience member on September 29, 2010.[160]

 
The Los Angeles production played at the Pantages Theatre for almost two years, grossing more than $145 million.

Although West End theatres do not publish audited weekly grosses,[161] the West End production of Wicked said it had set the record for highest one-week gross in December 2006, taking £761,000 in the week ending December 30.[162][163] On June 23, 2008, the producers reported that over 1.4 million people had seen the London production, and grosses had topped £50 million.[164] The same reports stated that the show had consistently been one of the two highest-grossing shows in the West End.[163] For the week commencing December 27, 2010, the London production grossed £1,002,885, the highest single-week gross in West End theatre history,[165] with over 20,000 people attending the nine performances of Wicked that week.[166] The Melbourne production broke Australian box-office records, selling 24,750 tickets in three hours during pre-sales and grossing over $1.3 million on the first business day after its official opening.[167] On April 27, 2009, the production passed the milestone of 500,000 patrons.[168] When it transferred to Sydney, the production broke "all previous weekly box office records for a musical at the Capitol Theatre, grossing $1,473,775.70 in one week during October 2009.[169]

In the week ending October 17, 2010, Wicked became only the third musical in Broadway history to exceed $500 million in total gross. By seats sold on Broadway, it ranks tenth of all time.[170] As of September 2011, Wicked's North American and international companies have cumulatively grossed nearly $2.5 billion and have been seen by nearly 30 million people worldwide.[171] The original production still runs today and currently stands as the fourth longest-running Broadway show in history.[1][172] Wicked celebrated its 1,000th performance on Broadway on March 23, 2006.[173] Several other productions have also reached the 1,000th performance milestone, including the first North American touring company on August 15, 2007,[174] the Chicago company on November 14, 2007,[154] the West End company on February 14, 2009,[175] the Australian company on May 7, 2011[176] and the second North American touring company on August 4, 2011.[177]

Marketing and promotion edit

The success of the Broadway production has led to the development of an auxiliary show for purposes of marketing and promotion titled Behind the Emerald Curtain. It was created by Sean McCourt—an original Broadway production cast member who played the Witch's Father—and Anthony Galde, who was a long-running swing in the Broadway company from 2004 to 2012. The tour features a ninety-minute behind-the-scenes look at the props, masks, costumes and sets used in the show, and includes a question-and-answer session with the cast members. The Broadway tour is currently led by McCourt and long-running ensemble member, Lindsay K. Northen.[178] The tour also featured in the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago sit-down productions, and were each run by different long-serving cast members of the show. The tour provides a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into putting on the show every day. Participants get a first-hand account of what it is like to be a part of the massive production that Wicked is.[179] To create Elphaba's green skin, 40 pots of the commercially available MAC Chromacake landscape green make-up are used per year. It is water-based for easy removal.[180] As of 2021, it cost $800,000 a week to run the Broadway production.[181]

Legacy and anniversary tributes edit

Two-part film adaptation edit

See also: Wicked (2024 film) and Wicked Part Two

A film adaptation of Wicked had been discussed since 2004. In July 2010, it was reported that J. J. Abrams, James Mangold, Ryan Murphy, and Rob Marshall were under consideration to direct a potential film adaptation.[182] By July 2012, Universal Studios was reported to be producing the film,[183] with Stephen Daldry as director and Winnie Holzman, who wrote the musical's book, to pen the screenplay.[184] Universal announced in 2016 that the film would be released in theaters on December 20, 2019, with Daldry still attached to direct, and the script to be co-written by the musical's creators, Holzman and Schwartz.[185] In May 2017, Schwartz stated that the film would feature "at least two" new songs.[186] On August 31, 2018, Universal put the film on hold, due to production scheduling, and gave the film adaptation of Cats, which became a box office bomb, the release date formerly held by the film.[187] On February 8, 2019, Universal announced a new release date of December 22, 2021, for the Wicked film.[188] On April 1, 2020, Universal put the film on hold once again due to Universal shifting release dates amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and gave Sing 2 the 2021 release date.[189] On October 20, 2020, it was announced that Daldry had left the production due to scheduling conflicts.[190] In February 2021, Deadline reported that Jon M. Chu had signed on to direct the film adaptation.[191] In July 2021, Schwartz stated that filming would begin in fall 2021 in Georgia, but filming was later postponed to March 2022 and again to June 2022.[192] In November 2021, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were cast as Glinda and Elphaba respectively, with production originally set to begin in summer 2022 in the United Kingdom.[193][194]

In April 2022, it was announced the film would be released in two parts, the first one on November 27, 2024 and the second one on November 26, 2025. Jon M. Chu explained why:[195]

As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of 'Wicked' into a single film without doing some real damage to it ... As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one 'Wicked' movie but two! With more space, we can tell the story of 'Wicked' as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.

In June 2022, Stephen Schwartz added, while confirming that a new song will be written for one of the two films:[196]

"We found it very difficult to get past 'Defying Gravity' without a break ... That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down, and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti-climactic ... Even as a very long single movie, it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate. What we have discussed is that changes need to be 'additive,' to use (producer) Marc Platt's term. They need to add something to the story or the characters. They can't just be changes to do something different. I feel confident that by the time the movie is made, if we all continue to have the same degree of input, I could have a conversation with anyone who has a question about any of the changes made from the stage show and justify why I think it's better for the movie."

On July 18, 2022, it was revealed that with the filming process settled at the newly-built Sky Studios in Elstree, England, rehearsals will begin in August with principal photography beginning in November.[197] By September 2022, Jonathan Bailey was confirmed to have been cast as Fiyero.[198] The following month, Jeff Goldblum was reported to be in final talks to play the Wizard.[199]

In November 2022, Schwartz revealed that Part 2 of the movie will include two new songs "to meet the demands of the storytelling."[200] Then, on December 7, 2022, it was revealed that Ethan Slater will be playing Boq.[201] On December 8, 2022, it was announced that Michelle Yeoh will be playing Madame Morrible, and Goldblum was confirmed to be playing the Wizard.[202] On December 9, 2022, it was reported that Keala Settle, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh, Colin Michael Carmichael, and Marissa Bode had also joined the cast as Miss Coddle, Pfannee, ShenShen, Avaric, Nikidik, and Nessarose, respectively. Bode's casting as Nessarose makes her the first wheelchair-assisted actor to play the part.[203] On December 9, 2022, Chu confirmed on Twitter that filming had begun.[204]

15th anniversary tribute special edit

In October 2018, an NBC broadcast, A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway, was hosted by Menzel and Chenoweth and featured Ariana Grande, Pentatonix, Adam Lambert, Ledisi, the current Broadway company of the musical and others, singing many of the musical numbers from Wicked to a live studio audience at the Marquis Theatre in New York. The concert special was directed by Glenn Weiss.[205]

PBS Special edit

On August 29, 2021, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network aired a Wicked concert special, which was also hosted by Chenoweth and Menzel and featured Rita Moreno, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana DeBose, Gavin Creel, Ali Stroker, Amber Riley, Mario Cantone, Jennifer Nettles, Stephanie Hsu, Alex Newell, Isaac Cole Powell and Gabrielle Ruiz performing many of the musical numbers.[206]

Interpretations edit

Queer Interpretations edit

Queer interpretations of Wicked encompass various perspectives regarding the sexualities of the main characters, Elphaba and Glinda. These interpretations predominantly depict one or both characters as harboring homoromantic feelings for each other.[207]

The lyrics and placement of the song "What Is This Feeling?" evoke a tone reminiscent of common Golden Age duets between couples, such as “People Will Say We're in Love” from Oklahoma! and "If I Loved You" from Carousel.[208] This has led to the interpretation of Elphaba and Glinda as a couple. The subsequent sequence in “Dancing Through Life,” has been likened to a modern version of the “lilting waltzes” seen in romantic scenes from musicals like My Fair Lady, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music.[208]

Moreover, the line “I think we've found the place where we belong!" from “One Short Day” is seen as reflective of the theme of finding acceptance, a sentiment many LGBT+ individuals aspire to achieve.[208] A remix of the song “Defying Gravity,” known for its themes of resisting expectations, served as the anthem at the 2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is featured on the official CD from the event.

Additional arguments supporting a homoromantic interpretation of Wicked include Glinda’s potential compulsory heterosexuality toward Fiyero and the suggestion that Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship mirrors a common lesbian butch/femme pairing.[209] Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist of Wicked, has stated that rather than presenting the pair as rivals, the musical is essentially “a love story between two women."[210]Gregory Maguire, the author of The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and a gay man himself, prefers to leave the narrative open to interpretation.[207]

The Wicked production capitalized on this interpretation and began selling “Friend of Elphaba” (a play on “Friend of Dorothy” ) merchandise during Pride Month.[211]

This interpretation has been critiqued stating that the show stands as a testament that "friendships can be equally as important as romantic relationships" and does not require a romance, homosexual or heterosexual, to find power.[212]

In popular culture edit

The success of Wicked has made several of the show's songs popular and has resulted in references to the show, characters, and songs in popular culture. The Broadway production has been featured in episodes of television programs, including Brothers & Sisters and The War at Home.[213] For filming purposes, the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles doubled for the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in Ugly Betty[214] in an episode titled "Something Wicked This Way Comes" in which Betty, the show's protagonist, goes to see Wicked on a date and accidentally stops the show.[215] In the previous episode "Brothers", Betty gets tickets to see Wicked and discusses with a friend how much she relates to Elphaba's outcast status in a popularity and beauty-oriented environment.[216]

Entertainer John Barrowman sang a version of "The Wizard and I" (retitled "The Doctor and I") on his 2008 tour of the UK, with adapted lyrics referring to his Doctor Who and Torchwood character Jack showing affection for The Doctor. Kerry Ellis, who played Elphaba in the West End and on Broadway, recorded "I'm Not That Girl" for the fifth anniversary edition of the original Broadway cast recording. She also recorded her own rock version of "Defying Gravity". Both songs were produced by British musician Brian May and were featured on her extended play Wicked in Rock (2008) and debut album Anthems (2010). She performed her version of "Defying Gravity" at the 2008 Royal Variety Performance, alongside May on guitar. A dance remix of her rock version of "Defying Gravity" was later released in 2011. Louise Dearman, who has played both Elphaba and Glinda in the West End, released an acoustic version of "Defying Gravity" for the Wicked edition of her album Here Comes the Sun. Her former co-star and London Elphaba Rachel Tucker also covered "Defying Gravity" on her debut album The Reason (2013). Rapper Drake and singer Mika both sampled the musical's song in their songs "Popular" and "Popular Song" respectively.[217]

The closing song of Act I, Defying Gravity, is featured in the Glee episode Wheels, where Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) sing it separately in a competition for the lead solo from the first season.[218] It was featured again in the season five episode 100, the hundredth episode in the series, this time sung by the characters from the series, Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes (Amber Riley). Media as diverse as the anime series Red Garden, the daytime drama Passions and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novels have all parodied Wicked's songs and characters.[219][220]

The end of the song "Killer Instinct" in Bring It On the Musical parodies the closing notes of "No One Mourns the Wicked".[221] The Oscar-winning song "Let It Go" from the successful 2013 Disney computer-animated musical feature film Frozen, that also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, had been compared to "Defying Gravity" due to its similar theme and similar singing style,[222] and was sung by the original Elphaba Idina Menzel. Willemijn Verkaik voiced the Dutch and German versions of the role of Elsa in Frozen and sang "Let It Go" in these two languages. This became another role originally played by Menzel that Verkaik played, following her success in the German, Dutch and English language productions of Wicked. When Frozen came to Broadway, the song "Monster" (sung by Caissie Levy, who also played Elphaba) was compared to "No Good Deed"[223] In Lego Dimensions, when Unikitty interacts with the Wicked Witch, she says "If you spent more time singing, then maybe you wouldn't be so 'wicked', witch."

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April 06, 2024
wicked, musical, this, article, about, musical, broadway, cast, recording, wicked, musical, album, part, film, adaptation, wicked, 2024, film, part, film, adaptation, wicked, part, wicked, musical, with, music, lyrics, stephen, schwartz, book, winnie, holzman,. This article is about the musical For the Broadway cast recording see Wicked musical album For Part One of the film adaptation see Wicked 2024 film For Part Two of the film adaptation see Wicked Part Two Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman It is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West which is in turn based on L Frank Baum s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro Goldwyn Mayer film adaptation WickedThe Untold Story of the Witches of OzOfficial poster of the original San Francisco productionMusicStephen SchwartzLyricsStephen SchwartzBookWinnie HolzmanBasisWicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the Westby Gregory MaguirePremiereMay 28 2003 Curran Theatre San FranciscoProductions2003 San Francisco tryout 2003 Broadway2005 1st U S tour2006 West End2009 2nd U S tour2013 1st UK Ireland tour2017 2nd UK Ireland tour2023 3rd UK Ireland TourMultiple international productions see below AwardsDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a MusicalThe musical is told from the perspective of two witches of the Land of Oz Its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends Elphaba later known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda later known as Glinda the Good whose friendship struggles through their opposing personalities viewpoints same love interest reactions to the Wonderful Wizard s corrupt government and ultimately Elphaba s fall from grace Produced by Universal Stage Productions in coalition with Marc Platt Jon B Platt and David Stone with direction by Joe Mantello and choreography by Wayne Cilento the original production of Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003 after completing pre Broadway tryouts at San Francisco s Curran Theatre in May and June of that year Its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Joel Grey as the Wizard 1 The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards while its original cast album received a Grammy Award On April 11 2023 with its 7 486th performance it surpassed Cats to become Broadway s fourth longest running show 2 A typical performance of the show takes about two hours and 30 minutes including an intermission 3 The success of the Broadway production has spawned many productions worldwide including a long running West End production Wicked has broken box office records around the world holding weekly gross takings records in Los Angeles Chicago St Louis and London In the week ending January 2 2011 the London Broadway and both North American touring productions simultaneously broke their respective records for the highest weekly gross 4 5 In the final week of 2013 the Broadway production broke this record again earning 3 2 million 6 In 2016 Wicked surpassed 1 billion in total Broadway revenue joining The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King as the only Broadway shows to do so In 2017 Wicked surpassed The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway s second highest grossing musical trailing only The Lion King 7 A two part film adaptation directed by Jon M Chu starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Ariana Grande as Galinda Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard Michelle Yeoh as the Madame Morrible and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is currently in the works The first part is set for release on November 27 2024 with the second part to follow a year later on November 26 2025 Contents 1 Inception and development 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act One 2 2 Act Two 3 Casts 3 1 Original casts 3 2 Notable replacements 3 2 1 Broadway 2003 3 2 2 1st amp 2nd US National Tours 2005 3 2 3 West End 2006 3 2 4 Melbourne Australian Tour 2008 2015 3 2 5 1st 2nd amp 3rd UK Ireland National Tours 2013 2019 3 2 6 2nd Australian Tour 2023 24 4 Musical numbers 5 Music and recordings 5 1 Music analysis 5 2 Recordings 6 Productions 6 1 Original Broadway production 2003 present 6 2 North American productions 2005 present 6 3 London 2006 present 6 4 UK Ireland tours 2013 present 6 5 International tour 2016 2018 6 6 German productions 2007 2011 2021 2022 6 7 Australian productions 6 8 Subsequent international productions 7 Response 7 1 Awards and nominations 7 2 Critical reception 7 3 Commercial reception 7 4 Marketing and promotion 8 Legacy and anniversary tributes 8 1 Two part film adaptation 8 2 15th anniversary tribute special 8 3 PBS Special 9 Interpretations 9 1 Queer Interpretations 10 In popular culture 11 References 12 External linksInception and development edit nbsp Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen SchwartzComposer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discovered Maguire s 1995 novel Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West while on vacation and saw its potential for a dramatic adaptation 8 However Maguire had released the rights to Universal Pictures which had planned to develop a live action feature film 9 In 1998 Schwartz persuaded Maguire to release the rights to a stage production 10 while also making what Schwartz himself called an impassioned plea to Universal producer Marc Platt to realize Schwartz s own intended adaptation Persuaded Platt signed on as joint producer of the project with Universal and David Stone 9 The novel described as a political social and ethical commentary on the nature of good and evil takes place in the Land of Oz in the years surrounding Dorothy s arrival The story centers on Elphaba a misunderstood smart and fiery girl with emerald green skin who grows up to become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda the beautiful blonde popular girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good The story is divided into five scenes based on the location and presents events characters and situations adapted from L Frank Baum s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 1900 and its 1939 film adaptation in new ways It is designed to set the reader thinking about what it really is to be Wicked and whether good intentions with bad results are the same as bad intentions with bad results Schwartz considered how best to condense the novel s dense and complicated plot into a sensible script 10 To this end he collaborated with Emmy Award winning writer Winnie Holzman to develop the outline of the plot over the course of a year 11 while meeting with producer Marc Platt to refine the structural outline of the show creating an original stage piece rather than a strict adaptation of Maguire s work 10 While the draft followed Maguire s idea of retelling the story of the 1939 film from the perspective of its main villain the storyline of the stage adaptation goes far afield from the novel Holzman observed in an interview with Playbill that It was Maguire s brilliant idea to take this hated figure and tell things from her point of view and to have the two witches be roommates in college but the way in which their friendship develops and really the whole plot is different onstage 12 Schwartz justified the deviation saying Primarily we were interested in the relationship between Galinda who becomes Glinda and Elphaba the friendship of these two women and how their characters lead them to completely different destinies 13 Other major plot modifications include Fiyero s appearance as the scarecrow Elphaba s survival at the end Nessarose using a wheelchair instead of being born without arms Boq having a continuing love interest for Glinda and eventually becoming the Tin Woodman instead of Nick Chopper cutting Elphaba s years in the Vinkus the deletion of Liir s birth Fiyero not having a wife and children Doctor Dillamond being fired instead of being murdered and Madame Morrible going to prison instead of dying 14 nbsp The Curran Theatre in San Francisco where Wicked made its debutThe book lyrics and score for the musical were developed through a series of readings 10 In these developmental workshops Kristin Chenoweth the Tony Award winning actress whom Schwartz had in mind while composing the music for the character 15 joined the project as Glinda Stephanie J Block played Elphaba in the workshops she played Elphaba in the first national tour and later as a Broadway cast replacement before Idina Menzel was cast in the role in late 2002 Earlier that year the creators recruited New York producer Stone who began planning the Broadway production Joe Mantello was engaged as director and Wayne Cilento as choreographer while designer Eugene Lee created the set and visual style for the production inspired by W W Denslow s original illustrations for Baum s novels and Maguire s concept of the story being told through a giant clock 15 Costume designer Susan Hilferty created a twisted Edwardian style in building more than 200 costumes while lighting designer Kenneth Posner used more than 800 lights to give each of the 54 distinct scenes and locations its own mood 15 By April 2003 the show was in rehearsals 15 Following the out of town tryout in San Francisco in May and June 2003 which received mixed critical reception the creative team made extensive changes before its transfer to Broadway 15 Holzman recalled Stephen Schwartz wisely had insisted on having three months to rewrite in between the time we closed in San Francisco and when we were to go back into rehearsals in New York That was crucial that was the thing that made the biggest difference in the life of the show That time is what made the show work 16 Elements of the book were rewritten while several songs underwent minor changes 15 Which Way is the Party the introductory song to the character Fiyero was replaced by Dancing Through Life 17 Concern existed that Menzel s Elphaba got a little overshadowed by Chenoweth s Glinda 18 with San Francisco Chronicle critic Robert Hurwitt writing Menzel s brightly intense Elphaba the Wicked Witch needs a chance of holding her own alongside Chenoweth s gloriously insidiously bubbly Glinda 19 As a result the creative team set about making Elphaba more prominent 18 In making the Broadway revisions Schwartz recalled It was clear there was work to be done and revisions to be made in the book and the score The critical community was frankly very helpful to us 18 Synopsis editAct One edit nbsp Fabi Bang making Glinda s Act One entrance in the original Brazilian productionThe citizens of the Land of Oz are celebrating the recent death of the Wicked Witch of the West Glinda the Good arrives and reveals the Wicked Witch s backstory her mother had an affair with a traveling salesman while her father the governor of Munchkinland was away As a result of that affair Elphaba Thropp was born Both of her parents were shocked by their daughter s green skin Her father rejected her cursing Elphaba to have a troubled childhood No One Mourns the Wicked When a citizen asks Glinda Is it true you were her friend Glinda begins to reminisce about her past with Elphaba In a flashback Elphaba arrives at Shiz University Dear Old Shiz with her sister Nessarose who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair The school s headmistress Madame Morrible assigns Elphaba to share a dormitory room with the popular bubbly Galinda Upland Elphaba anxious uses magic to pull Nessarose s wheelchair back to her after Madame Morrible attempts to depart Madame Morrible recognizes Elphaba s potential and decides to teach Elphaba sorcery Madame Morrible tells Elphaba she has the chance to work with Wonderful Wizard of Oz something Elphaba has dreamed of her whole life The Wizard and I Galinda is disdainful towards Elphaba and Elphaba grows to hate Galinda just as much they clash with each other constantly What Is This Feeling In a history class taught by Doctor Dillamond the only Animal professor at Shiz University Dillamond begins to suffer from discrimination even from the students Dillamond informs Elphaba of a conspiracy to stop all Animals from speaking and she vows to tell the Wizard of the conspiracy and help him stop it if she ever meets him Something Bad Meanwhile a roguish prince Fiyero begins attending Shiz Galinda is charmed by Fiyero s good looks and shallow philosophy Fiyero arranges a party for his fellow Shiz students later that evening Boq a Munchkin who has a crush on Galinda tries to invite her to the party Galinda convinces Boq to instead invite Nessarose out of pity leaving her free to go with Fiyero Nessa becomes enamored with Boq and tells Elphaba to thank Galinda for her help At the party Madame Morrible stops by to tell Galinda that Elphaba had asked her to admit Galinda into her sorcery class Elphaba arrives wearing a hat that Galinda gave her as a practical joke the other students laugh at her Galinda has a change of heart and decides to dance with Elphaba and soon everyone joins them finally allowing the girls to bond Dancing Through Life In their dormitory room Galinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover Popular The next day Dr Dillamond tells the class that he is leaving because he is no longer permitted to teach Elphaba is the only student who objects A human professor introduces the students to the technical advantages of the cage which is designed to prevent any animal from speaking Elphaba refuses to contain her anger and in the ensuing chaos she escapes alongside Fiyero taking with them the lion cub that was imprisoned within the cage Elphaba and Fiyero share a private moment Fiyero then leaves Elphaba laments that Fiyero will never love her as much as he loves Galinda I m Not That Girl Madame Morrible arrives and tells Elphaba that the Wizard wants to meet her Boq Nessa Fiyero and Galinda say goodbye to Elphaba at the train station Galinda tries to impress Fiyero by changing her name to Dr Dillamond s pronunciation of her name Glinda in solidarity with Dillamond but Fiyero barely notices as he says goodbye to Elphaba Elphaba invites Glinda to go with her to the Emerald City One Short Day Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard of Oz who is not as scary as they thought A Sentimental Man He promises to grant Elphaba her request if she proves herself Madame Morrible appears and explains she is the Wizard s new press secretary She gives Elphaba a book of spells the Grimmerie which only the magically gifted can read Elphaba is asked to perform a levitation spell on the Wizard s monkey servant Chistery Her attempt does allow him to fly but only by making him sprout wings painfully She discovers that the Wizard is behind the suppression of the Animals and that he is a fraud who uses simple parlor tricks and lies to stay in power Elphaba flees the Wizard s chamber and Madame Morrible spreads a message throughout Oz that Elphaba is a wicked witch who cannot be trusted Glinda finds Elphaba and advises her to go back and apologize but Elphaba refuses and declares she must do what is right She then offers to take Glinda with her Glinda declines but decides to secretly support Elphaba Elphaba repeats the levitation spell on a broom and flies away from the Emerald City leaving Glinda behind Defying Gravity Act Two edit nbsp Myra Ruiz as Elphaba in the original Brazilian productionSome time later Elphaba s opposition of the Wizard s regime has earned her the title The Wicked Witch of the West Glinda has become the lead spokesperson for the Wizard s regime given the title Glinda the Good and positioned by Morrible as the nation s defender against the Witch A press conference to celebrate Fiyero s appointment as Captain of the Guard a position he has accepted in order to find Elphaba is hijacked by the public s panicked rumors about Elphaba one of them claiming that she can be melted by water Fiyero is furious at the absurdity of the rumors Glinda unsuccessfully tries calming Fiyero by insisting that Elphaba does not want to be found Fiyero is further shocked when Morrible announces that he and Glinda are engaged Fiyero abruptly leaves angry with Glinda for not informing him of the announcement before the press conference Glinda attempts to act cheerful for the press but she knows her dream life has come at a great price Thank Goodness Elphaba visits Nessarose who is now the governor of Munchkinland following the death of their father Nessa has taken away the Munchkins rights to prevent Boq from leaving her Elphaba tries to convince Nessa to join her fight against the Wizard but Nessa refuses she is resentful that Elphaba never used her magic powers to help her Elphaba tries to help by enchanting Nessa s shoes giving her the ability to walk Nessa is thrilled and now believes Boq will truly love her To Nessa s shock Boq sees her new ability as proof that she no longer needs him Boq declares he intends to tell Glinda of his love for her before she marries Fiyero Nessa takes the Grimmerie in order to cast a love spell on Boq to make him fall in love with her She pronounces the incantation wrong and accidentally shrinks his heart She cries for Elphaba to save him and prevent her from having to live a life of loneliness The Wicked Witch of the East Elphaba casts another spell to save Boq s life transforming him into a Tin Man who does not need a heart to live Boq is horrified by his new body and Nessa tells him Elphaba is responsible Elphaba returns to the Emerald City to free the monkey servants and comes across the Wizard himself He tries once again to convince her to work with him telling her that he is simply a mediocre man who came into his position by chance and was led to stay by the citizens of Oz who revered him Wonderful Elphaba is almost won over until she discovers Dr Dillamond who has lost the power of speech Elphaba then vows to fight the Wizard to the end At that moment Fiyero and the Guards enter followed by Glinda Fiyero helps Elphaba escape and decides to escape with her leaving Glinda behind Broken hearted Glinda tells the Wizard and Madame Morrible that they can capture Elphaba by spreading a rumor that Nessarose is in trouble so Elphaba will be forced to show herself to save Nessa Upset by Fiyero s betrayal Glinda leaves the room Morrible and the Wizard decide a rumor will not fool Elphaba Morrible proposes a change in the weather Alone Glinda laments that Fiyero truly loves Elphaba and it is unlikely he ever truly loved Glinda herself I m Not That Girl Reprise Hidden away in the forest Elphaba and Fiyero confess their love for each other As Long As You re Mine Their happiness is interrupted when Elphaba senses Nessarose is in danger She is correct a house has fallen out of the sky and crushed Nessarose to death Elphaba arrives at the scene and finds Glinda has given Nessa s shoes to the house s occupant Dorothy Gale After a fight between the two witches the Wizard s guards arrive Fiyero arrives and holds Glinda hostage to allow Elphaba to escape Glinda pleads for the guards not to harm Fiyero but they do not listen At Kiamo Ko castle Elphaba casts a spell to make Fiyero invincible to any weapon but is unsure how well the spell will work She realizes that every good deed she tried to do was perceived as evil and finally accepts her reputation as a wicked witch No Good Deed Meanwhile the citizens of Oz led by Madame Morrible and Boq set off to capture Elphaba Glinda realizes Madame Morrible summoned the tornado that brought the house that crushed Nessarose Morrible threatens Glinda and alleges that Glinda is not as virtuous as she pretends to be Glinda flees in horror as the crowd calls for Elphaba s death March of the Witch Hunters Meanwhile Elphaba has captured Dorothy refusing to release her until she relinquishes Nessarose s shoes Glinda arrives to warn Elphaba of the danger she is in and tries to convince her to release Dorothy Although Elphaba refuses the two forgive each other Elphaba gives the Grimmerie to Glinda and they embrace for the last time before sharing a tearful goodbye For Good Elphaba tells Glinda to hide Glinda watches from the shadows as Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba melting her The only remains of her are her pointy hat and the Green Elixir she had slept with under her pillow Back at the Emerald City Glinda confronts the Wizard with the bottle which he recognizes as his own he was the man Elphaba s mother had an affair with and the Elixir was the cause of Elphaba s green skin Glinda banishes the Wizard and throws Madame Morrible into prison for murdering Nessarose Meanwhile Fiyero now a scarecrow arrives at the spot where Elphaba melted He knocks on the floor Elphaba steps out from a trap door having faked her death They embrace and Elphaba laments that she will never see Glinda again Simultaneously Glinda informs the People of Oz that the Wicked Witch has been killed and that she would like to earn her title as Glinda the Good As the citizens of Oz celebrate and Glinda mourns quietly Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz Finale Casts editOriginal casts edit Character San Francisco 20 Broadway 21 First US Tour 22 Chicago 23 West End 24 Los Angeles 25 Melbourne 26 San Francisco 27 Second US Tour 28 First UK Ireland Tour 29 Tenth Anniversary Tour 30 International Tour 31 Second UK Ireland Tour 32 Third UK Ireland Tour 33 Second Australian Tour2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2013 2014 2016 2017 2023 2023Elphaba Idina Menzel Stephanie J Block Ana Gasteyer Idina Menzel Eden Espinosa Amanda Harrison Teal Wicks Marcie Dodd Nikki Davis Jones Jemma Rix Jacqueline Hughes Amy Ross Laura Pick Sheridan AdamsGlinda Kristin Chenoweth Kendra Kassebaum Kate Reinders Helen Dallimore Megan Hilty Lucy Durack Kendra Kassebaum Helene Yorke Emily Tierney Lucy Durack Carly Anderson Helen Woolf Sarah O Connor Courtney MonsmaFiyero Tigelaar Norbert Leo Butz Derrick Williams Kristoffer Cusick Adam Garcia Kristoffer Cusick Rob Mills Nicolas Dromard Colin Donnell Liam Doyle Steve Danielsen Bradley Jaden Aaron Sidwell Carl Man Liam HeadMadame Morrible Carole Shelley Carol Kane Rondi Reed Miriam Margolyes Carol Kane Maggie Kirkpatrick Carol Kane Marilyn Caskey Marilyn Cutts Maggie Kirkpatrick Kim Ismay Donna Berlin Robyn NevinNessarose Michelle Federer Jenna Leigh Green Heidi Kettenring Katie Rowley Jones Jenna Leigh Green Penny McNamee Deedee Magno Hall Kristine Reese Carina Gillespie Emily Cascarino Emily Shaw Megan Gardiner Shewit BelayBoq Kirk McDonald Christopher Fitzgerald Logan Lipton Telly Leung James Gillan Adam Wylie Anthony Callea Eddy Rioseco Ted Ely George Ure Edward Grey Iddon Jones Jed Berry Kurtis PapadinisThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz Robert Morse Joel Grey David Garrison Gene Weygandt Nigel Planer John Rubinstein Rob Guest David Garrison Tom McGowan Dale Rapley Reg Livermore Steven Pinder Simeon Truby Todd McKennyDoctor Dillamond John Horton William Youmans Timothy Britten Parker Steven Skybell Martin Ball Timothy Britten Parker Rodney Dobson Tom Flynn David DeVries Glen Hogstrom Adam MurphyNotable replacements edit Broadway 2003 edit Elphaba Shoshana Bean Eden Espinosa Ana Gasteyer Julia Murney Stephanie J Block Kerry Ellis Marcie Dodd Nicole Parker Dee Roscioli Mandy Gonzalez Teal Wicks Jackie Burns Willemijn Verkaik Lindsay Mendez Christine Dwyer Caroline Bowman Rachel Tucker Jennifer DiNoia Jessica Vosk Hannah Corneau Lindsay Pearce Talia Suskauer Alyssa Fox Mary Kate Morrissey Saycon Sengbloh s b Lisa Brescia s b Donna Vivino s b Lilli Cooper s b Lissa DeGuzman s b Laurel Harris s b Kristy Cates u s Caissie Levy u s Vicki Noon u s Brandi Chavonne Massey u s Carla Stickler u s Desi Oakley u s Glinda Jennifer Laura Thompson Megan Hilty Kate Reinders Kendra Kassebaum Annaleigh Ashford Alli Mauzey Erin Mackey Katie Rose Clarke Chandra Lee Schwartz Jenni Barber Kara Lindsay Patti Murin Amanda Jane Cooper Ginna Claire Mason Brittney Johnson McKenzie Kurtz Alexandra Socha Laura Bell Bundy s b Kate Fahrner s b Allie Trimm s b Melissa Fahn u s Megan Sikora u s Fiyero Kristoffer Cusick Taye Diggs Joey McIntyre Sebastian Arcelus Aaron Tveit Kevin Kern Andy Karl Kyle Dean Massey Richard H Blake Derek Klena Justin Guarini Ashley Parker Angel Alan Vaytsman Curt Hansen Ryan McCartan The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Sean McCourt George Hearn Ben Vereen David Garrison Lenny Wolpe P J Benjamin Tom McGowan Fred Applegate Peter Scolari Kevin Chamberlin Michael McCormick Cleavant Derricks John Dossett Brad Oscar Eddie Korbich u s Madame Morrible Rue McClanahan Carol Kane Jayne Houdyshell Miriam Margolyes Rondi Reed Mary Testa Michele Lee Judy Kaye Sheryl Lee Ralph Isabel Keating Nancy Opel Alexandra Billings Michele Pawk Donna McKechnie Nessarose Jenna Leigh Green Catherine Charlebois Kelli Barrett Arielle Jacobs Eden Espinosa u s Megan Sikora u s Carla Stickler u s Desi Oakley u s Boq Randy Harrison Robb Sapp Alex Brightman Taylor Trensch Robin de Jesus Clyde Alves u s Doctor Dillamond Sean McCourt Timothy Britten Parker K Todd Freeman Michael Genet Martin Moran Jamie Jackson Clifton Davis Eddie Korbich u s 1st amp 2nd US National Tours 2005 edit Elphaba Kristy Cates Julia Murney Shoshana Bean Dee Roscioli Victoria Matlock Carmen Cusack Caissie Levy Teal Wicks Lisa Brescia Donna Vivino Vicki Noon Anne Brummel Eden Espinosa Marcie Dodd Jackie Burns Nicole Parker Laurel Harris Alison Luff Jennifer DiNoia Jessica Vosk Mary Kate Morrissey Talia Suskauer Lissa DeGuzman Olivia Valli Coleen Sexton s b Carrie Manolakos s b Carla Stickler s b Emmy Raver Lampman s b Lilli Cooper s b Jenna Leigh Green u s Glinda Erin Mackey Katie Rose Clarke Kate Fahrner Annaleigh Ashford Chandra Lee Schwartz Alli Mauzey Amanda Jane Cooper Patti Murin Jeanna de Waal Jennifer Gambatese Hayley Podschun Gina Beck Kara Lindsay Ginna Claire Mason Jennafer Newberry Celia Hottenstein Melissa Fahn u s Rachel Potter u s Lauren Zakrin u s Fiyero Kristoffer Cusick Sebastian Arcelus Richard H Blake Colin Hanlon Kyle Dean Massey Curt Hansen Nick Adams Ashley Parker Angel Adam Lambert u s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Ben Vereen Lee Wilkof Lenny Wolpe Richard Kline Don Amendolia P J Benjamin Tom McGowan Mark Jacoby Paul Kreppel John Davidson Tim Kazurinsky Stuart Zagnit Fred Applegate Jason Graae Cleavant Derricks John Bolton Matthew Stocke u s Tim Talman u s Madame Morrible Carole Shelley Alma Cuervo Barbara Robertson Jo Anne Worley Patty Duke Jayne Houdyshell Kim Zimmer Alison Fraser Isabel Keating Judy Kaye Lisa Howard Natalie Venetia Belcon Brooke Elliott u s Nessarose Deedee Magno Hall Summer Naomi Smart Marcie Dodd Catherine Charlebois Carla Stickler u s Boq Alex Wyse Andy Mientus Robin de Jesus Doctor Dillamond K Todd Freeman William Youmans Martin Moran Clifton Davis Michael Genet Matthew Stocke u s Tim Talman u s West End 2006 edit Elphaba Kerry Ellis Alexia Khadime Rachel Tucker Louise Dearman Willemijn Verkaik Jennifer DiNoia Emma Hatton Alice Fearn Lucie Jones Cassidy Janson s b Ashleigh Gray s b Katie Rowley Jones u s Natalie McQueen u s Glinda Dianne Pilkington Louise Dearman Gina Beck Savannah Stevenson Suzie Mathers Sophie Evans Lucy St Louis Sarah Earnshaw s b Caroline Keiff u s Fiyero Oliver Tompsett Lee Mead Mark Evans Matt Willis Ben Freeman Bradley Jaden David Witts Alistair Brammer Ryan Reid Antony Hansen u s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Desmond Barrit Clive Carter Sam Kelly Tom McGowan Mark Curry Martin Ball Andy Hockley Gary Wilmot Chris Jarman u s Michael Fenton Stevens Madame Morrible Susie Blake Harriet Thorpe Julie Legrand Louise Plowright Liza Sadovy Anita Dobson Kim Ismay Sophie Louise Dann Nessarose Caroline Keiff Natalie Anderson Cassidy Janson u s Sarah Earnshaw u s Natalie McQueen u s Doctor Dillamond Paul Clarkson Steven Pinder Chris Jarman Graham KentMelbourne Australian Tour 2008 2015 edit Elphaba Jemma Rix Pippa Grandison Carmen Cusack s b Glinda Suzie Mathers Fiyero David Harris The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Bert Newton Reg Livermore Simon Gallaher Madame Morrible Geraldine Turner1st 2nd amp 3rd UK Ireland National Tours 2013 2019 edit Elphaba Ashleigh Gray Fiyero Aaron Sidwell The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Doctor Dillamond Steven Pinder Madame Morrible Kim Ismay2nd Australian Tour 2023 24 edit The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Simon BurkeMusical numbers edit No One Mourns the Wicked redirects here For the TV episode see list of Rizzoli amp Isles episodes Season 4 2013 14 Act I Overture Orchestra No One Mourns the Wicked Glinda and Citizens of Oz Dear Old Shiz Students and Glinda The Wizard and I Madame Morrible and Elphaba What Is This Feeling Glinda Elphaba and Students Something Bad Doctor Dillamond and Elphaba Dancing Through Life Fiyero Glinda Boq Nessarose Elphaba and Students Popular Glinda I m Not That Girl Elphaba One Short Day Elphaba Glinda and Ozians A Sentimental Man The Wizard Defying Gravity Elphaba Glinda and Ozians Act II No One Mourns the Wicked Reprise Ensemble Thank Goodness Glinda Madame Morrible and Citizens of Oz The Wicked Witch of the East Elphaba Nessarose and Boq Wonderful The Wizard and Elphaba I m Not That Girl Reprise Glinda As Long As You re Mine Elphaba and Fiyero No Good Deed Elphaba March of the Witch Hunters Boq and Ozians For Good Elphaba and Glinda Finale For Good Reprise Glinda Elphaba and Ozians Note The Wicked Witch of the East is the only major piece not to be featured on the cast recording as the producers felt the song included too much dialogue and would give some of the plot away to people who have not seen the show Orchestration 34 The original Broadway pit consisted of a 23 piece orchestra Strings 2 violins 1 viola 1 cello 1 bass electric bass 1 harp 2 guitars Brass 2 trumpets flugelhorns 2 horns 1 trombone 1 bass trombone Keyboards 3 players Woodwinds Reed 1 Flute Piccolo Alto Flute Reed 2 Oboe English Horn Bass Oboe Reed 3 Clarinet Bb amp Eb Bass Clarinet Soprano Sax Reed 4 Bassoon Baritone Sax Clarinet Bass Clarinet Percussion 2 playersMusic and recordings editMusic analysis edit nbsp The Wicked overture source source The first 15 bars of the overture note the identical chord progression to As Long As You re Mine Problems playing this file See media help The score of Wicked is heavily thematic bearing in some senses more resemblance to an opera than a traditional musical score While many musical scores employ new motifs and melodies for each song with little overlap Schwartz integrated a handful of leitmotifs throughout the production Some of these motifs indicate irony for example when Glinda presents Elphaba with a ghastly hat in Dancing Through Life the score reprises a theme from What Is This Feeling a few scenes earlier 35 Two musical themes in Wicked run throughout the score Although Schwartz rarely reuses motifs or melodies from earlier works the first Elphaba s theme came from The Survival of St Joan on which he worked as musical director I always liked this tune a lot and I never could figure out what to do with it he remarked in an interview in 2004 The chord progression that he first penned in 1971 became a major theme of the show s orchestration By changing the instruments that carry the motif in each instance Schwartz enables the same melody to convey different moods In the overture the tune is carried by the orchestra s brass section with heavy percussion The result is in Schwartz own words like a giant shadow terrorizing you When played by the piano with some electric bass in As Long As You re Mine however the same chord progression becomes the basis for a romantic duet And with new lyrics and an altered bridge the theme forms the core of the song No One Mourns the Wicked and its reprises 35 Schwartz uses the Unlimited theme as the second major motif running through the score Although not included as a titled song although written by Alan Vaytsman the theme appears as an interlude in several of the musical numbers In a tribute to Harold Arlen who wrote the score for the 1939 film adaptation the Unlimited melody incorporates the first seven notes of the song Over the Rainbow which was added in 2026 Schwartz included it as an inside joke as according to copyright law when you get to the eighth note then people can come and say Oh you stole our tune And of course obviously it s also disguised in that it s completely different rhythmically And it s also harmonized completely differently It s over a different chord and so on but still it s the first seven notes of Somewhere Over the Rainbow 35 Schwartz further obscured the motif s origin by setting it in a minor key in most instances This also creates contrast in the songs in which it forms a part for example in Defying Gravity which is written primarily in the key of D flat major 36 In the song The Wicked Witch of the East however when Elphaba finally uses her powers to let her sister walk the Unlimited theme is played in a major key 35 Recordings edit See also Wicked musical album A cast recording of the original Broadway production was released on December 16 2003 by Universal Music All of the songs featured on stage are present on the recording with the exception of The Wizard and I Reprise A Sentimental Man Reprise and The Wicked Witch of the East The short reprise of No One Mourns the Wicked that opens Act II is attached to the beginning of Thank Goodness 37 The music was arranged by Stephen Oremus who was also the conductor and musical director and James Lynn Abbott with orchestrations by William David Brohn 37 The recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005 38 and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30 2006 39 The album was certified double platinum on November 8 2010 40 A fifth anniversary special edition of the original Broadway cast recording was released on October 28 2008 with a bonus CD including tracks from the Japanese and German cast recordings Making Good a song later replaced by The Wizard and I sung by Stephanie J Block with Schwartz at the piano I m Not That Girl by Kerry Ellis featuring Brian May on guitar Menzel s dance mix of Defying Gravity and For Good sung by LeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem 41 A German recording of the Stuttgart production was released on December 7 2007 featuring a track listing and arrangements identical to those of the Broadway recording 42 The Japanese cast recording was released on July 23 2008 featuring the original Tokyo cast It is notable for being the first and so far the only Cast Album of the show that includes Glinda s Finale dialogue 43 Productions editOriginal Broadway production 2003 present edit nbsp The original Broadway production has been at the Gershwin Theatre since its opening in 2003 Wicked officially opened on June 10 2003 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco after previews began on May 28 in a pre Broadway tryout presented by SHN 44 The cast included Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda Idina Menzel as Elphaba Robert Morse as the Wizard Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero Michelle Federer as Nessarose Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible John Horton as Doctor Dillamond and Kirk McDonald as Boq 15 20 Stephanie J Block who originally read the role of Elphaba in workshop development was Menzel s standby during tryouts but left before the show moved to Broadway to take a role in The Boy from Oz but she would then lead the 1st National Tour opposite Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda 45 The tryout closed on June 29 2003 and after extensive retooling 15 the musical began previews on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre on October 8 2003 and made its official premiere on October 30 Most of the original production team and cast members remained with the show Principal casting changes included Joel Grey as the Wizard William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond and Christopher Fitzgerald as Boq 46 On March 12 2020 the show temporarily suspended production due to the COVID 19 pandemic Performances resumed on September 14 2021 with Lindsay Pearce as Elphaba and Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda Chenoweth made a pre curtain speech before the grand reopening of the show 47 48 49 50 North American productions 2005 present edit In 2005 the first national tour of Wicked called the Emerald City Tour by the producers 51 started in Toronto Ontario and went on to visit numerous cities throughout the United States and Canada 15 Previews began on March 8 and officially opened on March 31 The original touring cast included Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda Stephanie J Block as Elphaba Derrick Williams as Fiyero Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose Carol Kane as Madame Morrible Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond Logan Lipton as Boq and David Garrison as the Wizard The tour concluded at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15 2015 with Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba and Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda 51 nbsp A sit down production of Wicked ran at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco California for more than a year Following a limited engagement of the first national tour from April 29 to June 12 2005 a sit down production opened at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago immediately following the tour as the original tour set was left in Chicago so the Chicago sit down could happen 52 The cast included Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba Kate Reinders as Glinda Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero Telly Leung as Boq Heidi Kettenring as Nessarose and Gene Weygandt as the Wizard 23 The production closed on January 25 2009 with Dee Roscioli as Elphaba and Annaleigh Ashford as Glinda 53 The tour returned to Chicago in 2010 2013 2018 and 2022 54 55 56 An open ended production also appeared in Los Angeles California at the Pantages Theatre Performances began on February 10 2007 with an official opening on February 21 The cast included Megan Hilty as Glinda Eden Espinosa as Elphaba Carol Kane as Madame Morrible Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose Adam Wylie as Boq Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero and John Rubinstein as the Wizard 57 The production closed on January 11 2009 with Hilty and Espinosa after 791 performances and 12 previews 58 A San Francisco production of Wicked officially opened February 6 2009 at SHN s Orpheum Theatre following previews from January 27 59 The cast included Teal Wicks as Elphaba Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda Nicolas Dromard as Fiyero Carol Kane as Madame Morrible David Garrison as the Wizard Deedee Magno Hall as Nessarose Tom Flynn as Doctor Dillamond and Eddy Rioseco as Boq 60 27 The production closed on September 5 2010 with Marcie Dodd as Elphaba and Alli Mauzey as Glinda after 660 performances and 12 previews 61 The second national tour of Wicked called the Munchkinland Tour 51 began in 2009 with previews on March 7 and official opening night on March 12 at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers Florida 62 The original cast starred Marcie Dodd as Elphaba Helene Yorke as Glinda Colin Donnell as Fiyero and Tom McGowan as the Wizard 28 The production was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic 63 It resumed performances on August 3 2021 with Talia Suskauer as Elphaba Allison Bailey as Glinda and Curt Hanson as Fiyero 64 The production celebrated its 5 000th performance on July 30 2022 65 London 2006 present edit nbsp Since its opening the London production has played at the Apollo Victoria TheatreA London production began previews at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from September 7 and with an opening night on September 27 2006 66 It celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016 with a special curtain call featuring former West End cast members 67 The production was tailored slightly for a British audience including minor creative changes to dialogue choreography and special effects A majority of them were later incorporated into all productions of Wicked including the Broadway production and the two national tours 68 The West End production reunited the show s original creative team Original London cast members included the return of Menzel as Elphaba 69 Helen Dallimore as Glinda Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible Adam Garcia as Fiyero Martin Ball as Doctor Dillamond James Gillan as Boq Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose and Nigel Planer as the Wizard 24 After her limited engagement which ended on December 30 2006 Menzel was succeeded on January 1 2007 by Kerry Ellis who became the first British woman to play Elphaba 70 The production suspended performances on March 16 2020 due to the COVID 19 Pandemic 71 It resumed performances on September 15 2021 in time for the production s 15th anniversary 72 Sophie Evans who was a maternity cover for Helen Woolf and Laura Pick reopened the show and left when the cast changed on January 30 2022 73 Woolf returned from maternity leave and Lucie Jones took over as Elphaba 74 The show which is already the 11th longest running West End show in history celebrated its 6 500th performance on September 10 2023 75 UK Ireland tours 2013 present edit The show began its first UK Ireland tour on September 12 2013 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester where it is played to November 16 It then toured the UK and Ireland before concluding in Salford on July 25 2015 29 A second UK Ireland tour began in December 2017 and ended in January 2019 76 The cast included Amy Ross as Elphaba Helen Woolf as Glinda Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero and Steven Pinder as the Wizard Dillamond 77 A third UK Ireland tour began on 7 December 2023 at the Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh where it played to 14 January 2024 It then tours the UK and Ireland before flying into its final location at the Manchester Palace Theatre in Manchester on 3 December 2024 and concluding on 12 January 2025 Laura Pick will return to lead the tour as Elphaba with Sarah O Connor as Glinda and Carl Man as Fiyero Simeon Truby will play the Wizard Dillamond with Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible Jed Berry will play Boq alongside Megan Gardiner who will be playing Nessarose 78 International tour 2016 2018 edit Wicked s international tour opened on July 13 2016 at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford England Jacqueline Hughes starred as Elphaba with Carly Anderson as Glinda and Bradley Jaden as Fiyero Alongside them are Steven Pinder as the Wizard and Dillamond Kim Ismay as Madame Morrible Emily Shaw as Nessarose and Iddon Jones as Boq 31 German productions 2007 2011 2021 2022 edit Renamed Wicked Die Hexen von Oz Wicked The Witches of Oz the German production of Wicked began previews on November 1 2007 and opened on November 15 at the Palladium Theater in Stuttgart Willemijn Verkaik played Elphaba Lucy Scherer played Glinda The production was produced by Stage Entertainment and closed on January 29 2010 and transferred to Oberhausen 79 where previews began at the Metronom Theater am CentrO on March 5 2010 with an opening night of March 8 80 The show closed on September 2 2011 On September 5 2021 a brand new non replica production opened at the Neue Flora Theatre in Hamburg produced by Stage Entertainment which previously had presented the show in Stuttgart Oberhausen and The Hague 81 Vajen van den Bosch and Jeannine Wacker have been cast as Elphaba and Glinda respectively 82 Australian productions edit nbsp nbsp Australian productions have played at the Regent Theatre Melbourne left and the Capitol Theatre Sydney right An Australian production officially opened on July 12 2008 with previews commencing June 27 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne 83 Amanda Harrison was originally cast as Elphaba with Lucy Durack as Glinda The original cast consisted of Rob Mills as Fiyero Anthony Callea as Boq Rob Guest as the Wizard Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible Penny McNamee as Nessarose and Rodney Dobson as Doctor Dillamond 84 Guest unexpectedly died of a stroke months into the Melbourne season with the role being taken up by Bert Newton 85 Closing in Melbourne August 9 2009 the show transferred to Sydney s Capitol Theatre Previews began on September 5 2009 with the official opening on September 12 Shortly into the run Harrison was forced to leave the role of Elphaba due to an illness so current standby Jemma Rix and Australian theatre veteran Pippa Grandison began to share the role each appearing in four shows per week 86 Eventually it was confirmed that she would not be returning to the cast 87 Closing in Sydney September 26 2010 the production embarked on a national Australian tour which began at the QPAC Lyric Theatre in Brisbane After a two week delay due to the Queensland floods performances began January 25 2011 and ran until April 2 Rix became the sole lead Elphaba 88 with David Harris joining as the new Fiyero 89 The touring production then moved to the Festival Centre in Adelaide running from April 14 until June 4 2011 with the final leg of the tour playing the Burswood Theatre in Perth from June 19 to September 11 2011 wrapping up more than three years of performances in Australia 90 An Asian tour began at Singapore s Grand Theater in Marina Bay from December 6 2011 with Suzie Mathers taking over as Glinda opposite Rix 91 92 93 After the Singapore engagement of the tour closed April 22 2012 94 performances began in Seoul Korea from May 31 through October 6 2012 The show then made its premiere in New Zealand with previews taking place on September 17 2013 and the official opening night on September 21 The Auckland run concluded on November 24 2013 where it played the Civic Theatre 95 The cast then moved on to the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila on a limited run from January 22 96 through March 9 2014 after having been extended from its original closing date 97 At the time of the Wicked s 10th Anniversary on Broadway the show announced it would return to Australia for a commemorative national tour beginning in Melbourne on May 10 2014 98 Durack returned as Glinda with Rix continuing as Elphaba 30 The final cast included Mathers who had returned once Durack announced her pregnancy 99 100 as Glinda Steve Danielsen as Fiyero Simon Gallaher as the Wizard Edward Grey as Boq Emily Cascarino as Nessarose Glen Hogstrom as Doctor Dillamond and original cast members Rix as Elphaba and Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible After seven years and close to 2 000 performances across 8 different cities internationally Wicked closed indefinitely at the Burswood Theatre in Perth on June 28 2015 101 As of September 7th 2023 Wicked has returned to Australia with an exclusive season at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original Broadway production The cast for which includes Sheridan Adams as Elphaba Courtney Monsma as Glinda Robyn Nevin as Madame Morrible Todd McKenney as the Wizard Liam Head as Fiyero Adam Murphy as Dr Dillamond Shewit Belay as Nessarose and Kurtis Papadinis as Boq In October 2023 it was announced the production would then return to the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in March 2024 102 Subsequent international productions edit A condensed thirty minute version of the musical played at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka Japan Rix was part of the original cast alternating the role of Elphaba with Jillian Giaachi and Taylor Jordan The show which opened on July 12 2006 featured the preliminary storyline of Act 1 but Fiyero Madame Morrible Boq Nessarose and Doctor Dillamond were absent and there were considerable changes in sets and costumes 103 The final performance took place on January 11 2011 104 A Japanese production by the Shiki Theatre Company opened in Tokyo Japan on June 17 2007 and subsequently moved to Osaka Fukoka and Nagoya before closing in Sapporo on November 6 2016 105 106 107 nbsp Renault Theater stage of the Brazilian version of Wicked in Sao PauloAnother production which was the first production to not be a replica of the original Broadway staging opened at the City Theatre in Helsinki Finland on August 26 2010 after a preview performance took place on August 24 of that year Directed by Hans Berndtsson 108 the cast includes Maria Ylipaa as Elphaba with Tuukka Leppanen as Fiyero The second non replicated production ran in Copenhagen Denmark from January 12 until May 29 2011 and was presented by Det Ny Teater 109 110 A Dutch language production began previews at the Circustheater in The Hague The Netherlands on October 26 2011 and was produced by Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties Stage Entertainment The official opening took place on November 6 Verkaik reprised her role of Elphaba from the German productions becoming the first actress to play the role in two different languages 111 The first Spanish language production opened in Mexico City Mexico on October 17 2013 following previews from October 10 Produced by OCESA Teatro the replica production played at the Teatro Telcel and closed on January 18 2015 112 The first Korean language production began performances in Seoul on November 22 2013 and is an all new replica production This production located at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul ran from November 22 2013 to October 5 2014 113 In November 2015 the company Time For Fun a leading company in the entertainment market in Latin America announced the adaptation of the musical in Brazil which debuted in March 2016 at the Renault Theatre in Sao Paulo It is the largest stage that the musical has been mounted on yet 114 Despite the production closing on December 18 2016 on November 12 2018 a Brazilian revival production of the show was announced this time in Rio de Janeiro s entertainment center Cidade das Artes Though it was expected to begin performances in mid 2019 after the announcement no news was released and the production was never realized It wouldn t be until 4 years later that Wicked would return to Brazil 115 At the end of 2020 while all Wicked productions worldwide were halted due to the outbreak of the Covid 19 virus a third Korean replica production of the show was announced on November 14 The show started previews in Seoul s Blue Square Theater 3 months later on February 12 2021 which was the first Wicked performance after the Covid 19 shutdown The production opened 4 days later on February 16 2021 and played until May 2 2021 It then transferred to Busan s Dream Theater where it ran from May 20 2021 until its closing date on June 27 2021 On June 30 2022 the Shiki Theatre Company announced that a Japanese revival of the show is scheduled to start performances in October 2023 Not even half a year later on October 7 it was announced that Wicked will return to Australia for an exclusive 20th anniversary run with performances starting in August 2023 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre They were be the first replica sit down productions to open after Wicked reopened its main three productions Broadway the North American Tour and West End post covid in 2021 On October 19 2022 it was announced that Wicked would get a non replica revival in Brazil through a limited run starting March 9 2023 at the Santander Theater in Sao Paulo produced by Atelier de Cultura Lead actresses from the 2016 run Myra Ruiz and Fabi Bang were announced reprising their roles as Elphaba and Glinda respectively Their co stars include Tiago Barbosa as Fiyero Marcelo Medici as The Wizard Diva Menner as Madame Morrible Cleto Baccic as Doctor Dillamond Nayara Venancio as Nessarose and Dante Paccola as Boq Response editAwards and nominations edit Main article List of awards and nominations received by Wicked musical The original Broadway production of Wicked was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 2004 including Best Musical Book Orchestrations Original Score Choreography Costume Design Lighting Design Scenic Design while receiving two nominations for Best Actress for Menzel and Chenoweth 116 Menzel won the Best Actress award and the show also won the Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design notably losing Best Book Original Score and ultimately Best Musical to Avenue Q 117 The same year the show won 6 Drama Desk Awards out of 11 nominations including Outstanding Musical Book Director and Costume Design 118 119 Subsequent productions have received awards and nominations as well The West End production received five Laurence Olivier Award nominations 120 and later won the Audience Award for Most Popular Show at the 2010 award ceremony 121 The original Australian production received six Helpmann Awards out of 12 nominations including Best Musical Wicked was named the Best Musical of the Decade by Entertainment Weekly magazine and hailed a cultural phenomenon by Variety magazine 122 While not technically an award the character of Elphaba was named 79th on Entertainment Weekly s list of The 100 Greatest Characters of the Past 20 Years 123 Critical reception edit nbsp Touring cast members in the curtain call at a show in Omaha NebraskaIn its out of town tryout in San Francisco audience reaction was generally positive and although critics tended to compliment the aesthetic and spectacle of the show they disparaged the state of its book score and choreography 124 Dennis Harvey of Variety praised the production as sleekly directed snazzily designed and smartly cast but disliked its mediocre book trite lyrics and largely generic music 125 Karen D Souza of the San Jose Mercury News wrote that style over substance is the real theme in this Emerald City 124 The Broadway production opened on October 30 2003 to mixed reviews 126 127 128 129 However Chenoweth and Menzel received acclaim 129 Richard Zoglin of Time wrote If every musical had a brain a heart and the courage of Wicked Broadway really would be a magical place 130 Elysa Gardner of USA Today described it as the most complete and completely satisfying new musical I ve come across in a long time 131 Conversely Ben Brantley in the New York Times loved the production but panned the show itself calling it a sermon that so overplays its hand that it seriously dilutes its power with a generic score He noted that Glinda is such a showy role that the audience ends up rooting for her rather than the surprisingly colorless Elphaba who is nominally the hero 132 Despite these mixed reviews interest in Wicked spread quickly by word of mouth leading to record breaking success at the box office Speaking to The Arizona Republic in 2006 Schwartz said What can I say Reviews are reviews I know we divided the critics We didn t divide the audience and that s what counts 131 133 International productions have opened to different critical receptions The West End production opened to a slightly more upbeat response The majority of critics have appreciated the spectacle of the lavish production and the powerhouse performances of actors in the roles of the two witches However contemporaries have characterized the production as overblown occasionally preachy and suffering from more hype than heart Although Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph described it as at times a bit of a mess he praised Holzman s script described Kenneth Posner s lighting design as magical and lauded Menzel s Elphaba and Helen Dallimore s Glinda 134 Michael Billington of The Guardian gave it three out of five stars and remarked on the competence of all the lead actors however he complained that Wicked was all too typical of the modern Broadway musical efficient knowing and highly professional but more like a piece of industrial product than something that genuinely touches the heart or mind 135 Paul Taylor of The Independent called the topical political allegory well meaning but also melodramatic incoherent and dreadfully superficial and criticized the acting songs and book concluding that the production manages to feel at once overblown and empty 136 The Japanese version of Wicked by the Shiki Theatre Company 劇団四季 won acclaim in Tokyo Osaka Sapporo and Nagoya The original Wicked has toured in China with great popularity A Chinese review by Harvard scholar Hansong Li appeared in the Shanghai Review of Books 137 Commercial reception edit nbsp Playing at the Oriental Theatre for more than three years the Chicago production continually broke box office records Since its opening in 2003 the original Broadway production of Wicked has broken the house record at the Gershwin Theatre twenty times It regularly grosses in excess of 1 6 million each week making it one of the most lucrative productions on Broadway 138 139 With a 14 million capitalization the Broadway production took 15 months to break even earning back its initial investment by December 21 2004 15 In its first year it grossed more than 56 million 140 In the week ending January 1 2006 Wicked broke the record previously held by the musical The Producers for the highest weekly box office gross in Broadway history earning 1 610 934 141 It has gone on to break its own record numerous times reaching 1 715 155 in November 2006 142 1 839 950 during the 2007 Christmas week 2 086 135 for the week ending November 29 2009 143 2 125 740 just a few weeks later for the eight performances ending January 3 2010 144 and over 2 2 million in the week ending January 2 2011 145 In the first week of 2012 the Broadway production broke a record again earning 2 7 million Wicked once again broke this record in the final week of 2012 when it grossed 2 9 million 146 In the final weekend of 2013 Wicked became the first musical to gross 3 million in one week 6 Wicked s productions across North America and abroad have been equally financially successful The Los Angeles production took the local weekly gross record again from a performance of The Producers bringing in 1 786 110 in the week ending March 4 2007 147 The production joined its Broadway counterpart in setting a new record over Christmas 2007 with 1 949 968 with records also set in Chicago 1 418 363 148 and St Louis 2 291 608 149 to bring the collective gross of the seven worldwide productions to a world record breaking 11 2 million 150 A new suite of records were set over Christmas 2010 with house records broken in San Francisco 1 485 692 Providence 1 793 764 and Schenectady 1 657 139 as well as Broadway bringing the musical s one week gross in North America alone to 7 062 335 151 Wicked played to more than 2 million visitors in Chicago with a gross of over 200 million making it the highest grossing show in Chicago history by June 2007 152 153 With an opening week gross of 1 400 000 it continually set records and became the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago history 154 155 Producer David Stone told Variety we thought it the Chicago production would run 18 months then we d spend a year in Los Angeles and six months in San Francisco but sales stayed so strong that the producers created another road show and kept the show running in Chicago 156 In addition over 2 2 million saw the touring production in its first two years which grossed over 155 million 157 The Los Angeles production grossed over 145 million and was seen by more than 1 8 million patrons 158 Over the 672 performances of the San Francisco production Wicked sold over 1 million tickets with a cumulative gross of over 75 million 159 While the Broadway production of Wicked welcomed its 5 millionth audience member on September 29 2010 160 nbsp The Los Angeles production played at the Pantages Theatre for almost two years grossing more than 145 million Although West End theatres do not publish audited weekly grosses 161 the West End production of Wicked said it had set the record for highest one week gross in December 2006 taking 761 000 in the week ending December 30 162 163 On June 23 2008 the producers reported that over 1 4 million people had seen the London production and grosses had topped 50 million 164 The same reports stated that the show had consistently been one of the two highest grossing shows in the West End 163 For the week commencing December 27 2010 the London production grossed 1 002 885 the highest single week gross in West End theatre history 165 with over 20 000 people attending the nine performances of Wicked that week 166 The Melbourne production broke Australian box office records selling 24 750 tickets in three hours during pre sales and grossing over 1 3 million on the first business day after its official opening 167 On April 27 2009 the production passed the milestone of 500 000 patrons 168 When it transferred to Sydney the production broke all previous weekly box office records for a musical at the Capitol Theatre grossing 1 473 775 70 in one week during October 2009 169 In the week ending October 17 2010 Wicked became only the third musical in Broadway history to exceed 500 million in total gross By seats sold on Broadway it ranks tenth of all time 170 As of September 2011 Wicked s North American and international companies have cumulatively grossed nearly 2 5 billion and have been seen by nearly 30 million people worldwide 171 The original production still runs today and currently stands as the fourth longest running Broadway show in history 1 172 Wicked celebrated its 1 000th performance on Broadway on March 23 2006 173 Several other productions have also reached the 1 000th performance milestone including the first North American touring company on August 15 2007 174 the Chicago company on November 14 2007 154 the West End company on February 14 2009 175 the Australian company on May 7 2011 176 and the second North American touring company on August 4 2011 177 Marketing and promotion edit The success of the Broadway production has led to the development of an auxiliary show for purposes of marketing and promotion titled Behind the Emerald Curtain It was created by Sean McCourt an original Broadway production cast member who played the Witch s Father and Anthony Galde who was a long running swing in the Broadway company from 2004 to 2012 The tour features a ninety minute behind the scenes look at the props masks costumes and sets used in the show and includes a question and answer session with the cast members The Broadway tour is currently led by McCourt and long running ensemble member Lindsay K Northen 178 The tour also featured in the Los Angeles San Francisco and Chicago sit down productions and were each run by different long serving cast members of the show The tour provides a behind the scenes look at what goes into putting on the show every day Participants get a first hand account of what it is like to be a part of the massive production that Wicked is 179 To create Elphaba s green skin 40 pots of the commercially available MAC Chromacake landscape green make up are used per year It is water based for easy removal 180 As of 2021 it cost 800 000 a week to run the Broadway production 181 Legacy and anniversary tributes editTwo part film adaptation edit See also Wicked 2024 film and Wicked Part Two A film adaptation of Wicked had been discussed since 2004 In July 2010 it was reported that J J Abrams James Mangold Ryan Murphy and Rob Marshall were under consideration to direct a potential film adaptation 182 By July 2012 Universal Studios was reported to be producing the film 183 with Stephen Daldry as director and Winnie Holzman who wrote the musical s book to pen the screenplay 184 Universal announced in 2016 that the film would be released in theaters on December 20 2019 with Daldry still attached to direct and the script to be co written by the musical s creators Holzman and Schwartz 185 In May 2017 Schwartz stated that the film would feature at least two new songs 186 On August 31 2018 Universal put the film on hold due to production scheduling and gave the film adaptation of Cats which became a box office bomb the release date formerly held by the film 187 On February 8 2019 Universal announced a new release date of December 22 2021 for the Wicked film 188 On April 1 2020 Universal put the film on hold once again due to Universal shifting release dates amidst the COVID 19 pandemic and gave Sing 2 the 2021 release date 189 On October 20 2020 it was announced that Daldry had left the production due to scheduling conflicts 190 In February 2021 Deadline reported that Jon M Chu had signed on to direct the film adaptation 191 In July 2021 Schwartz stated that filming would begin in fall 2021 in Georgia but filming was later postponed to March 2022 and again to June 2022 192 In November 2021 Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were cast as Glinda and Elphaba respectively with production originally set to begin in summer 2022 in the United Kingdom 193 194 In April 2022 it was announced the film would be released in two parts the first one on November 27 2024 and the second one on November 26 2025 Jon M Chu explained why 195 As we prepared the production over the last year it became impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it As we tried to cut songs or trim characters those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie but two With more space we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters In June 2022 Stephen Schwartz added while confirming that a new song will be written for one of the two films 196 We found it very difficult to get past Defying Gravity without a break That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti climactic Even as a very long single movie it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate What we have discussed is that changes need to be additive to use producer Marc Platt s term They need to add something to the story or the characters They can t just be changes to do something different I feel confident that by the time the movie is made if we all continue to have the same degree of input I could have a conversation with anyone who has a question about any of the changes made from the stage show and justify why I think it s better for the movie On July 18 2022 it was revealed that with the filming process settled at the newly built Sky Studios in Elstree England rehearsals will begin in August with principal photography beginning in November 197 By September 2022 Jonathan Bailey was confirmed to have been cast as Fiyero 198 The following month Jeff Goldblum was reported to be in final talks to play the Wizard 199 In November 2022 Schwartz revealed that Part 2 of the movie will include two new songs to meet the demands of the storytelling 200 Then on December 7 2022 it was revealed that Ethan Slater will be playing Boq 201 On December 8 2022 it was announced that Michelle Yeoh will be playing Madame Morrible and Goldblum was confirmed to be playing the Wizard 202 On December 9 2022 it was reported that Keala Settle Bowen Yang Bronwyn James Aaron Teoh Colin Michael Carmichael and Marissa Bode had also joined the cast as Miss Coddle Pfannee ShenShen Avaric Nikidik and Nessarose respectively Bode s casting as Nessarose makes her the first wheelchair assisted actor to play the part 203 On December 9 2022 Chu confirmed on Twitter that filming had begun 204 15th anniversary tribute special edit In October 2018 an NBC broadcast A Very Wicked Halloween Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway was hosted by Menzel and Chenoweth and featured Ariana Grande Pentatonix Adam Lambert Ledisi the current Broadway company of the musical and others singing many of the musical numbers from Wicked to a live studio audience at the Marquis Theatre in New York The concert special was directed by Glenn Weiss 205 PBS Special edit On August 29 2021 the Public Broadcasting Service PBS network aired a Wicked concert special which was also hosted by Chenoweth and Menzel and featured Rita Moreno Cynthia Erivo Ariana DeBose Gavin Creel Ali Stroker Amber Riley Mario Cantone Jennifer Nettles Stephanie Hsu Alex Newell Isaac Cole Powell and Gabrielle Ruiz performing many of the musical numbers 206 Interpretations editQueer Interpretations edit Queer interpretations of Wicked encompass various perspectives regarding the sexualities of the main characters Elphaba and Glinda These interpretations predominantly depict one or both characters as harboring homoromantic feelings for each other 207 The lyrics and placement of the song What Is This Feeling evoke a tone reminiscent of common Golden Age duets between couples such as People Will Say We re in Love from Oklahoma and If I Loved You from Carousel 208 This has led to the interpretation of Elphaba and Glinda as a couple The subsequent sequence in Dancing Through Life has been likened to a modern version of the lilting waltzes seen in romantic scenes from musicals like My Fair Lady West Side Story and The Sound of Music 208 Moreover the line I think we ve found the place where we belong from One Short Day is seen as reflective of the theme of finding acceptance a sentiment many LGBT individuals aspire to achieve 208 A remix of the song Defying Gravity known for its themes of resisting expectations served as the anthem at the 2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is featured on the official CD from the event Additional arguments supporting a homoromantic interpretation of Wicked include Glinda s potential compulsory heterosexuality toward Fiyero and the suggestion that Glinda and Elphaba s relationship mirrors a common lesbian butch femme pairing 209 Stephen Schwartz the composer and lyricist of Wicked has stated that rather than presenting the pair as rivals the musical is essentially a love story between two women 210 Gregory Maguire the author of The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and a gay man himself prefers to leave the narrative open to interpretation 207 The Wicked production capitalized on this interpretation and began selling Friend of Elphaba a play on Friend of Dorothy merchandise during Pride Month 211 This interpretation has been critiqued stating that the show stands as a testament that friendships can be equally as important as romantic relationships and does not require a romance homosexual or heterosexual to find power 212 In popular culture editThe success of Wicked has made several of the show s songs popular and has resulted in references to the show characters and songs in popular culture The Broadway production has been featured in episodes of television programs including Brothers amp Sisters and The War at Home 213 For filming purposes the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles doubled for the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in Ugly Betty 214 in an episode titled Something Wicked This Way Comes in which Betty the show s protagonist goes to see Wicked on a date and accidentally stops the show 215 In the previous episode Brothers Betty gets tickets to see Wicked and discusses with a friend how much she relates to Elphaba s outcast status in a popularity and beauty oriented environment 216 Entertainer John Barrowman sang a version of The Wizard and I retitled The Doctor and I on his 2008 tour of the UK with adapted lyrics referring to his Doctor Who and Torchwood character Jack showing affection for The Doctor Kerry Ellis who played Elphaba in the West End and on Broadway recorded I m Not That Girl for the fifth anniversary edition of the original Broadway cast recording She also recorded her own rock version of Defying Gravity Both songs were produced by British musician Brian May and were featured on her extended play Wicked in Rock 2008 and debut album Anthems 2010 She performed her version of Defying Gravity at the 2008 Royal Variety Performance alongside May on guitar A dance remix of her rock version of Defying Gravity was later released in 2011 Louise Dearman who has played both Elphaba and Glinda in the West End released an acoustic version of Defying Gravity for the Wicked edition of her album Here Comes the Sun Her former co star and London Elphaba Rachel Tucker also covered Defying Gravity on her debut album The Reason 2013 Rapper Drake and singer Mika both sampled the musical s song in their songs Popular and Popular Song respectively 217 The closing song of Act I Defying Gravity is featured in the Glee episode Wheels where Rachel Lea Michele and Kurt Chris Colfer sing it separately in a competition for the lead solo from the first season 218 It was featured again in the season five episode 100 the hundredth episode in the series this time sung by the characters from the series Rachel Kurt and Mercedes Amber Riley Media as diverse as the anime series Red Garden the daytime drama Passions and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novels have all parodied Wicked s songs and characters 219 220 The end of the song Killer Instinct in Bring It On the Musical parodies the closing notes of No One Mourns the Wicked 221 The Oscar winning song Let It Go from the successful 2013 Disney computer animated musical feature film Frozen that also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature had been compared to Defying Gravity due to its similar theme and similar singing style 222 and was sung by the original Elphaba Idina Menzel Willemijn Verkaik voiced the Dutch and German versions of the role of Elsa in Frozen and sang Let It Go in these two languages This became another role originally played by Menzel that Verkaik played following her success in the German Dutch and English language productions of Wicked When Frozen came to Broadway the song Monster sung by Caissie Levy who also played Elphaba was compared to No Good Deed 223 In Lego Dimensions when Unikitty interacts with the Wicked Witch she says If you spent more time singing then maybe you wouldn t be so wicked witch References edit a b Wicked Internet Broadway Database Retrieved November 8 2007 Wild Stephi April 6 2023 Wicked Will Become The 4th Longest Running Show In Broadway History On April 11 Broadway World Wicked The Show Wicked Retrieved February 5 2014 Gans Andrew January 4 2011 Wicked Breaks Record for Highest Grossing Week in Broadway History Playbill Archived from the original on January 5 2011 Retrieved March 9 2011 Press release January 4 2011 Wicked Sets New Box Office Record with a Single Week Gross of over 1 Million Crowning a Record Breaking 2010 Archived July 24 2011 at the Wayback Machine wickedthemusical co uk Retrieved March 9 2011 a b Wicked Becomes First Broadway Musical to Gross Over 3 Million in One Week playbillBroadwayworld com Archived from the original on January 3 2014 Retrieved January 3 2014 McPhee Ryan July 11 2017 Wicked Surpasses The Phantom of the Opera as Second Highest Grossing Show in Broadway History Playbill John Bucchino and the Origins of Wicked MusicalSchwartz com Archived from the original on January 28 2020 Retrieved November 8 2007 a b Winn Steven May 11 2003 Wicked blesses Schwartz San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved August 21 2011 a b c d Wicked A Brief History Wicked West End Archived from the original on December 27 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Winnie Holzman Wicked s book writer MusicalSchwartz Retrieved November 8 2007 Buckley Michael June 6 2004 STAGE TO SCREENS A Chat with Wicked Nominee and TV Veteran Winnie Holzman Playbill Archived from the original on November 21 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Script MusicalSchwartz com Retrieved November 8 2007 Maguire Gregory 1995 Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West ReganBooks ISBN 978 0 06 039144 7 a b c d e f g h i j David Cote 2005 Wicked The Grimmerie A Behind the Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical Hyperion ISBN 978 1 4013 0820 9 Wicked the Musical in San Francisco Retrieved August 21 2011 Wicked Lyrics and Song Stories Dancing Through Life Retrieved August 21 2011 a b c Wicked History There s No Place Like Home Wicked Returns to San Francisco Archived from the original on March 30 2012 Retrieved August 21 2011 Hurwitt Robert June 12 2003 Every witch way San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved August 21 2011 a b Gans Andrew Wicked Flies Into San Francisco s Curran Theatre May 28 Playbill May 28 2003 Wicked Internet Broadway database accessed November 2 2019 Gans Andrew March 8 2005 High Flying Adored Wicked Tour Launches in Toronto March 8 Playbill Retrieved February 4 2020 a b Kleiman Kelly Wicked Aisle Say Chicago Retrieved January 11 2008 a b West End Cast broadwayworld com accessed November 2 2019 Gans Andrew February 21 2007 Wicked Officially Opens in Los Angeles Feb 21 Playbill Retrieved February 4 2020 James Erin October 7 2012 It s been a Wicked ride one more day in the Emerald City AussieTheatre com Retrieved February 4 2020 a b Gans Andrew Dromard Flynn Hall and Rioseco Will Join Kassebaum and Wicks in San Fran Wicked Playbill January 13 2009 a b Gans Andrew Dodd Yorke Caskey and McGowan to Star in Wicked s Second North American Tour Playbill February 9 2009 a b Wicked to Go on the U K Road in September 2013 playbill November 5 2012 Archived from the original on November 8 2012 Retrieved November 5 2012 a b James Erin July 8 2013 Durack returns as Glinda for Wicked 2014 AussieTheatre com Retrieved February 4 2020 a b Longman Will July 13 2016 Exclusive First look at the Wicked UK and international tour cast whatsonstage com 2nd uk ireland tour cast Simeon Truby Will Join Laura Pick in the UK and Ireland Tour of WICKED Wicked Broadway Musical Original IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved March 4 2024 a b c d Wicked Musical Themes MusicalSchwartz com Retrieved November 8 2007 Defying Gravity Musicnotes com Retrieved November 8 2007 a b Wicked CD liner Original Broadway Cast Universal Music 2003 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Jones Kenneth February 13 2005 Wicked s Cast Album Wins Grammy Award Playbill Archived from the original on November 21 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 WICKED Original Cast Recording Certified Platinum BroadwayWorld com November 30 2006 Retrieved November 8 2007 WICKED Cast Album Goes Double Platinum BroadwayWorld com November 8 2010 Retrieved November 11 2010 Gans Andrew September 26 2008 Anniversary Edition of Wicked CD to Feature Bonus Tracks by Rimes Goodrem and Menzel Playbill Archived from the original on September 28 2008 Retrieved September 28 2008 Wicked Die Hexen von Oz CD liner Ensemble Palladium Theater Stuttgart Universal Music 2007 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link ミュージカル ウィキッド 日本語版ＣＤ製作中 in Japanese 劇団四季 Shiki Theater Company May 8 2008 Archived from the original on May 12 2008 Retrieved May 15 2008 Macklin Karen May 28 2003 Witchy Ways SF Weekly Archived from the original on December 21 2007 Retrieved November 19 2007 Recovering Stephanie J Block to Begin in Wicked Tour on March 25 Broadway com March 17 2005 Retrieved April 11 2019 Gans Andrew July 30 2003 Amour Star Lands Role in Broadway s Wicked Playbill Archived from the original on December 25 2004 Retrieved December 17 2012 McPhee Ryan October 9 2020 Broadway Officially Extends Theatre Shutdown Playbill Retrieved October 9 2020 Aquilina Tyler May 12 2021 All the Broadway shows that are reopening this fall Entertainment Weekly Retrieved May 16 2021 Gans Andrew September 14 2021 Wicked Flies Back Into Broadway s Gershwin Theatre September 14 Retrieved September 15 2021 Cristi A A September 14 2021 VIDEO WICKED Welcomes Original Star Kristin Chenoweth Home for Opening Night Broadway World Retrieved March 5 2022 a b c Two Dozen Witches and 790 Million Later Wicked First National Tour Reaches Final Bow Playbill com March 9 2015 Retrieved March 9 2015 Gans Andrew March 23 2005 Wicked To Have Open Ended Chicago Run Playbill Archived from the original on February 5 2008 Retrieved January 11 2008 Gans Andrew January 25 2009 Wicked Ends Lengthy Chicago Sit Down Engagement Jan 25 Playbill Archived from the original on January 29 2009 Retrieved January 25 2009 Wicked Archived February 10 2010 at the Wayback Machine Broadwayinchicago com Jones Chris December 4 2010 Sing a long a Wicked Chicago Tribune Wicked Will Return to Chicago for Eight Week Run Archived April 7 2014 at the Wayback Machine Playbill Retrieved December 4 2013 Gans Andrew January 4 2007 John Rubinstein and Carol Kane Set for L A Wicked Archived June 4 2011 at the Wayback Machine Playbill Gans Andrew January 11 2009 Wicked Ends Lengthy Los Angeles Run Jan 11 Playbill Archived from the original on September 9 2012 Retrieved January 11 2009 Gans Andrew February 6 2009 Wicked with Wicks and Kassebaum Opens in San Francisco Feb 6 Playbill Archived from the original on March 12 2009 Retrieved March 6 2009 Gans Andrew Kassebaum and Wicks Will Head Cast of San Francisco Wicked Playbill December 16 2008 Gans Andrew September 5 2010 Wicked Flies Out of San Francisco Sept 5 Playbill Retrieved February 2 2021 Wicked s Second North American Tour Launches March 7 Playbill March 7 2009 Gans Andrew McPhee Ryan April 7 2020 National Tours of Broadway Titles Halt Engagements During COVID 19 Pandemic Playbill Retrieved July 28 2021 Wild Stephi July 26 2021 WICKED Will Be the First Broadway Tour to Resume Performances Kicking Off Next Week Plus All New Photos Broadway World Retrieved July 28 2021 Cutler Grace July 26 2021 WICKED National Tour Celebrates 5 000th Performance In Minneapolis Broadway World Retrieved July 30 2022 Gans Andrew Broadway Hit Wicked Opens in London Sept 27 Playbill September 27 2006 Wicked Celebrates 10th Anniversary in the West End Playbill com September 27 2016 Retrieved July 28 2021 Gans Andrew December 1 2006 Diva Talk Chatting with Wicked and Rags Star Eden Espinosa Playbill Archived from the original on January 30 2010 Retrieved November 9 2007 They re going to implement the changes made for the London production of Wicked in the L A company Idina Menzel to Star in London s Wicked playbill com Playbill April 21 2006 Archived from the original on April 7 2014 Retrieved December 18 2012 Gans Andrew She s Not That Girl Menzel Departs London Wicked Dec 30 Playbill December 30 2006 The West End and UK Theatre venues shut down until further notice due to coronavirus London Theatre Direct March 17 2020 Retrieved July 28 2021 Return to Oz Wicked to Resume West End Performances in September Broadway com Retrieved July 28 2021 Wicked Confirms London Cast Sophie Evans Joins Returning Cast To Play Glinda Performances Resume 15th September 2021 BestofTheatre co uk September 2 2021 Retrieved September 3 2021 Wood Alex Wicked releases first look at new cast including Lucie Jones as Elphaba Whatsonstage January 24 2022 Let us be grateful Tonight Wicked becomes the 11th longest running production in West End history Twitter September 23 2023 Book Tickets Full cast announced for Wicked UK and Ireland tour WhatsOnStage www whatsonstage com September 26 2017 Wood Alex February 27 2023 Wicked tour announces lead casting WhatsOnStage Retrieved February 28 2023 Die Vampire kehren zuruck March 19 2009 Archived March 23 2009 at the Wayback Machine in Stuttgarter Zeitung in German Wicked Oberhausen stage entertainment de June 18 2009 Archived September 1 2011 at the Wayback Machine WICKED Das Musical WICKED Das Musical in German Retrieved December 16 2020 Cast fur Wicked in Hamburg bekanntgegeben May 18 2021 Wicked Musical Front Row King Archived from the original on September 3 2011 Retrieved November 9 2007 Gans Andrew February 12 2008 Harrison Durack Guest Mills Callea and Kirkpatrick To Star in Australia s Wicked Playbill Archived from the original on September 6 2012 Retrieved February 22 2008 Staff writer October 2 2008 Theatre Great Rob Guest Dies after Suffering a Stroke Herald Sun Australia Archived from the original on May 8 2009 Retrieved October 28 2008 Troy Dodds December 30 2009 Amanda Harrison will return Aussie Theatre Retrieved February 6 2013 Bryce Hallett February 9 2010 Wicked effect on star s voice forces her to call it quits Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved February 6 2013 Litchfield Neil Meet the Rising Wicked Witch of the West Stage Whispers Retrieved June 30 2015 David Harris Becomes the New Fiyero for Wicked Australia Archived December 9 2010 at the Wayback Machine broadwayiswicked com November 12 2010 James Erin August 22 2011 Major Musicals Openings and Closings Retrieved August 22 2011 McRae Ross Magical farewell as Wicked closes Yahoo7 Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved June 30 2015 Official Singapore Website Wicked Singapore Archived from the original on May 3 2012 Retrieved August 22 2011 Something Wicked Is Coming To Singapore PDF Wicked Singapore Archived from the original PDF on March 31 2012 Retrieved August 22 2011 Marina Bay Sands Event Synopsis Entertainment marinabaysands com Archived from the original on January 18 2012 Retrieved September 18 2012 Wicked coming to Auckland voxy co nz Archived from the original on November 22 2018 Retrieved February 15 2013 Time to get Wicked Opening date Jan 22 2014 philstar com Archived from the original on August 16 2013 Retrieved August 15 2013 Manila run of Wicked extended to March 9 ABS CBNnews com February 5 2014 Retrieved March 15 2014 WICKED Begins 10th Anniversary Tour Wicked the Musical Archived from the original on April 20 2020 Retrieved June 30 2015 WICKED has a new Glinda Wicked the Musical Archived from the original on January 26 2021 Retrieved June 30 2015 Simon Gallaher to Join WICKED in Perth amp Brisbane Broadway World Retrieved June 30 2015 Papain Jessie Wicked ends on a high note Yahoo 7 Archived from the original on March 19 2016 Retrieved June 30 2015 Le Cross Alannah Wicked Timeout 7 Retrieved November 4 2023 Attractions Wicked listing Archived July 16 2011 at the Wayback Machine Universal Studios Japan Retrieved December 10 2010 What are these December 9 2010 10th Anniversary for Universal Japan Blooloop com Archived from the original on December 21 2010 Retrieved December 30 2010 劇団四季 四季なびgation 02 ウィキッド in Japanese Shiki Theatre Company February 25 2009 Archived from the original on May 7 2012 Retrieved May 25 2009 Ongoing Productions shiki jp Archived from the original on November 29 2014 Retrieved July 24 2013 ウィキッド 札幌公演が千秋楽を迎えました in Japanese Shiki Theatre Company November 7 2016 Retrieved April 9 2019 Wicked in Finland musicalschwartz com Retrieved December 10 2010 Wicked Goes to Denmark 2010 2011 BroadwayWorld com December 22 2009 Medvirkende Det Ny Teater Detnyteater dk Archived from the original on December 8 2010 Retrieved December 30 2010 Roberta Valentini Wird Die Neue Elphaba In Oberhausen in German stage entertainment de Archived September 5 2011 at the Wayback Machine Wicked Cartelera de Teatro DF October 4 2013 위키드 작품 안내 지난 공연 대한민국 최고의 뮤지컬 전용 공연장 샤롯데씨어터 Archived from the original on March 31 2015 Retrieved 2014 11 28 T4F Musicais Timeline Photos Facebook facebook com Archived from the original on February 26 2022 Associacao entre T4F e Moeller amp Botelho traz Pippin a Sao Paulo Estadao com 2004 Tony Awards BroadwayWorld com Retrieved November 8 2007 Tony Awards 2004 The Winners BBC News June 7 2004 Retrieved November 8 2007 wicked This Way Comes 6 Drama Desk Award Wins The Hollywood Reporter May 18 2004 Retrieved November 8 2007 2007 Drama Desk Award Winners Drama Desk Awards Archived from the original on April 14 2016 Retrieved November 9 2007 Nominations Announced for 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards Society of London Theatre January 18 2007 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Spring Awakening Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Wicked Win Olivier Awards Playbill Archived from the original on May 25 2010 Retrieved December 30 2010 WICKED Named Best Stage Musical of the Decade by Entertainment Weekly August Osage County Best Play Broadwayworld com Retrieved December 30 2010 Broadway Gals Elphaba Mimi and Violet Among Entertainment Weekly s Top 100 Characters Broadway com May 28 2010 Retrieved December 30 2010 a b Broadway Staff June 12 2003 Were Critics Wicked to B way Bound Tuner Broadway com Retrieved August 21 2011 Harvey Dennis June 12 2003 Wicked Variety Retrieved August 21 2011 Wicked reviews New York Theatre Guide Archived from the original on December 12 2016 Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Talkin Broadway Retrieved November 8 2007 Toronto s Wicked star says hit musical got boost from TV s Glee Waterloo Region Record October 22 2010 Retrieved August 31 2021 a b Isherwood Charles August 21 2014 It s Still Popular Being Green The New York Times Retrieved August 31 2021 reviews for this Stephen Schwartz Winnie Holzman show skewed mixed to negative But the notices for the stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel were rapturous Zoglin Richard November 17 2003 Theater Which Witch Was Wicked Time Archived from the original on July 8 2007 a b Gardner Elysa October 30 2003 Something Wicked comes to Broadway USA Today Brantley Ben October 31 2003 There s Trouble in Emerald City The New York Times Lawson Kyle August 20 2006 The little musical that could A critical flop Wicked sets box office records The Arizona Republic Retrieved November 11 2007 permanent dead link Spencer Charles September 28 2006 Flawed But Witches Spell Still Works The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on February 16 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Billington Michael September 28 2006 Wicked The Musical The Guardian Retrieved November 8 2007 Taylor Paul September 28 2006 First Night Wicked Apollo Victoria London The Independent London Retrieved August 24 2011 Li Hansong August 25 2022 李汉松评音乐剧 魔法坏女巫 善恶秩序的颠覆和重建 上海书评 澎湃新闻 The Paper www thepaper cn The Paper 澎湃 Shanghai Review of Books 上海书评 Retrieved September 8 2022 Broadway Grosses Wicked broadwayworld com Ku Andrew November 5 2007 Broadway Grosses Playbill Archived from the original on November 9 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked on Broadway Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Has Highest Box Office Gross for Any Show in History 1 610 934 BroadwayWorld com January 3 2006 Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Smashes Broadway Weekly Box Office Record BroadwayWorld com November 27 2006 Retrieved November 8 2007 It s Official WICKED Becomes the Highest Weekly Grossing Broadway Musical in History broadwayworld com November 30 2009 Retrieved November 30 2009 WICKED Breaks Own Record Becomes the Highest Grossing Show in History Over Christmas Week Broadwayworld com Retrieved December 30 2010 WICKED Shatters Own Record for Highest Grossing Bway Show Broadwayworld com Retrieved March 20 2011 WICKED Sets New Broadway and Touring Records in 2012 Broadwayworld com Retrieved January 3 2013 Wicked Breaks Los Angeles Box Office Records BroadwayWorld com March 5 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 George Doug January 3 2008 It s a Wicked Good Week Chicago Tribune Retrieved January 11 2008 BWW News Desk Wicked Shatters Box Office Records Worldwide BroadwayWorld com Wicked Smashes Records Earning 11 2 Million in One Week Broadway com January 2 2008 Retrieved January 4 2008 WICKED Breaks Its Own Box Office Record To Become The Highest Grossing Show In Broadway History Broadwayworld com Retrieved December 30 2010 Carter Kelley L November 14 2009 Wicked Actor Ready for 1 000 More Shows Chicago Tribune Retrieved November 17 2007 Wicked Now Longest Running Musical in Chicago History Broadwayworld com Wisdom Digital Media June 21 2007 Retrieved January 11 2007 a b Wicked Hits 1000th Chicago Performance Nov 14 BroadwayWorld com November 7 2007 Retrieved January 4 2008 Wicked Now Longest Running Musical in Chicago History BroadwayWorld com June 21 2007 Retrieved November 9 2007 Oxman Steven January 22 2007 Touring Shows Stay in the Loop Broadway in Chicago Boost Economy Variety Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Tickets ticketdove com Archived from the original on December 17 2012 Retrieved February 9 2014 Wicked Bids LA Farewell Leaves Happy Fans and Broken Records in Its Wake BroadwayWorld com January 12 2009 Retrieved January 13 2009 Wiegand David April 26 2010 Curtain To Close on Wicked After 660 Performances San Francisco Chronicle p E3 Photo Coverage WICKED Celebrates 5 Million and Going Strong Broadwayworld com Retrieved December 30 2010 Shenton Mark October 31 2006 Spinning the Grosses and Spinning the Gossip The Stage Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved November 8 2007 Wicked Sets Record for West End BBC News October 31 2006 Retrieved November 8 2007 a b Harriet Thorpe in Morrible in West End Wicked April 14 Wicked The Musical UK February 20 2008 Retrieved April 1 2008 The hit musical Wicked reaches 50 million gross and continues to break records West End production official site June 23 2008 Archived from the original on July 3 2008 Retrieved July 3 2008 Wicked Sets New Box Office Record For London Theatres WICKED SETS NEW BOX OFFICE RECORD WITH A SINGLE WEEK GROSS OF OVER 1 MILLION CROWNING A RECORD BREAKING 2010 Wicked the Musical Archived from the original on July 24 2011 Retrieved March 20 2011 Wicked News wickedthemusical com au Archived July 22 2008 at the Wayback Machine Dance Class welcomes ist 500 000th patron Archived from the original on April 15 2018 Retrieved May 27 2009 Dodds Troy Wicked Breaks Records Archived December 6 2010 at the Wayback Machine Aussietheatre com au October 15 2009 Grosses Cumulative Archived May 7 2016 at the Wayback Machine Broadwayworld com WICKED The Broadway Musical Australia Wickedthemusical com au Archived from the original on January 2 2015 Retrieved September 18 2012 Longest Runs on Broadway Playbill August 14 2011 Wicked Flies to 1 000th Broadway Performance March 23 BroadwayWorld com March 16 2006 Retrieved November 8 2007 Gans Andrew August 15 2007 Wicked Tour Celebrates 1 000th Performance Aug 15 Playbill Archived from the original on November 10 2007 Retrieved February 12 2008 WICKED CELEBRATES 1000th PERFORMANCE 14 FEBRUARY Wicked Official website February 16 2009 Archived from the original on February 25 2009 Retrieved April 23 2009 WICKED The Broadway Musical Australia Wickedthemusical com au May 6 2011 Archived from the original on October 3 2011 Retrieved October 30 2011 Wicked 2nd National Tour FANPAGE Facebook Retrieved October 30 2011 Behind the Emerald Curtain Broadway in Chicago Archived from the original on January 21 2008 Retrieved January 11 2008 Behind the Emerald Curtain official website Behind the Emerald Curtain Retrieved November 9 2009 Exclusive footage of Elphaba s make up process in Wicked Daily Echo July 12 2018 Retrieved August 15 2018 How Much Does It Cost to Mount a Broadway Musical the Drama Teacher January 11 2009 Fleming Mike Jr July 9 2010 Wicked To Cast Movie Spell For Universal Creators Meeting With Hollywood Directors Deadline Hollywood Denette Kelsey July 12 2012 Universal Moves Forward With WICKED Film Adaptation Stephen Daldry to Direct Broadway World Schaefer Sandy January 8 2015 Wicked Movie Musical Producer Confirms Director amp 2016 Release Target Screen Rant McClintock Pamela June 16 2016 Universal s Wicked Movie Adaptation Gets December 2019 Release The Hollywood Reporter Burlingame Jon May 15 2017 Stephen Schwartz Wicked Movie to Feature at Least Two New Songs Variety D Alessandro Anthony August 31 2018 Cats Will Pounce During Christmas 2019 Frame Wicked Moves Deadline Hollywood Hemmert Kylie February 8 2019 Wicked Feature Adaptation Moved to December 2021 Comingsoon net Tartaglione Nancy April 1 2020 Minions The Rise Of Gru Sing 2 Set New 2021 Release Dates Wicked Still Brewing Slot Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 1 2020 Retrieved April 1 2020 Fleming Mike Jr October 20 2020 Wicked Director Stephen Daldry Exits Universal Movie Musical Adaptation Deadline Hollywood Kroll Justin February 2 2021 Wicked Jon M Chu Tapped To Direct Universal s Film Adaptation Deadline Hollywood Retrieved February 2 2021 Wood Alex July 2 2021 Stephen Schwartz Wicked movie to start production later this year in Georgia WhatsOnStage Retrieved July 2 2021 Shafer Ellise Donnelly Matt November 4 2021 Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to Star in Wicked Musical for Universal Variety Retrieved November 4 2021 Thomas Carly March 27 2023 Ariana Grande Shares Behind the Scenes Look With Cynthia Erivo From Wicked Set The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved March 27 2023 D Alessandro Anthony April 26 2022 Universal Releasing Wicked Musical In Two Parts Deadline Retrieved April 26 2022 Willman Chris June 28 2022 Wicked Songwriter Stephen Schwartz on Why the Movie Must Be a Two Parter Nothing Can Follow Defying Gravity Variety Retrieved June 28 2022 Major Michael July 18 2022 WICKED Movie to Begin Principal Photography in November BroadwayWorld Retrieved July 18 2022 Malkin Marc September 21 2022 Jonathan Bailey Joins Wicked Movies as Fiyero EXCLUSIVE Variety Retrieved September 21 2022 Malkin Marc October 29 2022 Jeff Goldblum in Final Talks to Join Wicked Movies as the Wizard EXCLUSIVE Variety Retrieved October 29 2022 Major Michael Second WICKED Movie Will Include Two New Songs BroadwayWorld com Retrieved December 1 2022 Stewart Zachary December 7 2022 Ethan Slater to Play Boq in Wicked Movie theatermania com Retrieved December 7 2022 Major Michael Michelle Yeoh to Play Madame Morrible In WICKED Movie Jeff Goldblum Confirmed as The Wizard Broadway World Retrieved December 8 2022 Kroll Justin December 9 2022 Wicked Adaptation At Universal Rounds Out Inclusive All Star Cast With Marissa Bode Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James Deadline Retrieved December 9 2022 Lost my phone so I couldn t keep up today with the announcements especially while we were shooting day 3 here in London Just know things are going great The WickedMovie is really happening and I have 3 days of footage of prove it oh also JEFF GOLDBLUME IS THE WIZARD Twitter Archived from the original on December 14 2022 Retrieved December 11 2022 Lenker Maureen Lee October 29 2018 The 5 best moments in A Very Wicked Halloween Entertainment Weekly Kristin Chenoweth amp Idina Menzel to Host Wicked in Concert PBS Special Full Cast Announced August 5 2021 a b Grover Hannah 2022 From Fandom to Future Representation Sapphic and Alternative Media as Creation Masters thesis Concordia University a b c Wolf Stacy Ellen 2008 Defying Gravity Queer Conventions in the Musical Wicked Theatre Journal 60 1 1 21 doi 10 1353 tj 2008 0075 ISSN 1086 332X Dorn Isabel February 17 2023 Musical Review Throwback Queer Coding in Wicked The Lawrentian Archived from the original on January 10 2024 Retrieved January 9 2024 How the once mocked musical Wicked became a global hit The Independent October 7 2021 Retrieved January 10 2024 Rose HaleyJane Celebrate WICKED s 20th Anniversary With Merch and Souvenirs in Our Theatre Shop BroadwayWorld com Retrieved January 10 2024 Schrader Valerie Lynn November 25 2015 Friends For Good Wicked A New Musical and the Idealization of Friendship Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal 40 1 doi 10 56816 2471 0032 1072 ISSN 2471 0032 Matriarchy Brothers amp Sisters Season 1 Episode 23 May 20 2007 WICKED GETS UGLY London Theatre Direct October 30 2007 Retrieved August 17 2015 Something Wicked This Way Comes Ugly Betty Season 2 Episode 6 November 1 2007 Brothers Ugly Betty Season 1 Episode 15 February 8 2007 Mika samples Wicked s Popular in song about bullying and homophobia Archived May 18 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 23 2012 Milzoff Rebecca November 16 2009 Glee s Chris Colfer on Owning Defying Gravity and Resembling a Hummel Figurine Vulture Retrieved January 2 2021 At Every Window Red Garden Season 1 Episode 5 October 31 2006 Whedon Joss w Jeanty Georges p Owens Andy i Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight The Long Way Home vol 3 no 1 May 21 2007 Dark Horse Comics Killer Instinct Bring it on the Musical YouTube September 30 2012 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Frozen Defying meteorology Chicago Tribune November 26 2013 Retrieved March 13 2014 MASH Wicked No Good Deed amp Frozen Monster Archived from the original on October 29 2021 via www youtube com External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Wicked musical Official production sites North America Wicked at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Wicked at AllMusic nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wicked musical amp oldid 1216745971, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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