The book that inspired the musical Wicked, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, was published in 1995. The novel is a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic and the Judy Garland-starring film The Wizard of Oz.
Elphaba, the young wicked witch in the musical who lives before Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz, is ostracised by the other witches because of her skin colour. As a student at Shiz University, she crosses paths with a young Galinda (later Glinda). Glinda, unlike Elphaba, is blonde and conventionally attractive. The two roommates are at first mortal foes but end up becoming the closest of pals.
The revelation by Elphaba that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a fiction drives a wedge between the two. As far as the Wizard is concerned, the only thing that would make the animals of Oz more frightening would be if they stopped talking and became incoherent creatures. After Elphaba exposes the corruption in Oz and tries to stop it, she is branded as the Wicked Witch by the townsfolk, who have been persuaded to support the Wizard. Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship is put to the test by Elphaba’s crusade, as Glinda struggles to decide between doing the right thing and supporting her friend in the face of pressure from the Oz establishment.
Wicked is a musical about female friendship, discrimination, and government corruption that reveals the origin stories of several beloved characters from The Wizard of Oz, including the witches, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.
Where can I see Wicked?
Wicked is going to have UK & Ireland Tour and is scheduled to be first running at the Edinburgh Playhouse, located at 18-22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA, United Kingdom. Book your tickets here.
Edinburgh Playhouse is a 1300 seater venue located on Greenside Place in the heart of Scotland’s capital city. It is one of the UK’s most popular venues, and has hosted a wide variety of productions, including musicals such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, as well as plays, opera, and dance performances. The playhouse first opened its doors in 1929, and since then it has undergone several renovations. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular with tourists, who come from all over the world to experience the best of Scottish culture. Whether you’re looking for a night of entertainment or a daytime activity, Edinburgh Playhouse is sure to have something for you.
When did ‘Wicked’ premiere?
When Stephen Schwartz and his friend, songwriter John Bucchino, went on vacation to Hawaii in 1996, that’s when Wicked got its start. Schwarz was advised by Bucchino to read Wicked by Gregory Maguire. Schwartz carried it out. The Wicked Witch of the West musical idea captured his heart right away, and he quickly called his agent to secure the rights to the book. Unfortunately, Maguire had given Universal Pictures, who wanted to make a movie, the rights to adapt the book. Schwartz did, however, eventually succeed, and the popular show was created.
1998: Schwartz is succeeds in convincing Maguire to grant him ownership of Wicked. Marc Platt, the president of Universal, joined him in producing the musical. The book for Wicked was then written by Schwartz in collaboration with Winnie Holzman, a screenwriter.
2000: A series of workshops are used to develop Wicked. Glinda’s part will be read by Kristin Chenoweth, and Elphaba’s will be read by Stephanie J. Block. Idina Menzel is then cast in the role of Elphaba. Along with David Stone serving as producer, Wayne Cilento serving as choreographer, and Joe Mantello serving as director.
2003: In May, San Francisco hosts the first full production of Wicked. The reviews were mixed, with many claiming that Menzel’s Elphaba was overshadowed by Chenoweth’s Glinda. Wicked undergoes a retooling, with new songs added and other songs removed, and debuts on Broadway in October. Joel Grey joins the cast of the Wizard on Broadway. Wicked is still being performed today.
Wicked begins its debut U.S. tour in 2005. Elphaba is portrayed by Stephanie J. Block, and Glinda is played by Kendra Kassebaum. Ana Gasteyer plays Elphaba and Kate Reinders plays Glinda in Chicago’s first sit-down performance of the musical Wicked, which debuts at the Oriental Theatre. Up until 2009, the Chicago production would be staged.
2006: Idina Menzel returns to the role of Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, which also welcomes Helen Dallimore as Glinda. Wicked is continuing on stage in the West End.
2008: The Regent Theatre hosts the first Australian performance of Wicked before it goes on tour.
2011: The Asia leg of Wicked’s tour kicks off at Singapore’s Grand Theater. It is broadcast in South Korea and the Philippines.
2013: Manchester’s Palace Theatre hosts the start of the inaugural Wicked U.K. tour. It would last till 2015.
Additional productions Other nations that have seen Wicked performances include Germany, Finland, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan. Non-replica shows, which differ from the original Broadway staging in that they include new costumes and special effects, have also been mounted in Finland, Denmark, Germany, and South Korea. Around the world, Elphaba has genuinely defied gravity.
Who is the author of Wicked?
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Wicked, while Winnie Holzman wrote the book.
Schwartz is a well-known composer for stage and television. His stage productions include Godspell and Pippin. The songs Schwartz composed for the DreamWorks animated picture The Prince of Egypt, the Disney animated movie Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, are likewise well known (Schwartz has also adapted the latter two into stage musicals). Three Academy Awards, one Golden Globe Award, one Tony Award, and one were given to Schwartz.
Screenwriter Winnie Holzman was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the ABC adolescent drama My So-Called Life. Once and Again is the other television show for which she has written. In addition to Wicked, Holzman also wrote the 1987 off-Broadway production of Birds of Paradise.
Wicked characters
Elphaba and Glinda are the show’s two main characters, but there are many more interesting people in the ensemble as well, including several new names among the familiar ones from The Wizard of Oz. The show’s key characters and the actors who played them are listed below.
Elphaba: Elphaba is an outcast in Oz due of her green colour, but she has a strong moral compass and is determined to succeed. In spite of their initial animosity, she and Glinda eventually became close friends. Idina Menzel, Stephanie J. Block, Ana Gasteyer, Eden Espinosa, Carmen Cusack, Caissie Levy, and Lindsay Mendez are just a few of the well-known performers who have portrayed Elphaba.
Elphaba’s best friend Glinda is vivacious and outgoing. This produces tension between Elphaba and Glinda, who are otherwise good friends, because Elphaba is more likely to disobey the rules than Glinda is. Kristin Chenoweth, Megan Hilty, Patti Murin, Katie Rose Clarke, and Annaleigh Ashford are just a few of the well-known actresses that have performed Glinda.
Fiyero is a gorgeous man who just wants to have fun. His initial crush on Glinda turns out to be for Elphaba. Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Taye Diggs, and Justin Guarini are just a few of the performers that have played Fiyero.
The Wizard: Although he is known as Oz’s terrifying ruler, the Wizard describes himself as a “sentimental guy.” Joel Grey and Ben Vereen are only two of many famous actors who play the Wizard.
Madame Morrible, headmistress of Shiz, pairs Elphaba and Glinda as dorm mates. Elphaba impresses her with her potential as a great witch, but when she exposes the Wizard’s corruption, she turns against Elphaba and becomes his publicity secretary.
Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, who also happens to be wheelchair-bound and receives a pair of ruby red shoes as a present. Nessarose has feelings for Boq, who has feelings for Glinda.
Boq: A munchkin who is in love with Glinda but stays with Nessarose out of obligation.
A professor at Shiz by the name of Doctor Dillamond, who, due to his status as a talking animal, is subject to prejudice and may soon lose his voice, is being bullied by students. He encourages Elphaba to defy the Oz government.
What honours has Wicked received?
The musical Wicked is a huge hit, much like Glinda herself. Some of the honours that Wicked has received are listed here.
Best Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design, and Best Costume Design were among the Tony Awards won by Wicked. The musical was one of the nominees for a total of ten awards.
When it came to the Drama Desk Awards, Wicked swept the board, taking home the top honours in seven categories. These included Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Director of a Musical, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Set Design, and Outstanding Costume Design.
Grammys: “Wicked” is named Best Musical Theater Album.
Major Wicked productions
Dancing its way through life since its Broadway debut in 2003, Wicked has won hearts all across the globe. Details about some of the most memorable performances of Wicked can be found below.
Elphaba in the 2003 Broadway production of Wicked was first performed by Idina Menzel. On the other hand, yellow bricks didn’t always mark the way to Oz. Menzel fractured her ribs when she tumbled through a trap door during a performance of the show. It didn’t stop her from playing Elphaba in London, and she still performs “Defying Gravity” at her gigs.
Other than Menzel, every member of the London cast in 2006 is new to the Broadway version. After four months on the London stage as Elphaba, Idina Menzel was replaced by Kerry Ellis.
One of the most striking things about this 2006 production from Japan is how short its running time is at the Universal Studios Japan amusement park. Discarded characters include Fiyero, Madame Morrible, Boq, Nessarose, and Doctor Dillamond.
This year’s “A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway” tribute to the musical Wicked will appear on NBC. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth hosted the special. Musical numbers are sung by Ariana Grande, Pentatonix, Adam Lambert, and Ledisi. Finally, the evening culminates with a performance of “For Good” by Menzel and Chenoweth, accompanied by a few of the show’s most famous Elphabas and Glindas.
A Wicked concert special will broadcast on PBS in 2021, also hosted by Chenoweth and Menzel. Musical numbers are performed by Rita Moreno, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana DeBose, Gavin Creel, Ali Stroker, Amber Riley, Mario Cantone, Jennifer Nettles, Stephanie Hsu, Alex Newell, Issac Powell, and Gabrielle Ruiz.
Adaptations of Wicked for the screen
Since 2004, Universal Pictures has been developing a cinematic adaptation. It was announced in February 2021 that In the Heights director Jon M. Chu will also be helming the cinematic adaptation of Wicked. In November 2021, the two lead cast members were announced: Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Grammy winner Ariana Grande as Glinda. Wicked will begin filming in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2022. In an interview, Idina Menzel stated that she and Kristin Chenoweth were no longer able to portray their respective roles.
Interesting Wicked facts
Everything an Ozian needs to know about Wicked, from where to buy Elphaba’s signature green cosmetics to how the musical differs from the source material.
There is no character name for the Wicked Witch of the West in either the movie or the literature. Elphaba is an acronym for L. Frank Baum, which is why author Gregory Maguire gave her that name in his book Wicked.
While inspired by Gregory Maguire’s book of the same name, Wicked deviates greatly from the source material. Elphaba is the focus of the novel, while Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship is at the heart of the musical. A more positive ending is provided, and there is significantly less explicit material than in the source work. Maguire is a huge fan of the musical, praising its central theme of female friendship as “extremely compelling” and “a good explanation” for the show’s continued popularity.
In order to get the rights to Wicked from Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz played him the show’s opening number, “No One Mourns the Wicked.” What a relief!
It didn’t take long for Glinda and Wicked to become household names. It only took 15 months for the musical to repay its $14 million investment (on Broadway, musicals typically take two to three years to break even, and most musicals don’t break even at all). Wicked overtook The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway’s highest-grossing show in 2017.
Glinda was based on Kristin Chenoweth’s personality, which is why Stephen Schwartz wrote the part for her. Chenoweth’s performance elevated the character from a supporting one to a central one, and the show’s focus shifted from Glinda’s villainy to Elphaba’s companionship.
The first candidate for Elphaba was Stephanie J. Block. However, Block lacked significant acting credits at the time, and the production company was unwilling to stake its musical on the shoulders of an unproven actress. Therefore, the role of Elphaba was given to Idina Menzel, a rising star in the musical theatre world after her success in Rent. Later, Block portrayed Elphaba on Broadway from 2007 to 2008 and in the first national tour of Wicked. What a lovely coincidence that she and Menzel have both won Tony Awards.
Wicked features 450 outfits, 240 pairs of handmade shoes, and 90 wigs. The green makeup that Elphaba’s actress must apply every night takes half an hour to apply. MAC’s Chromacake in “landscape green” was utilised to create Elphaba’s look, and it can be purchased at most drugstores. This means that anyone can play the role of Elphaba on Halloween.
Wicked The Musical UK & Ireland Tour
The smash-hit musical Wicked is finally coming to the UK and Ireland! Based on the beloved novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her unlikely friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The two young women must grapple with issues of morality, ambition, and prejudice as they strive to find their place in a complex and often hostile world. With its spectacular special effects and thrilling musical numbers, Wicked is an unforgettable theatrical experience that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. So don’t miss your chance to see this magical show – get your tickets now!
