Wicked is a musical based on the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, which tells the backstory of the characters from the classic novel and movie, "The Wizard of Oz." The show was first announced in 2001, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003, after a successful out-of-town tryout in San Francisco.
Wicked tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good Witch, and how their lives intersect with those of the other characters from "The Wizard of Oz." The show has been praised for its catchy songs, dazzling costumes, and strong performances, and has become a beloved classic of the musical theatre canon.
Wicked has been a commercial and critical success, running continuously on Broadway for over 18 years and grossing over $1 billion in ticket sales. The show has won numerous awards, including three Tony Awards and a Grammy Award, and has spawned international productions in London, Tokyo, Sydney, and other major cities around the world.
Wicked has also become a cultural phenomenon, with its songs, including "Defying Gravity" and "Popular," becoming popular standards in the musical theatre world. The show has been praised for its themes of friendship, acceptance, and self-discovery, and for its message that people should not be judged by their appearances or their labels.
Stephen Schwartz wrote Wicked, a 2003 musical. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version.
The show follows the witches of Oz before and after Dorothy Gale arrives from Kansas. Wicked follows Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later Glinda the Good Witch), two unlikely allies who strive to overcome their differences, a shared love interest, the Wizard's corrupt administration, and Elphaba's fall from grace.
After pre-Broadway tryouts at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in May and June 2003, Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone's Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003. Joe Mantello directed and Wayne Cilento choreographed. Elphaba, Glinda, and the Wizard were originally played by Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Joel Grey. Three Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy went to the original Broadway cast CD. With its 6,681st performance, it became Broadway's fifth-longest running show. The show usually lasts two hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.
The Broadway show inspired many international productions, including a West End run. Wicked set weekly box-office records in Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London. London, Broadway, and both North American touring plays shattered their weekly gross records on January 2, 2011. In 2013, the Broadway show earned $3.2 million. Wicked joined The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King as the only Broadway plays to earn $1 billion in 2016. Wicked became Broadway's second-highest-grossing show in 2017. Wicked has performed in 16 countries and continues.
Jon M. Chu is directing a two-part film starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. Christmas 2024 and 2025 will release both sections.
