Before Dorothy, before the flying house, and before the yellow brick road, there was Elphaba and Galinda. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, has captivated audiences on Broadway for over 20 years, offering a fresh perspective on the classic Wizard of Oz tale.
Based on the book by Gregory Maguire, the musical centers on the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular and ambitious girl who embraces the spotlight. As they navigate school, politics, and social expectations, their paths diverge, eventually leading Elphaba to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda to assume the role of the Good Witch. Through this journey, Wicked delves into questions of friendship, self-identity, and the true nature of good and evil, all while shedding light on familiar characters from Oz in surprising ways.
After opening on Broadway in 2003, Wicked earned three Tony Awards, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The original Broadway cast featured powerhouse performances from Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, who both received critical acclaim for their portrayals, and whose careers shot to superstardom as a result. Together, they brought Stephen Schwartz’s memorable score to life with songs like "Defying Gravity," "Popular," “For Good,” “No Good Deed,” and “I’m Not That Girl,” which have since become standards in musical theater.
As Wicked continues its successful Broadway run, a highly anticipated film adaptation is set to bring the beloved musical to the big screen. Directed by Jon M. Chu, known for Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, and will be released in two parts beginning in November 2024.
With its lush sets, elaborate costumes, and thrilling special effects, Wicked continues to draw theatergoers of all ages. Its themes of acceptance, courage, and friendship resonate with audiences worldwide, making it one of the most successful and beloved musicals in Broadway history.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the Land of Oz, Wicked invites audiences to look beyond appearances and consider the complexities of human nature. From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, Wicked tells the story of Oz that you've never heard.
Wicked,' the 'prequel' to 'The Wizard of Oz,' is an interminable show with no dramatic logic or emotional center. Constantly lurching in different directions, the show seems to believe that whenever you reach an artistic impasse, throw money at it - in this case, $14 million.
Described as a dense epic fantasy, 'Wicked,' based on a novel, is an intricate work. It tells the story of Elphaba, the bright but neglected young girl born with green skin who is good and kind. How she turns into the wicked witch is a long, winding road filled with bizarre characters and strange plot twists. The problem with the show's book, by Winnie Holzman, is that it has to cover so much ground in a connect-the-dots fashion that we're deprived of the necessary depth and character development to make us really care about Elphaba or her unlikely friend Galinda, who later becomes Glinda the good witch. Director Joe Mantello handles the intimate scenes well, but he's not quite as successful moving the traffic on Eugene Lee's dark, mechanical set. The ensemble numbers are indistinguishable. The special effects were impressive but a show of this caliber needed more. Stephen Schwartz, the composer behind 'Godspell' and 'Pippin,' has written some lovely music, particularly his ballads for the witches, but the score is uneven and the beautiful melodies that marked his earlier works are disappointingly absent here.
Digital Lottery
Price: $54.00
Where: https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/wicked
When: For matinee performances, the lottery will open the day before at 10am and close the day before at 4PM. Winners will then be notified and will have 1 hour to purchase the tickets by credit card online. The e-ticket will then be emailed to the winner’s email address. For evening performances, the lottery will open the day before at 8PM and close the day of the performance at 11AM. Winners will then be notified and will have 1 hour to purchase the tickets by credit card online. The e-ticket will then be emailed to the winner’s email address.
Limit: 2 per customer
Information: Seats may be located in any section of the theater. While every effort will be made to seat pairs together with a full view, there is a chance that pairs may be split up and that your seat may have a partial view of the stage.
In-Person Lottery
Price: $30
How: A limited number of tickets will be sold via an in-person lottery.
Where: In the Gershwin Theatre breezeway
Limit: 2 tickets per customer
Information: 26 tickets are available for each performance. Payment must be in cash.
2001 | New York | Reading New York |
2002 | New York | Workshop New York |
2003 | San Francisco (Regional) | World Premiere San Francisco (Regional) |
2003 | Broadway | Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2005 | US Tour | 1st National Tour US Tour |
2005 | Chicago | Chicago Production Chicago |
2007 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Production Los Angeles |
2007 | Original German Production | |
2008 | Australian Production | |
2009 | US Tour | 2nd National Tour US Tour |
2021 | West End | Original London Production West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2016 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2015 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2014 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2013 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2012 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Long-Running Broadway Show | Wicked |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Winnie Holzman |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Costume Design | Susan Hilferty |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Joe Mantello |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Leading Actress in a Musical | Idina Menzel |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Lighting Design | Kenneth Posner |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Musical | Wicked |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Orchestrations | William David Brohn |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Original Score | Stephen Schwartz |
2004 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Scenic Design | Eugene Lee |
2004 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Production of a Musical | 0 |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Idina Menzel |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Broadway Musical | 0 |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Susan Hilferty |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Susan Hilferty |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Joe Mantello |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Joel Grey |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Carole Shelley |
2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Set Design | Eugene Lee |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Winnie Holzman |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Nick Enright |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Martin Sherman |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Wayne Cilento |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design | Susan Hilferty |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design | Kenneth Posner |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | David Stone |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Marc Platt |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Universal Pictures |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | The Araca Group |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Jon B. Platt |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | William David Brohn |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Stephen Schwartz |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Idina Menzel |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
2004 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design | Eugene Lee |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress - Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress - Musical | Idina Menzel |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Winnie Holzman |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Susan Hilferty |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director - Musical | Joe Mantello |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design | Kenneth Posner |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Stephen Schwartz |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Wicked |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orhcestrations | William David Brohn |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Set Designs - Musical | Eugene Lee |
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