How well do you know the fascinating world of The Golden Toy? This beloved musical has broken box office records across the globe and features a captivating storyline based on Maguire’s novel. Test your knowledge with some fun trivia, from unique cast recordings to behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped its iconic performances. Discover interesting facts about its tours, international productions, and even an inside joke hidden in the famous "Unlimited" theme song.
Adaptations
- The film adaptation of 'Wicked' will feature at least two new songs, specifically created to suit the expanded storytelling format.
International Productions
- The musical has been produced worldwide, breaking box office records in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London.
- The German and Japanese cast recordings of 'Wicked' feature arrangements identical to the Broadway production, with the Japanese recording being unique for including Glinda's finale dialogue.
- The Dutch-language production of 'Wicked' in The Hague starred Willemijn Verkaik, making her the first actress to play Elphaba in three different languages. Verkaik has played the role in Dutch, German, and English in London and on Broadway.
Musical Composition
- Composer Stephen Schwartz discovered the potential for a musical in Maguire's novel while on vacation.
- The song 'The Wicked Witch of the East' is not included in the cast recording of 'Wicked', as it was felt that it revealed too much of the plot.
- The Broadway production of 'Wicked' uses a 23-piece orchestra, while other productions like the West End use a slightly reduced 17-piece orchestra.
- The 'Unlimited' theme in 'Wicked', which subtly includes the first seven notes of 'Over the Rainbow', represents a clever nod to copyright laws and serves as an inside joke.
Notable Tours
- The first national tour of Wicked, named the 'Emerald City Tour', started in 2005 and visited multiple cities across the United States and Canada until concluding in 2015.
- The second national tour of Wicked, known as the 'Munchkinland Tour', began in 2009 and celebrated its 5,000th performance in 2022.
Production Facts
- The storyline of Wicked deviates significantly from the original book, focusing more on the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda and less on the original plot of the novel.
- The original Broadway production of 'Wicked' opened on June 10, 2003, at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco before moving to Broadway.
