Wicked has defied gravity at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for nearly 20 years and counting. Get Wicked tickets on New York Theatre Guide now.
Based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, the Wicked musical centers on the Wizard of Oz antagonist before she got that malicious moniker. First, she was Elphaba, a green-skinned outcast with an extraordinary talent for sorcery. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with Glinda the Good Witch at school, but it gets turned upside down when a meeting with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz goes awry.
The score of Wicked won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, with songs including "Defying Gravity," "Popular," and "For Good." Stephen Schwartz, who's also known for musicals like Pippin and Godspell, composed the Wicked musical, and Winnie Holzman adapted Maguire's novel into the show's book.
Maguire's novel was originally supposed to be adapted into a feature film; however, after a little persuasion from Schwartz, who had read the book and developed his own theatrical interpretation, Universal agreed to co-produce the property as a stage musical. Now, a two-part Wicked film adaptation is currently in the works, starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey.
When did Wicked open on Broadway?
After completing its pre-Broadway engagement at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in April 2003, Wicked on Broadway officially opened at the Gershwin Theatre in October of that year and has turned countless people into musical theatre fans for good.
Wicked went on to win three Tony Awards in 2004, including Idina Menzel for her portrayal as Elphaba. Menzel and her co-star Kristin Chenoweth's portrayal of Glinda elevated the pair into Broadway superstardom and remain among the most identifiable and iconic performances in recent Broadway history.
How long is Wicked the musical?
Wicked runs 2 hours and 45 minutes with an intermission.
Catch all the wonder and spectacle of Wicked on Broadway, and see why the show has been so popular all these years. Get tickets to Wicked in New York now.
(Photos by Joan Marcus)
