Wicked serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, reimagining the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West.
The musical centers on Elphaba Thropp, an intelligent and serious girl born with emerald-green skin. At Shiz University in the Land of Oz, she meets Galinda (later Glinda), a popular, bubbly student who initially represents everything Elphaba is not. Despite these differences, Elphaba and Galinda’s relationship slowly evolves from being rivals to friends.
Already an outcast amongst her schoolmates, upon discovering that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz runs a corrupt regime who persecutes Oz’s talking animals (a particular affront to the university’s Dr. Dillamond), Elphaba decides to oppose him. To those who hold power, this bold move brands the green-skinned witch as “wicked” despite being the person who is fighting for justice.
The nuances between good versus evil, fair versus discriminating, and genuine versus self-serving are explored through the relationships between the main characters.
Elphaba Thropp – green-skinned protagonist with magical powers (Wicked Witch of the West)
Galinda Upland – popularity-obsessed (ultimately) Elphaba’s best friend, in love with Fiyero (Glinda the Good Witch of the South)
Fiyero Tigelaar – prince who initially dates Galinda but falls in love with Elphaba (Scarecrow)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – mentor turned antagonist to Elphaba
Nessarose Thropp – Elphaba’s younger paraplegic sister, in love with Boq (Wicked Witch of the East)
Boq – Munchkin student at Shiz in love with Galinda, dates Nessarose (Tin Man)
Doctor Dillamond – talking goat professor at Shiz University
Madame Morrible – headmistress of Shiz University, tutor to Elphaba
(from Wicked Official Site)
Music and Lyrics: STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Book: WINNIE HOLZMAN
Author of “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”: GREGORY MAGUIRE
Director: JOE MANTELLO
Musical Staging: WAYNE CILENTO
Scenic Designer: EUGENE LEE
Costume Designer: SUSAN HILFERTY
Lighting Designer: KENNETH POSNER
Sound Designer: TONY MEOLA
Projection Designer: ELAINE MCCARTHY
Hair and Wig Designer: TOM WATSON
Makeup Designer: JOE DULUDE II
Music Supervision / Music Arrangements: STEPHEN OREMUS
Orchestrations: WILLIAM DAVID BROHN
Music Arrangements: ALEX LACAMOIRE
Pre-Broadway Debut: June 10, 2003 at the Curran Theatre (San Francisco)
Broadway Preview: October 8, 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre (New York City)
Broadway Official Opening: October 30, 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre (New York City)
West End Preview: September 7, 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre (London)
West End Official Opening: September 27, 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre (London)
Elphaba: Idina Menzel
Glinda: Kristin Chenoweth
Madame Morrible: Carole Shelley
The Wizard: Joel Grey
Fiyero: Norbert Leo Butz
Nessarose: Michelle Federer
Boq: Christopher Fitzgerald
Doctor Dillamond: William Youmans
Elphaba: Idina Menzel
Glinda: Helen Dallimore
Madame Morrible: Miriam Margolyes
The Wizard: Nigel Planer
Fiyero: Adam Garcia
Nessarose: Katie Rowley Jones
Boq: James Gillan
Doctor Dillamond: Martin Ball
Best Actress in a Musical: Idina Menzel
Best Scenic Design in a Musical: Eugene Lee
Best Costume Design (Musical): Susan Hilferty
Outstanding Musical: Wicked
Outstanding Lyrics
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Joe Mantello
Outstanding Orchestrations: William David Brohn
Outstanding Set Design: Eugene Lee
Outstanding Costume Design : Susan Hilferty
Distinguished Production of a Musical: Wicked
Outstanding Broadway Musical: Wicked
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Joe Mantello
Outstanding Set Design: Eugene Lee
Outstanding Costume Design : Susan Hilferty
Outstanding Costume Design: Susan Hilferty
Women of the Future Art and Culture: Alexia Khadime and Dianne Pilkington
You can find the next few performances of Wicked below or check out the FULL MUSICAL THEATRE SHOW CALENDAR where you can filter results by country, city, and date.
ACT ONE
No One Mourns the Wicked
Dear Old Shiz
The Wizard and I
What is This Feeling?
Something Bad
Dancing Through Life
Popular
I’m Not That Girl
One Short Day
A Sentimental Man
Defying Gravity
ACT TWO
Thank Goodness
Wonderful
I’m Not That Girl – Reprise
As Long As You’re Mine
No Good Deed
March of the Witch Hunters
For Good
Finale
Bringing you musical theatre information from Broadway, The West End, and Beyond.