About Wicked
Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire's acclaimed 1995 novel, 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West', re-imagines the Land of Oz, creating a parallel universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' in 1900.
“Packed with wit, storming songs and beautiful costumes” (The Guardian), WICKED has won more than 100 major international awards, including three Tony Awards on Broadway and two Olivier Audience Awards in the UK, and a host of other accolades. “Wicked,” which opened on Broadway in 2003, celebrated its sixteenth anniversary on Broadway on October 30, 2020. On October 28, 2020, with its 6,681st performance, it surpassed Les Misérables to become Broadway's fifth-longest running show.
The prevailing color throughout the show is green. You see it in the lighting, the costumes, the skin color of a main character, and the color of a potion that created the skin color, the Emerald City, even envy.
And speaking of green, “Wicked” is the second highest grossing Broadway musical of all time trailing only “The Lion King.” Both musicals offer high quality entertainment and appeal to children as well as adults thus broadening the audience.
“Fans of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ will be fascinated by all the back stories, answering such questions as ‘Is Glinda really that good?’ and ‘Where did the flying monkeys come from?’ But the best thing about Wicked is its stars, whose talents cast a powerful spell." Says Rome Torre from NY1.
Multiple Tony Award winner Joe Mantello helms a sterling spectacle at the Hippodrome presenting optimal stage magic and effects that when combined with a talented cast and great music, it results in a captivating, one could say a jaw-dropping, theatrical experience.
“Wicked” is an entertainment bonanza with interesting characters, eye-pleasing staging, a lush score and sterling performers. Parents should be eager to bring their children if for nothing else, there is good messaging within the plot with lessons to be learned.