Wicked the Musical
50 Wicked-related pages here!
All about the magical show Wicked
on Broadway and Wicked Tour--aWizard of Oz prequel story.
Index for Wicked - Broadway and Beyond
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WICKED STORY SYNOPSIS: Love the CD but haven't seen the show?
Learn about the Wicked songs in context
(fast loading version) OR Wicked songs
in context - version with photos (slow loading version). NOTE: It's hard to find synposis of Wicked that don't give away the suprises. But the surprises are an important part of the fun of the show. Our Synopsis is spoiler-free in terms of the magical moments you don't want to know in advance.
WICKED the Musical - HISTORY - The musical is not only delightful to watch, but the story of Wicked's development is also a fascinating study in creative collaboration. Here are some links to pages that provide further resources for fill in your background knowledge. Wicked History: The Making of Wicked feature stories | ShowBusiness DVD Documentary includes the making of Wicked. | PBS Documentary Broadway: The American Musical DVD: Special features on the making of Wicked. | Wicked in the classroom - Wicked for teachers and students - Wicked study guide. Wicked the Musical Show - More Details: Wicked Cast and CreativesSee Wicked's Stars - Cast and Creatives--or Find Wicked Tour cast information: Wicked Tour Cast. Also, this whole site is all about Stephen Schwartz , Wicked's amazing songwriter. Other pages to visit: Kristin Chenoweth (original Glinda) | Idina Menzel (original Elphaba). Winnie Holzman (script) | Gregory Maguire | Maguire p. 2 (novel) | Norbert Leo Butz (first Fiyero)| Susan Hilferty - Costume designer | Joe Mantello (director) | |
QUICK INDEX: 
Wicked's carefully chosen stars are glistening. 
(Katie played Glinda on tour for two years.) The green-skinned "witch" Elphaba is former "In the Heights" star Mandy Gonzalez. Andy Karl is Fiyero. | 
Stephen Schwartz conceived of Wicked as a Broadway musical and wrote the score. Learn about him here on MusicalSchwartz.com. Did you know Mr. Schwartz launched his career by writing the score for Godspell at age 23? 
WICKED Sheet Music- in print or instant download: 
WICKED GIFT SHOP - Souvenirs for fans include Wicked posters, Wicked logo clothes such as t-shirts (tees) and sweatshirts, keepsakes like souvenir program books, Elphaba and Glinda jewelry, and more. USA and UK: Wicked the Musical Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTIONS:
What's Wicked the musical about? Where can I find video clips? Where do I find reviews? Find answers to these questions and more by reading this web page below. Answers are provided by me, Carol de Giere, publisher of this website MusicalSchwartz.com and biographer for Wicked's composer Stephen Schwartz.
Email me if you have other questions: carol@musicalschwartz.com. Please put the word "QUESTION" in subject line of your email. Please scroll up to the top of this page for more listings.
1. What is Wicked the Musical about?
One of the reasons Wicked has captivated audiences world-wide is that it is a Wizard of Oz prequel story, adapted and reinvented from Gregory Maguire's novel about a green woman coming of age in Oz. But more than that, it's a moving tale of two witches and a dazzling green-themed spectacle.
The official blurb in press releases states: "Winner of 26 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch." GET Wicked tickets - Broadway or Wicked National Tours
Here are some more details about this incredibly popular Wizard of Oz prequel musical play:
Broadway's Wicked musical is based on Gregory Maguire's novel, Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which turned every Oz myth inside out. Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who adapted Maguires book, often speak of the genius idea that Gregory had to look at the classic villain of Western culture: the Wicked Witch of The West, and considered writing her life story in a sympathetic way. Both the novel and musical assume that instead of her being Wicked, she is actually labeled "Wicked" by the culture around her while she is actually trying to accomplish something good.
The musical focuses on both"Elphaba," the green-skinned woman of Oz, and "Glinda." The main part of the story starts when they have become roommates in college.
It was in 1996 that songwriter Stephen Schwartz heard about the novel from a friend. Schwartz likes to write about traditional stories that have a special new twist. Maguire had based his novel on one of the most popular stories of all times: The Wizard of Oz, but from the green witches point of view. Schwartz immediately thought of adapting it for stage.
While Maguire focused on Elphaba and offers a complete re-envisioning of Oz history, the musical that Schwartz and his colleagues created provides a more directly connected "backstory" to The Wizard of Oz. The show is a buoyantly creative version of what happens to Elphaba, the supposedly 'wicked' witch and Glinda, the reputedly good witch during the college years. Their buddy story is only one of several storylines and subplots in a carefully constructed, surprise-filled musical adventure.
Wicked Books - For Every Oz Fan's Library
1. 
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked, by Carol de Giere - includes 150 pages on the making of Wicked
This biography of Wicked's composer Stephen Schwartz chronicles the show's development from his conception of the musical play in 1996 through Broadway opening on October 30, 2003. It includes hundreds of behind-the-scenes stories based on the author's interviews with Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman, Gregory Maguire, the musical's director Joe Mantello, the producers, actress Idina Menzel, costume designer Susan Hilftery, and others. Buy at Amazon.com -Defying Gravity or find out more www.defyinggravitythebook.com/
2. Wicked: the Grimmerie. A special souvenir book for fans that includes a portion of the script. This essential book provides lyrics, many color and black and white photos, and comments mostly organized by topics. Buy Wicked: The Grimmerie -Amazon.com or find out more Wicked Grimmerie souvenir book.
3. One of the Wicked Songbooks. On MusicalSchwartz.com, Stephen Schwartz describes the songbooks he was involved in creating. Read details and find links Wicked Songbooks
4. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Novel Gregory Maguire's book is the foundation for the stage show. Musical Tie-in Edition : The Life... [new browser window] Available in paperback and Kindle, audiobook, etc. This musical tie-in edition of Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West features 16 pages of photos from the musical. Maguire provides a new, psychological "life and times" story of an unusual heroine--the supposedly "Wicked Witch of the West"--whom he called Elphaba. Portraying her early history, Maguire shows her a real person with feelings, foibles, and a streak of altruism.
5. new in 2009 - a Pop up visual sensation
Wicked The Musical: A Pop-Up Compendium of Splendiferous Delight and Thrillifying Intrigue
6. BONUS book: A Little Bit Wicked
A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages
Kristin Chenoweth's A Little Bit Wicked. Wicked's first Glinda has written a memoir that breezes through her celebrity life experiences, including starring in Wicked.
7. Wizard of Oz resourcesRead more about the story of the witches of Oz. Synposis: How to the songs fit with the story? Read about the song contexts--A Wicked Synopsis.
2. Are Wicked lyrics and Wicked play libretto (script) published somewhere?
For lyrics see our Wicked Lyrics page. Or buy the sheet music the sheet music: Wicked sheet music. The Wicked Libretto - a condensed version is published Wicked-The Grimmerie.
The new book Defying Gravity also includes lyrics for "For Good," "Defying Gravity," "The Wizard and I," and others along with stories of how each song was written. Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman provided stories about they developed the songs and the story. Defying Gravity provides the most extensive account of this material, with 150 pages on Wicked. Defying Gravity: The Creative career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked.
3. How do Wicked (musical) and Wicked (novel) compare? Should I read the novel before seeing the show? and related question:
It's not necessary to read the novel first, and if you do, don't expect to see it adapted closely on stage. The musical gives Elphaba and Glinda's story a new life. If you haven't seen The Wizard of Oz film lately, you might want to.
In the novel and the musical, what is the name of the Wicked Witch of the West? "Elphaba." For hints about how the novel and musical compare, read about Wicked's characters Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Dr. Dillamond, Nessarose, Boq, and the others. Find out which characters from the novel were included for the stage adaptaton and which were left out. Also read about the animals and Animals in Wicked - the show - How novelist Gregory Maguire developed Dr. Dillamond the goat professor and a comparison with Wicked the novel and musical regarding what happens to the Animals.
Check comments by Schwartz and Maguire about the Wicked -Life and Times of Wicked Witch of the West story adaptation for musical. This includes notes about the focus on the friendship between the witches, the clock of the time dragon (used in the set design), etc.
4. Who wrote the Wicked score? Who wrote the Wicked play script? What else have they written written?
Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman are the "authors" of Wicked. They collaborated at every step of the way in writing the content of the musical. (Producer Marc Platt also met with the writers to help establish the structure of the show). After they completed the outline, Schwartz worked at the piano on the songs for Wicked, which he completed over time.
Throughout the four years of the development process for this show, Schwartz worked closely with Winnie Holzman who wrote the "book" of the musical script. Schwartz once said about his collaboration with Holzman: "I felt like I knew how to write Elphaba and Winnie knew how to write Glinda, so between the two of us, we kind of got there."
Born in 1948 in New York City, Schwartz is a highly creative man, as the new biography Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked attests. He is an award-winning songwriter best known for his songs for Godspell, Pippin, and now Wicked for stage; his film work includes lyrics for Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and songs for The Prince of Egypt. Read all about Stephen Schwartz.
Since writing Wicked, songs like "Defying Gravity," and the friendship song "For Good" have joined the Schwartz canon of popular songs, adding to the list that includes "Meadowlark," "Day by Day," "Corner of the Sky," "Colors of the Wind," "When You Believe," and others that are sung regularly in concert, on recordings, or used for auditions.
Like Schwartz, Holzman also grew up on Long Island. Holzman is also a popular television writer with a new show in the works. Read about Winnie Holzman and her TV shows, etc.
5. Wicked Tour: What's the Schedule?
The tour of Wicked has been playing to sold-out houses around North America since 2005, breaking ticket sales records everywhere. In 2010 and 2011, two touring productions will continue to delight audiences in many cities. Wicked Tour show
Note: When the show comes to your area, try to get season tickets or buy individual tickets within the first few hours that they go on sale.
6. Is the Wicked show appropriate for children?
On our Wicked for Kids page, I explain why I think the language of Wicked is suited for children age eight and older, and other considerations. Wicked for kids?. The musical is a favorite of pre-teens, teens, and Wizard of Oz fans of all ages.
7. Where can I see free online Wicked video clips? or Is there a Wicked movie?
Wicked movie: There are no legal versions of the complete show. Sorry that we can't offer Wicked videotape or Wicked DVDs. Perhaps after the show runs on Broadway and around the world for many years, a film will be made.
However there are Wicked the musical video clips and the Wicked trailer. See links below.
The Wicked site for the London production has a good collection of video clips at www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/
One of the newest video clips - Wicked in australia. Wicked is a huge hit in Sydney. Watch this presentation for the production Wicked Australia (opens in new browser window)
Wicked's composer Stephen Schwartz was interviewed on NY1 in February 2010. The biography Defying Gravity book is on display and is discussed during the interview. Stephen Schwartz on NY1 - career reflections
Kennedy Center has video clips of an interview with Stephen Schwartz. He tells how Wicked began and sings versions of "the Wizard and I" http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/plus/plusonline/2006_schwartz.html
Don't miss SHOWBUSINESS - now available on DVD with lots of WICKED interview clips, etc. ShowBusiness with WICKED CLIPS
Have you seen the Wicked tour trailer? It's not up-to-date for cast members, but has some nice features. I just noticed that you can clearly see Glinda's bubble machine spurting bubbles, and there are a few clips with Stephen Schwartz (composer and lyricist), Joe Mantello (director), Winnie Holzman (book writer) and Marc Platt (producer). View the Wicked Tour trailer with video clips Universal's site.
There's a clip for Behind the Emerald Curtain tour that also includes clips of the show. Go to http://www.emeraldcurtain.com/Press.html and look in the bottom right corner for the ART BEAT CHICAGO logo - click there to launch the video.
Wicked's songwriter: Podcast. Our new blog with podcasts includes audio files of Stephen Schwartz talking about Wicked. The Schwartz Scene - podcast archive
Wicked in Japan: Wicked video clip from Japanese production
Dee Roscoli who has played Elphaba on Broadway was recorded showing her backstage life, including the process of getting green: Backstage Video
8. Does Wicked novelist Gregory Maguire approve of Wicked the musical?
Gregory loves this musical. At a book talk with Winnie Holzman, Maguire said, "I have been so pleased with the work that Winnie Holzman has done for Wicked. She has taken a novel that is like a symphony in my heart and she has turned it into an opera." Holzman promptly gave much credit to Stephen Schwartz for his ideas. "It literally was a vision--he just saw that Wicked the novel was a Broadway musical. So then he brought me into his vision."
One aspect of the musical that Gregory explains well is the friendship story between Elphaba and Glinda. He said recently, "...the story is about a friendship between two girls, there's no arguing that that is a very appealing aspect of the play and a good argument why people want to see it again and again. And it's not just about young women learning to trust one another and learning the depths of their affection for one another. It's also about women -- or any disenfranchised citizen -- learning their relationship in a system of power, either as collaborators -- the way Glinda becomes -- or as iconoclasts and hermits the way Elphaba becomes."
Visit my Maguire page for more on Gregory.
9. What's the buzz for the musical Wicked?
"...the most complete, and completely satisfying, new musical I've come across in a long time"--USA Today
"Truly an enchanting musical, 'Wicked' is a fabulous new Oz fable for the 21st century"--New Jersey Star-Ledger
Visit the Wicked reviews page here at MusicalSchwartz.com. It's a long page so keep looking down the page for various links. The most current Wicked reviews come from news media for the traveling productions. We post some of the links on the Wicked Tour page - look for the reviews section towards the bottom of the page.
Also read about Wicked's Success - see photos from the 1000th performance party. See a giant list of Wicked awards
10. Where do I send Fan Mail for the Broadway musical Wicked?
To contact the cast for WICKED on Broadway:
Address your mail to cast member
c/o WICKED
Gershwin Theatre Stage Door
242 West 51st Street
NY, NY 10019
How to write to the London cast:
Cast member name
c/o Stage Door
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Wilton Road
London
SW1V 1LG
United Kingdom
For Stephen Schwartz: Visit his website at http://www.stephenschwartz.com
11. How can I learn more about Wicked the musical?
Subscribe to The Schwartz Scene The Schwartz Scene back issues include updates by Stephen Schwartz, including comments he made as Wicked was being created. Or write me at carol@musicalschwartz.com with the word QUESTION in the subject heading, and I'll help you find the information you seek. - Carol de Giere, webmaster.
WICKED Backstage "Behind the Emerald Curtain" Tour - Saturday mornings at the Gershwin Theatre and elsewhere.
Tickets for "Behind the Emerald Curtain," billed as "an exclusive behind-the-scenes journey through Wicked," are available. You don't really go back stage but what they do offer is entrancing. Behind the Emerald Curtain tickets - New York
For other cities go to http://www.emeraldcurtain.com/
Wicked musical backstage"Behind the Emerald Curtain," an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at WICKED, run by members of the cast in several production locations. The tour, which lasts 90 minutes, includes a 20-minute film containing special footage from NY and the national tour, featuring interviews with the cast and creative team of WICKED. Participants visit the exclusive "Behind the Emerald Curtain" Museum, which includes an elaborate set model by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee and an up-close look at some of Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty's costumes (with beautiful details that are not always visible from the audience), as well as some of the actual props and wigs from the show.
To create the museum and tour, cast members Sean McCourt and Tony Galade, with the company manager Susan Sampliner, collected costumes, masks, props and set models, and edited a Wicked promotional video. Later Associate scenic designer Edward Pierce contributed a video of the Wicked set being loaded in, and photos from backstage technical departments were added. McCourt once said, "It takes 125 people to make Wicked happen" and this tour gives an idea of just how immense the effort is.
Whether or not you've seen the musical, this program gives a glimpse into the real back stage life for a major production like Wicked. We were treated to a close up view of Elphaba and Glinda costumes, Dr. Dillamond's mask, and other items while two actors pointed out some suprising facts about the costumes, sets, and pressures for the actors. Then we were brought into the theatre to watch a 20-minute film and a question-answer session. I recommend it.
12. I'm an actor/singer/dancer. Where do I check for Wicked auditions?
Wicked Auditions - general information where you'll find sources for finding out about auditions as well as suggested books and links for audition tips. A lot of people ask about making it in a Broadway show like Wicked. This will give you some ideas for further research.
13. Where can I find Wicked London info?
Wicked London tickets etc. - Wicked the musical in London is popular on the West End. It has been running since Sept 6th, 2006. Visit our UK site for updates, shop, tickets, articles, and more. www.wickedwestend.co.uk/
As announced March 21, 2010 as part of the Laurence Olivier Awards evening, Wicked received the Audience Award for Most Popular Show (as voted for by the users of officiallondontheatre.co.uk)
14. What is the running time of Wicked the musical?
What is the length of Wicked? It's good to set aside at least 3 hours to see this play/musical because the Gershwin and other theatres that house Wicked the new musical are always huge venues to get in and out of, plus a huge crowd of people. The actual length: Approx. 2 hours 45 minutes total -- Act One is about 1 hour and 30 minutes - (note: it's a good idea to use restroom before the show starts). Act two is a little less than an hour. And there's an intermission.
15. Where can I find more Wicked ticket details? How do I know which ticket seller is reliable?
There are so many secondary ticket sellers for hot ticket items like Wicked that it can be hard to decide where to buy them. On MusicalSchwartz.com, the first listing you see is always the official Wicked ticket source for the show - the one with the basic price as contracted by the venue or producers. In other words, these will be the cheap Wicked tickets, relatively speaking. If they are not sold out, you'll be able to find everything from orchestra seating through the back mezzanine. These official ticket sources also reserve some seats at higher prices. These will be high quality seats.
After that, we list a few reliable secondary tickets (marked up) from companies selling for what the market will bear. Enterprising agencies have saved tickets for theatregoers who need last-minute deals. Be sure to check seat locations carefully before purchasing. Here's where to find Wicked tickets of all types:
- Broadway New York Wicked Tickets
- Wicked tour usa tickets
- Wicked around the world: London England, Germany, Australia, Japan - tickets and websites
Wicked the Musical news
Wicked in California
The last chance to catch Wicked in San Francisco is September 5, 2010. Southern Californians will have another chance to see the show when it tours to Orange County on tour. See tour info below. Note that Stephen Schwartz, the show's composer, is performing in concert there. Keep informed on our news page Stephen Schwartz news
Wicked Archives - Q and A with Stephen Schwartz
A new resource for Wicked information is now available at StephenSchwartz.com. See the Wicked section of the archives, organized by topic, at StephenSchwartz.com archive. Schwartz answers questions from fans and from performers with questions about the songs. He also talkes abou the orchestrations for the show, the cast album, sheet music, and other topics.
Wicked Two Tour Companies 2010 - 2011 tour locations added
In 2010 Wicked continues to send two tour show groups around the USA as well as two sets of semi-tractor trailers hauling sets, costumes, and props. It takes 14 trucks to carry each tour's materials! Keep checking the show's tour cities lists, as more keep being announced. The Broadway play touring company is revisiting places like Minneapolis, St. Louis, Houston, and Washington, DC, while reaching new areas like Tucson, Tulsa, and Madison. Get Wicked tickets on our TOUR PAGE and find out all the tour cities.
(Note from Carol de Giere, website publisher for MusicalSchwartz.com: I'm personally thrilled that Wicked will be in my home town, Madison Wisconsin this fall.)
Wicked is the 18th longest running show on Broadway
According to the Internet Broadway Database, as of June 2010, Wicked is the 18th longest running show in Broadway history, having run longer than hit musicals like My Fair Lady, Oklahoma! and Annie. (The original production of My Fair Lady ran for 2717, Oklahoma! ran for 2212 performances.) Even though it is often sold out, be sure to check for tickets if you want to see it on Broadway, because you might get lucky. Wicked Broadway tickets
"Elphaba" is popular. The green skinned heroine of both the musical Wicked and the novel made the list of Entertainment Weekly's List of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years published in the magazine’s June 4, 2010 issue.
Stephen Schwartz receives high Broadway honor.
On January 25, 2010, Wicked's composer Stephen Schwartz was inducted into the Broadway Hall of Fame. For photo and more information see the Schwartz biography book site: Defying Gravity Schwartz biography news
Glindas and Elphabas - New and Old
Are you keeping up with the stars?
Katie Rose Clarke, who spent two years as Glinda in the first national tour of Wicked, has assumed that same role in the Broadway production of the musical as of January 14, 2010, at the Gershwin Theatre. A reviewer from Portland says, "Katie Rose Clarke pushes Glinda's character arc from glaringly shallow to admirably loyal and hits the right conflicted spots along the way." Photo by Joan Marcus.
Also in 2010, Mandy Gonzalez took over as Elphaba.
Have you been following the careers of Glinda Kristin Chenoweth? or Elphabas like Idina Menzel and Stephanie J. Block? If you enjoyed their singing on the cast album (Stephanie's version of "Making Good" is on the 5th anniversary album), you may enjoy some of their other recordings. Be sure to check our full pages on these stars. Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, and Stephanie Block
Record breaking box office for Wicked
According to the New York Times, Wicked is the only American musical to achieve megahit status in the previous decade: 2000-2009. It was described as "the defining musical of the decade."
From January 4, 2010: For the third time in just six weeks, the Broadway smash WICKED has grossed over $2 million for one week of performances. For the week ending Sunday, November 29, the musical, now in its 7th year, grossed $2,086,135, and for the week ending December 27, the musical surpassed its own record, grossing $2,092,745. For the week ending January 3, 2010, the musical shattered the record once again, making Broadway history by taking in an unprecedented $2,125,740 and setting a new house record at the Gershwin Theatre.
Additionally, the show's three other North American productions broke house records in San Francisco ($1,485,692), Providence ($1,793,764), and Schenectady ($1,657,139), bringing the musical's one-week North American box office gross to $7,062,335.
In total, WICKED has amassed over $1.7 billion globally in ticket sales and has been seen by over 21 million people worldwide in its 7-year history.
Note: for those arriving at this site by search engine. Sometimes Stephen Schwartz's name is misspelled Steven Schwartz or Stephen Swartz; before about the mid 70's he was known as Steve Schwartz. Sometimes Kristin Chenoweth's name is misspelled Cristin or Kristen Chenoweth. The cast album is sometimes called the Wicked soundtrack. Video is sometimes mispelled vidio.
Musicalschwartz.com offers one of the largest Wicked the musical fan sites, and is the fan site for Stephen Schwartz, created with his permission.
About Composer - Lyricist Stephen Schwartz.CDs | Events & News | Sheet Music| Newsletter|
You're visiting MusicalSchwartz.com, an independent resource site on Broadway and film composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and his musicals Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, Disney movies, and others. This site by Carol de Giere offers information, tips, and products through affiliate programs. A Stephen Schwartz fan site.
Wicked the Musical home page on Musicalschwartz.com is the index for over 50 pages about Wicked the musical on Broadway and Wicked on Tour featuring Wicked tickets, Wicked cast information, reviews, Stephen Schwartz Wicked sheet music, all about Stephen Schwartz.
Visit the official Stephen Schwartz site at stephenschwartz.com
Visit the official Wicked website wickedthemusical.com for additional updates.
