Wicked (musical)

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Wicked
Broadway Poster
Music	Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics	Stephen Schwartz
Book	Winnie Holzman
Basis	Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked
Productions	2003 San Francisco tryout 2003 Broadway 2005 US Tour 2005 Chicago 2006 Universal Studios Japan 2006 West End 2007 Los Angeles 2007 Tokyo 2007 Stuttgart 2008 Melbourne 2009 San Francisco 2009 2nd National Tour 2009 Sydney 2009 Osaka
Awards	Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations

Wicked is a Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End musical, with songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. The story is based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, a parallel novel of L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. The plot is set mostly before Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz as a backstory.

Wicked the musical premiered at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in May 2003. In October, 2003, the show moved to Broadway's Gershwin Theatre. It was produced by Universal Pictures and directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Its original stars were Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard.^[1] Although the production received mixed reviews and was panned by The New York Times, it has proved to be a favorite among patrons. The Broadway production's success spawned productions in Chicago, Los Angeles, London's West End, Tokyo, Melbourne, Sydney, Stuttgart, and San Francisco, as well as two North American tours that have visited over 30 cities in Canada and the United States.

Wicked has broken box office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London, and the record for biggest opening in the West End (£100,000 in the first hour on sale).^[2] Both the West End production and the North American tour have been seen by over two million patrons.^[3] The show was nominated for ten 2004 Tony Awards, winning those for Best Actress (Menzel), Scenic Design and Costume Design. It also won six Drama Desk Awards.

Contents 1 Early development and Broadway debut 2 Synopsis 2.1 Act I 2.2 Act II 3 Principal roles 3.1 Current Casts 4 Music 4.1 Musical numbers 5 Response 5.1 Critical reception 5.2 Awards 5.3 Financial success 5.4 Popular culture 5.5 Behind the Emerald Curtain 6 Other productions 6.1 2005 First National tour 6.2 2005 Chicago 6.3 2006 Universal Studios, Japan 6.4 2006 West End, London 6.5 2007 Tokyo 6.6 2007 Los Angeles 6.7 2007 Stuttgart 6.8 2008 Melbourne 6.9 2009 San Francisco 6.10 2009 2nd National tour 6.11 2009 Sydney 6.12 2009 Osaka 6.13 2010 Oberhausen 7 Recordings 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Early development and Broadway debut

Stephen Schwartz discovered the 1995 Maguire novel while on holiday and immediately saw its potential for dramatic adaptation.^[4] Schwartz met Maguire in Connecticut in 1998 and persuaded him to release the rights for a stage production.^[5]

Schwartz considered how best to condense the novel's complicated plot into a sensible script.^[5] To this end, he collaborated with Emmy Award-winning writer Winnie Holzman to develop the outline of the plot over the course of a year.^[6] While the draft followed Maguire's idea of retelling the story of the 1900 children's book from the perspective of its main villain, the storyline of the stage adaptation "goes far afield" from the novel. As Holzman observed in an interview with Playbill, "It was [Maguire's] brilliant idea to take this hated figure and tell things from her point of view, and to have the two witches be roommates in college, but the way in which their friendship develops – and really the whole plot – is different onstage."^[7] Schwartz justified the deviation, saying "Primarily we were interested in the relationship between Galinda – who becomes Glinda – and Elphaba...the friendship of these two women and how their characters lead them to completely different destinies."^[8] In addition to this change in focus, changes include Fiyero's appearance as the scarecrow, Elphaba's survival at the end, Nessarose's using a wheelchair instead of being born without arms, Boq having a continuing love interest for Glinda, the complete cutting of Elphaba's years in the Vinkus and Doctor Dillamond not being murdered.^[9]

The book, lyrics, and score for the musical were developed through a series of readings. For these developmental workshops, Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award-winning actress whom Stephen Schwartz had in mind while composing the music for the character,^[10] joined the project as Glinda. Stephanie J. Block read the role of Elphaba before Idina Menzel was cast in the role in 2001. In early 2000, the creators recruited David Stone, the New York producer, to begin the transition to a full Broadway production. Joe Mantello was brought in as director, and by April 2003 he had assembled a full cast, and the show was prepared for a public production.^[10]

On June 10, 2003, Wicked officially opened for a pre-Broadway tryout at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco after previews began on May 28, 2003. ^[11] The cast included Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Robert Morse as The Wizard of Oz, Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero, Michelle Federer as Nessarose, Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible, John Horton as Doctor Dillamond and Kirk McDonald as Boq. ^[10] Stephanie J. Block served as an ensemble member and understudy for Elphaba. ^[12] The musical staging was created by Wayne Cilento. Tony Award-winning designer Eugene Lee created a set and visual style for the production based on both W. W. Denslow's original illustrations for Baum's novels and Maguire's concept of the story being told through a giant clock.^[10] Costume designer Susan Hilferty created a "twisted Edwardian" style through more than 200 costumes, while lighting designer Kenneth Posner used more than 800 individual lights to give each of the 54 distinct scenes and locations "its own mood."^[10] The trial run closed on June 29 and extensive retooling for Broadway began.^[10] Elements of the book were rewritten and several songs underwent minor transformations. One song from the pre-Broadway version was scrapped before the musical opened on Broadway. Entitled "Which Way Is the Party?” it was replaced by "Dancing Through Life"; each was used to introduce the character Fiyero.^[10]

The Broadway production began previews at the George Gershwin Theatre on October 8, 2003, and officially opened on October 30.^[1] Most of the production team and original cast members remained with the show when it opened on Broadway, except for some minor ensemble changes and Robert Morse being replaced by Joel Grey who was billed over the title. William Youmans replaced Horton as Dr. Dillamond and Christopher Fitzgerald replaced McDonald as Boq. ^[13] In addition Eden Espinosa and Laura Bell Bundy were added to the cast as the "standbys" for Elphaba and Glinda. Since then standbys have been a part of nearly every production. The Broadway production has consistently been one of the two highest weekly grossing shows since its opening and has grossed over $1 million every week.^[14] Notable replacements have included Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Ana Gasteyer, Julia Murney, Stephanie J. Block, Kerry Ellis, Marcie Dodd, Nicole Parker, and Dee Roscioli as Elphaba; Jennifer Laura Thompson, Megan Hilty, Kate Reinders, Kendra Kassebaum, Annaleigh Ashford, Alli Mauzey, and Erin Mackey as Glinda; Taye Diggs, Joey McIntyre, David Ayers, Sebastian Arcelus, and Aaron Tveit as Fiyero; George Hearn, Ben Vereen, David Garrison, and Lenny Wolpe as the Wizard; Rue McClanahan, Carol Kane, Jayne Houdyshell, Miriam Margolyes, and Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible; Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose; Randy Harrison and Robb Sapp as Boq; and Sean McCourt and Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond.

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Act I

After the Overture, the citizens of Oz gather to celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West (musical number "No One Mourns the Wicked"). Galinda, the Good Witch of the North, descends in her bubble to confirm the circumstances of the Witch's melting. Although the bubbly Galinda is clearly loved and cherished by all Ozians, one of them wants to know whether it's true that she actually knew the Witch personally. Galinda is unsure about how to respond to this, sheepishly admitting that their "paths did cross" at university. She does, however, seem to have a vested interest in demonstrating that things "couldn't have been easy" for the infamous green Witch. The scene shifts to vignettes of the past, showing the audience a young married woman, Melena, (later the mother of the Witch) who is cheating on her husband, Frex Thropp, the Governor of Munchkinland. Frex leaves on an official trip, and Melena's lover (later revealed to be a younger Wizard of Oz) enters the scene to spend the night with her, giving her a bottle of green liquor to drink. She is impregnated that night, and it is assumed by everyone else that the father is her husband Frex. The child that Melena delivers turns out to be an "unnaturally green" baby that repulses everyone from the doctor and the midwife to Frex, who is ashamed and confounded. Melena's child is named Elphaba Thropp, later the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba's skin tone is clearly meant to be caused by the green liquor Melena drank the night she was conceived, and her mysterious powers are subsequently attributed to the fact that her biological father was from Earth, while her mother was from Oz, making her a product of "both worlds."

It is implied that Elphaba suffers an unhappy childhood, facing discrimination from Ozians because of her skin color and being raised only by the widowed Frex (not her true father), who considers her to be an embarrassment (not only because of her appearance, but because strange things seem to happen when she is around). Melena had subsequently given birth to a girl named Nessarose, who was born crippled, and who is adored by Frex (her true father). When the time comes for Nessarose to attend university, Frex sends Elphaba along with her, but only so that she can take care of the wheelchair-bound Nessarose, which she has apparently been doing all her life. While Elphaba is spunky and brash, Nessarose is reserved and decorous. As a parting gift, Frex presents Nessarose with a pair of jewelled, silvery shoes, which appear prominently in the second act of the musical.

At Shiz University, Elphaba meets Galinda, a spoiled and popular Uplander (musical number "Dear Old Shiz"). Madame Morrible, the headmistress at Shiz, has decided that since Nessarose has a special condition, it would be best for her to share Morrible's private accommodations. No arrangements have been made for Elphaba, and Galinda accidentally offers to share her private suite. Elphaba, however, has concerns about leaving her younger sister in the care of another. For all Elphaba knows, Frex might reprimand her for allowing it. When Morrible tries to wheel Nessarose away, Elphaba uses her uncontrollable, supernatural powers to bring her sister back to her. The half-sisters are chagrined by the happenings, for both girls want nothing more than to live normal lives like everyone else. Morrible is most impressed, and notes that Elphaba's apparent knack for magic may be of use to the Wizard of Oz; Morrible promises to give Elphaba private sorcery lessons. Elphaba believes that she may well be on her way to becoming a celebrity in Oz, if she is given the chance to work alongside the revered Wizard ruler. She dreams of all the glamour and the glory that she had thought impossible up until now by dint of her skin color, and goes so far as to imagine that the Wizard will offer to "de-greenify" her "exterior," once she has proven herself to be "so superior" a girl inside (musical number "The Wizard and I").

Galinda, who was not offered a place in Morrible's highly acclaimed Sorcery Seminar (by dint of her frivolous admissions essay), is jealous and takes an immediate loathing to Elphaba. The green-skinned Witch takes a similar dislike to the shallow Galinda. Both girls blow this mutual dislike into epic proportions, in keeping with their age, goaded on by their fellow students at Shiz, who of course dramatically side with Galinda against Elphaba (musical number "What Is This Feeling?").

A few days later, Doctor Dillamond, a Goat who is at that time Shiz's only Animal^{[note 1]} professor, is attempting to teach History. He finds a nasty, discriminatory slogan on the back of his blackboard, stating that "Animals should be seen and not heard." He was just shown to have had enough trouble trying to pronounce Galinda's name correctly, constantly calling her "Glinda," which the conceited Miss Upland all but took offense at. Galinda repeatedly insists that Doctor Dillamond pronounce the "ga" sound, which simply didn't register in the Goat's mind. After dismissing the class, the clearly troubled professor confides in Elphaba that something is causing the Animals of Oz to lose their powers of speech (musical number "Something Bad"). Elphaba is sure that the Wizard of Oz could fix this crisis, if only someone ventured to bring it to his attention. Afte rall, that's why Oz has a Wizard in the first place - so that nothing "bad" could happen, or so Elphaba has been led to believe.

Soon afterwards, Fiyero, a hunky Winkie prince with a "scandalacious" reputation, arrives at Shiz and immediately impresses his own brand of cavalier, carefree living on the students, organizing a party at the Ozdust Ballroom. Galinda and he are instantly drawn to each other, because they both share the same superficial values at this point in time (musical number "Dancing Through Life"). While preparing for the party, Galinda receives a black pointed hat from her grandmother. Knowing that the hat is hideous, she gives it to Elphaba in the guise of a present, prompted by her empty-headed gal pals. An annoying, middle-class Munchkin boy named Boq who is infatuated with Galinda pursues her, living in the delusion that Miss Upland will actually give him the time of day. Galinda sweetly declines but tells him that he would be her "hero" if he would invite the "tragically beautiful" but crippled Nessarose to the party. She does this simply to ward off the unwanted and tiresome suitor, and not out of any genuine desire to do Nessarose a good deed. Nessarose, who has never been asked out by a boy before, is excited and asks Elphaba if there is any way to repay what she perceives as Galinda's thoughtfulness and kindness. Thus, at the dance, Galinda is surprised by the apperance of Morrible, who gives her a training wand and tells her that Elphaba insisted she be included in the Sorcery Seminar (although Morrible herself has no faith in Miss Upland's aptitude for sorcery whatsoever). Galinda is stunned and begins to feel remorse for her treatment of Elphaba, who has given her the chance she hoped for to study magic. At the same exact time, Nessarose is convinced that she has been given the "chance" that she has hoped for to be romantically involved with a nice Munchkin boy. Boq insists that he asked her out because he is attracted to her, and not because he "felt sorry" for her condition. Unbeknownst to Nessarose, however, Boq is only continuing the charade to score points with Galinda, whom he intends to lure away from Fiyero, little realizing that the overly sentimental Nessarose is already falling in love with him.

Elphaba arrives at the Ozdust Ballroom wearing the hat Galinda had given her, only to be ridiculed and laughed at. Nevertheless, she defiantly proceeds to dance alone without any music. Wrenched with guilt, Galinda joins Elphaba on the dancefloor, paving the way for a new friendship between the two. Soon, everyone in attendance at the party joins in, following Galinda's lead. Fiyero remarks that Elphaba certainly "has guts," although Galinda never dreams that he would actually find himself attracted to Elphaba, and dreams instead that she and the handsome prince will be married one day. This is analogous to Nessarose thinking that she and Boq could be together forever.

After the party, Galinda and Elphaba return to their suite at Shiz and engage in girl talk. Elphaba reveals that Frex hates her above all because he had forced Melena to eat milk flowers to prevent Nessarose from being born with the same green skin, not knowing what accounted for the aberration. The milk flowers caused Nessarose to be born early, crippling her, and Melena thus died at childbirth. Frex believes that none of this would've happened if it weren't for Elphaba's birth. Moved by a desire to raise her new friend's spirits, and determined to make up for her past behavior, Galinda decides to give Elphaba one of her famous makeovers. Galinda essentially "Galinda-fies" Elphaba (musical number "Popular").

The next day, evil Ozian officials take Doctor Dillamond away from Shiz. The new History teacher arrives with a frightened lion cub in a cage, revealing that animals that are kept in cages will never become Animals. Outraged, Elphaba casts a spell that causes everyone except for Fiyero to go into involuntary gyrations. Together, Elphaba and Fiyero steal the cub and set it free in the woods. It is clear at this point that the two are attracted to each other in spite of themselves. Fiyero in particular is taken completely off guard by his burgeoning romantic feelings for Elphaba, and hastily exits in embarrassment. It begins raining, and Elphaba takes refuge under a bridge, bemoaning the fact that it would be impossible for someone like Fiyero to want to be romantically involved with someone like her (musical number "I'm Not That Girl"). She resigns herself to the fact that she could never be what her new friend Galinda is, and this is the first hint that Galinda and Elphaba may well have to compete with each other for Fiyero's heart. Despite being friends, there is no denying the fact that they both love the hunky prince. Madame Morrible finds Elphaba soon after, and announces that she has been granted an audience with the Wizard, which more than changes Elphaba's dampened disposition (musical number "The Wizard and I - Reprise"). At this point in time, it is revealed that Morrible's specialty happens to be control over the weather, as she turns the pouring rain into sunshine, insisting that Elphaba shouldn't get wet.

The scene shifts to a Railway Station, where Elphaba is about to head off to the Emerald City. Galinda and Nessarose are very excited for her, and Nessarose goes so far as to say that Frex will be very proud of her for having been deemed fit to meet the Wizard of Oz personally. When Elphaba inquires as to whether her younger sister will be able to manage without her, Galinda giggles that she needn't worry because Boq will be there. Although Boq is right by Nessarose's side at this point, Galinda's comment forces him to realise that he cannot carry the charade any longer, and proceeds to walk off in frustration and anger. He clearly has no feelings for Nessarose by any stretch of the imagination, and when a guilty Galinda tries to rectify the situation by suggesting that perhaps Boq isn't the right one for the younger Miss Thropp, Nessarose insists that it's she herself who is "not right", and wheels herself off the stage, trying to convince both Elphaba and herself that she will be alright and that she'll manage somehow. Elphaba feels bad and calls after her younger sister, but Galinda's advise is to "let her go" because they'll all have to learn to do without Elphie once she moves to the Emerald City. Galinda proceeds to complain to Elphaba that Fiyero's affections toward her seem to be waning. She is also worried because he has been "thinking" as of late. In an attempt to impress him, Galinda announces that she will change her name to "Glinda", ostensibly in honor of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation. Fiyero arrives to bid Elphaba goodbye, and it's clear that all he's been "thinking" of is the day he and Elphaba worked together to free the lion cub, and that he cannot ignore his attraction to her. He makes another hasty exit, barely even noticing Galinda's name change, leaving Galinda-turned-Glinda even more upset, although she is oblivious to any feelings between her boyfriend and her best friend. Feeling bad for Glinda, and perhaps even guilty for secretly coveting her boyfriend, Elphaba invites her friend to come with her "to the Emerald City", which Glinda is only too eager to do, and not just because she has "always wanted to see" the Capital of Oz herself.

After a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City (musical number "One Short Day"), Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard. He immediately reveals his true self to them and invites Elphaba to join him as his personal assistant (musical number "A Sentimental Man"). As a test of her talent for magic, he asks that she give his Monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly using the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells. Elphaba demonstrates her innate talent and successfully gives Chistery wings. The Wizard reveals an entire cage full of monkeys who now also have wings because of Elphaba's spell, and remarks that they will make good spies to report any subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the Wizard is not a wizard, with no magical power of his own, Elphaba runs away with the Grimmerie, pursued by the palace guards.

	Defying Gravity The bridge section of Defying Gravity from Act I finale.
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Elphaba and Glinda run into the tallest tower, where they witness Morrible, revealed to be the Wizard's press secretary, declaring to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch" who is not to be trusted. Elphaba enchants a broomstick to levitate and tries to convince Glinda to join her in her cause, but Glinda refuses. Leaving behind the only friend she ever had, Elphaba rises into the sky on the broomstick, promising to fight the Wizard with all of her power (musical number "Defying Gravity").

[edit] Act II

Some time has passed, and Elphaba's exploits have earned her the title of Wicked Witch of the West (musical number "No One Mourns the Wicked - Reprise"). Glinda and Madame Morrible hold a press conference to announce Glinda's surprise engagement to Fiyero (musical number "Thank Goodness"). Madame Morrible, after Glinda and Fiyero exit the scene, confides to the Wizard that she thinks a little rain might stop Elphaba from revealing the truth about the Wizard. In fact, Morrible hints that rain will do something dreadful and destroy Elphaba forever. This unconsciously hints that rain or water melts Elphaba.

Meanwhile, Elphaba arrives at the Governor's residence in Munchkinland, seeking refuge, reluctantly trying to ask Frex for help. However, Nessarose, now the Governor of Munchkinland, harshly reveals that he died of shame due to Elphaba's actions at the Emerald City. Nessarose refuses to help hide a fugitive, citing her status as an unelected official, and criticizes Elphaba for not using magic to help Nessarose overcome her disability. To assuage her feelings of guilt, Elphaba enchants Nessarose's jeweled shoes, turning them from silver to ruby red and enabling her to walk. Boq, who is now Nessarose's servant, is summoned and reveals that a ball is being held for Glinda and Fiyero's engagement and he must go tell that his heart lies with Glinda. Furious, Nessarose casts a mispronounced spell from the Grimmerie, causing Boq's heart to shrink. While Elphaba attempts to save him, Nessarose reflects on how her obsession with Boq has led her to oppress the Munchkin people (musical number "The Wicked Witch of the East"). Elphaba saves Boq by turning him into the Tin Man – horrified, Nessarose lays the blame on Elphaba.

With nowhere else to turn, Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace to free the rest of the winged monkeys. The Wizard attempts to regain her favor by agreeing to set them free (musical number "Wonderful"). Upon discovering a now-speechless Doctor Dillamond among the monkeys, Elphaba rejects his offer and attempts to escape, running into Fiyero in the process. Confirming his true love for Elphaba, he runs off with her. Glinda sees this and is crestfallen that she has been betrayed by those closest to her (musical number "I'm Not That Girl - Reprise"). Glinda, hurt and furious by Elphaba's betrayal, suggests to Madame Morrible to spread a rumor that Nessarose is in danger, a surefire way to lure Elphaba into a trap. Madame Morrible agrees but, with support from the Wizard and unbeknownst to Glinda, decides a rumor will be insufficient, instead creating a cyclone to actually put Nessarose in danger.

	As Long As You're Mine The introduction and first two lines of "As Long as You're Mine". Note the identical chord progression to the Overture.
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In a dark forest, Fiyero and Elphaba express their mutual and passionate love (musical number "As Long as You're Mine"), but are interrupted when Elphaba senses that her sister is in danger. She flies off to help but is too late, arriving just after Dorothy's house has landed on Nessarose, killing her. Elphaba becomes frustrated and confronts Glinda for giving Nessarose's shoes to Dorothy, and a fight ensues. The palace guards arrive and ambush Elphaba, but Fiyero intervenes and tells them to "Let the green girl go!" allowing Elphaba to escape before surrendering himself. The guards take him to a nearby cornfield to be tortured until he tells them where Elphaba has fled. At one of Fiyero's castles, Elphaba tries to cast a spell to save Fiyero's life but, thinking she has failed, she begins to accept her notorious reputation as Wicked (musical number "No Good Deed").

Meanwhile, the Tin Man (previously Boq) and the citizens of Oz prepare a Witch hunt, following Dorothy's beloved dog Toto (musical number "March of the Witch Hunters"). Boq claims that Elphaba turned him into the Tin Man as an act of evil, while the lion cub that Elphaba and Fiyero freed at Shiz is also at the gathering and turns out to be the Cowardly Lion. His cowardice is blamed on Elphaba, because "if she had let him fight his own battles when he was young, he wouldn't be a coward today." Seeing the witch-hunt, Glinda realizes that Madame Morrible was behind Nessarose's death. The mad sorceress secretary reminds Glinda that she wanted this in the first place and tells her to "smile and wave and shut up!". Glinda travels to Elphaba and Fiyero's castle to persuade her to let Dorothy go, but she refuses. Elphaba makes Glinda promise not to clear her name and to take charge in Oz. She agrees, and the two confirm a true friendship (musical number "For Good"). As the mob arrives at the castle, Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, apparently melting her, while Glinda leaves with the Grimmerie.

In recapitulation, it is revealed that the Wizard is actually Elphaba's father through an affair he had with Melena. Glinda orders the Wizard to leave Oz in his balloon, and sends Morrible to prison, returning to the opening scene of the show. Glinda addresses the citizens of Oz, proclaiming that she would like to be "Glinda the Good" as she will reform the government. Meanwhile, Dorothy's companion the Scarecrow returns to the castle, and opens a trapdoor, revealing Elphaba alive. The Scarecrow is revealed to be Fiyero, transformed by Elphaba's spell. They have faked Elphaba's death, which must be kept secret even from Glinda, to protect her. As Glinda mourns her friend's death and the citizens of Oz celebrate it, Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz forever to begin a new life. (musical number "Finale: Wicked").

[edit] Principal roles

Character[15]	Voice[15]	Description
Elphaba	mezzo-soprano with belt	An intelligent, misunderstood, compassionate girl with green skin who, while a student at Shiz University, finds an unexpected friend in Galinda and falls in love with Fiyero. Her rebellion against the Wizard, after finding out he has no magical powers and that he is oppressing the talking Animals of Oz, frames her into the name "The Wicked Witch Of The West". After feeling hopeless, even after all her good deeds and intentions, she realizes she will never be able to clear her name and gives in to the name that the Wizard has created for her.
Glinda	soprano	Beautiful and ambitious, Glinda initially seems vain and superficial, though her friendship with Elphaba reveals more depth in her character. She later changes her name from Galinda to Glinda, ostensibly in honor of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation, but more likely to impress Fiyero. Glinda is a social climber and seizes the opportunity to join the Wizard despite his fraudulence, who decrees that she be known as "Glinda the Good." Glinda unwittingly sets into motion the events that lead to Boq becoming the Tin Woodman, and Elphaba's sister Nessarose being killed by Dorothy's farmhouse.
The Wizard	baritone	The illegitimate dictator (and non-wizard) of Oz appears fatherly and brands himself a "sentimental man," but he is secretly the driving force behind the oppression of Oz's talking Animals. The Wizard realizes at the end of the story that he is in fact the father of Elphaba after Glinda presents him with the green elixir bottle Elphaba always carried around. The Wizard had given Elphaba's mother the bottle when they had an affair while Elphaba's "father", the Governor of Munchkinland, was away on business.
Madame Morrible	contralto	The sinister headmistress of Shiz University who is revealed to be working in collaboration with the Wizard of Oz. Morrible has a speciality for controlling the weather.
Fiyero	tenor	A handsome prince with a reputation for "Dancing Through Life", who is initially attracted to Galinda. That quickly diminishes after his choice to have a relationship with Elphaba. Fiyero is initially shallow and self-absorbed, but his encounters with Elphaba cause him to re-evaluate his way of thinking. Elphaba transforms Fiyero into the Scarecrow, saving him from a painful death when Ozian guards take him away with plans to be beat him until he tells them where Elphaba went.
Nessarose	mezzo-soprano	Elphaba's beautiful but crippled younger sister who was forced to be dependent on Elphaba to take care of her. The apple of her father's eye, but always isolated from society, Nessarose is a sensitive soul who wants other people to see beyond her wheelchair. The Munchkin Boq claims to be different, and Nessarose becomes unhealthily attached to him, although in reality he is merely trying to score points with Glinda, who simply palmed him off onto Nessa to deflect his unwanted advances. When Boq begins to resent being with Nessarose, she thinks it's because she herself is "not right", and after succeeding her father as the Governor of Munchkinland, she decrees that Boq be her right-hand man, in the hope that he will grow to love her if she keeps him with her long enough. As her insecurities grow, Nessarose turns into a dictator, mandating that no Munchkin is free to leave Munchkinland, in a bid to hold onto Boq. This causes her subjects to call her "The Wicked Witch of the East", just as her sister Elphaba is known as the "Wicked Witch of the West". When finally given the power to walk, Nessarose is thrilled at the prospect of having a normal romantic relationship with Boq, only to learn that he is still infatuated with Glinda and intends to go after her. Nessarose's last attempt to stop Boq from leaving fails miserably, and with neither her father nor her sister around, she is left with no one but "the girl in the mirror". Her enchanted shoes which enabled her to walk at the tail end of her life are all that's left of her following her tragic death.
Boq	tenor	The socially awkward, mousy, middle-class Munchkin Boq is obsessed with Glinda at Shiz University. Glinda conveniently foists this unwanted nuisance of a suitor upon Nessarose, who is instantly smitten by him. Foolishly hoping to impress Glinda, Boq feigns romantic interest in Nessarose and leads her on. When he first tries to leave, Nessarose thinks it's because of her crippled condition, and in her capacity as the Governor of Munchkinland, she mandates that he become her right-hand man, in the hope that he'll grow to love her if she keeps him with her long enough. After Nessa is given the power to walk, Boq believes he is free to go back to pursuing Glinda, whom he stupidly continues to obsess over. When Nessarose tries to stop him, Boq threatens her with a knife, at which point she desperately tries to cast a spell on him to claim the "heart" he says he "lost" to Glinda. The spell is miscast, causing Boq's heart to literally shrink, prompting Elphaba to turn him into a Tin Man who "won't need" a heart to continue living. This in turn quite literally leaves Boq, now the Tin Man, with an axe to grind with Elphaba, believing that she turned him into tin as an act of wickedness rather than mercy.
Doctor Dillamond	baritone	A Goat, and the only Animal professor left at Shiz University, Doctor Dillamond is a victim of the Wizard's Animal Suppression Policy. Elphaba is fond of him, but he is taken away from Shiz U after the Wizard decrees that Animals are no longer permitted to teach. Doctor Dillamond eventually loses his ability to speak altogether.

[edit] Current Casts

	Elphaba	Glinda	Fiyero	Madame Morrible	The Wizard	Nessarose	Boq	Doctor Dillamond
Broadway, NY	Dee Roscioli	Erin Mackey	Kevin Kern	Rondi Reed	P.J. Benjamin	Michelle Federer	Alex Brightman	Timothy Britten Parker
US National Tour	Donna Vivino	Chandra Lee Schwartz	Richard H. Blake	Randy Danson	Richard Kline	Brynn O'Malley	Ben Liebert	Paul Slade Smith
London, UK	Alexia Khadime	Dianne Pilkington	Oliver Tompsett	Harriet Thorpe	Sam Kelly	Natalie Anderson	Alex Jessop	David Stoller
Stuttgart, Germany	Willemijn Verkaik	Lucy Scherer	Mathias Edenborn	Barbara Raunggner	Carlo Lauber	Janine Tippl	Stephan Luethy	Michael Gunther
San Francisco	Teal Wicks	Kendra Kassebaum	Nicolas Dromard	Patty Duke	Lee Wilkof	Deedee Magno Hall	Eddy Rioseco	Tom Flynn
Second National Tour	Marcie Dodd	Heléne Yorke	Colin Donnell	Marilyn Caskey	Tom McGowan	Kristine Reese	Ted Ely	David deVries
Sydney, Australia	Jemma Rix	Lucy Durack	Rob Mills	Maggie Kirkpatrick	Bert Newton	Penny McNamee	James Smith	Rodney Dobson

• For further information see Wicked (cast lists)

[edit] Music

	Wicked Overture/No One Mourns the Wicked The first 22 bars of the Act I Overture/No One Mourns the Wicked.
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The score of Wicked is heavily thematic, bearing in some senses more resemblance to a film score than a traditional musical score.^[16] While many musicals' scores develop new motifs and melodies for each song with little overlap, Schwartz integrated a handful of leitmotifs throughout the production. Some of these motifs indicate irony – for example, when Galinda presents Elphaba with a "ghastly" hat in "Dancing Through Life", the score reprises a theme from "What Is This Feeling?" a few scenes earlier,^[16] in which Elphaba and Glinda had espoused their mutual loathing.

Two musical themes in Wicked run throughout the score. Although Schwartz rarely reuses motifs or melodies from earlier works,^[16] the first – Elphaba's theme – came from The Survival of St. Joan, on which he worked as musical director.^[16] "I always liked this tune a lot and I never could figure out what to do with it," he remarked in an interview in 2004.^[16] The chord progression that he first penned in 1971 became a major theme of the show's orchestration. By changing the instruments that carry the motif in each instance, Schwartz enables the same melody to convey different moods. In the overture, the tune is carried by the orchestra's brass section, with heavy percussion. The result is, in Schwartz' own words, "like a giant shadow terrorising you".^[16] When played by the piano with some electric bass in "As Long As You're Mine", however, the same chord progression becomes the basis for a romantic duet. And with new lyrics and an altered bridge, the theme forms the core of the song "No One Mourns the Wicked" and its reprises.^[16]

Schwartz uses the "Unlimited"/"I'm limited" theme as the second major motif running through the score. Although not included as a titled song, the theme appears as an interlude in several of the musical numbers. In a tribute to Harold Arlen, who wrote the score for the 1939 film adaptation, the "Unlimited" melody incorporates the first seven notes of the song "Over the Rainbow." Schwartz included it as an inside joke as, "according to copyright law, when you get to the eighth note, then people can come and say, 'Oh you stole our tune.' And of course obviously it's also disguised in that it's completely different rhythmically. And it's also harmonized completely differently.... It's over a different chord and so on, but still it's the first seven notes of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'".^[16] Schwartz further obscured the motif's origin by setting it in a minor key in most instances. This also creates contrast in the songs in which it forms a part, for example in "Defying Gravity", which is written primarily in the key of D-flat major.^[17] In "The Wicked Witch of the East", however, when Elphaba finally uses her powers to let her sister walk, the "Unlimited" theme is played in a major key.^[16]

[edit] Musical numbers

Act I [10] No One Mourns the Wicked – Glinda, Father, Mother, Midwife, Citizens of Oz Dear Old Shiz – Students The Wizard and I – Madame Morrible, Elphaba What Is This Feeling? – Galinda, Elphaba, Students Something Bad – Doctor Dillamond, Elphaba Dancing Through Life – Fiyero, Galinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba, Students Popular – Galinda I'm Not That Girl – Elphaba The Wizard and I (reprise) – Madame Morrible, Elphaba One Short Day – Elphaba, Glinda, Denizens of the Emerald City A Sentimental Man – The Wizard Defying Gravity – Elphaba, Glinda, Palace Guards, Citizens

Act II [10] No One Mourns the Wicked (reprise) – Citizens of Oz Thank Goodness – Glinda, Madame Morrible, Citizens The Wicked Witch of the East – Nessarose, Elphaba, Boq Wonderful – The Wizard, Elphaba I'm Not That Girl (reprise) – Glinda As Long as You're Mine – Elphaba, Fiyero No Good Deed – Elphaba March of the Witch Hunters – Tin Man, Citizens For Good – Elphaba, Glinda Finale – Glinda, Elphaba, Citizens

[edit] Response

[edit] Critical reception

The Broadway production opened on October 30, 2003, to mixed reviews from theatre critics.^[18][19] While Menzel and Chenoweth received nearly unanimous praise for their performances as Elphaba and Glinda, the plot was derided as "muddled", and the sound quality in the massive Gershwin Theatre as "smearing".^[20][21] Both USA Today and Time Magazine gave the Broadway production of Wicked a good review. Richard Zoglin of Time said, "[I]f every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place.".^[22] Elysa Gardner of USA Today said that "this is the most complete, and completely satisfying, new musical I've come across in a long time".^[23]

Despite these mixed reviews, interest in Wicked spread quickly by word-of-mouth, leading to record-breaking success at the box office, as described below. Speaking to The Arizona Republic in 2006, Schwartz commented, "What can I say? Reviews are reviews... I know we divided the critics. We didn't divide the audience, and that's what counts."^[24]

The West End production opened to a similarly ambivalent, if slightly more upbeat, critical reception. Although The Daily Telegraph described it as "at times... a bit of a mess," it praised Holzman's script, described Kenneth Posner's lighting design as "magical" and lauded Menzel and Helen Dallimore (as Glinda).^[25] The Guardian gave it three out of five stars and remarked on the competence of all the lead actors; however, it also complained that Wicked was "all too typical of the modern Broadway musical: efficient, knowing and highly professional but more like a piece of industrial product than something that genuinely touches the heart or mind".^[26]

[edit] Awards

Wicked was nominated for ten of the 2004 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Orchestration and twice for Best Leading Actress, for Menzel and Chenoweth.^[27] Menzel won the Best Actress award, and the show also won the Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Costume design, although it lost the Best Musical award to Avenue Q.^[28] In the same year, the show won six Drama Desk Awards out of eleven nominations, including in the Book, Director and Costume Design categories.^[29][30] The West End production was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards in 2007 but did not win any.^[31]

[edit] Financial success

With a $14 million capitalization, the Broadway production earned back its initial investment by December 21, 2004.^[10] In its first year it grossed more than $56 million.^[32] The production has been playing to capacity crowds for almost every recent^[update] performance (even to the extent that the sold out sign is nailed to the theater) and grosses more than a million dollars every week according to reports published by Playbill.^[33] In the week ending January 1, 2006, Wicked broke the record, previously held by The Producers, for the highest weekly box office gross in Broadway history, earning $1,610,934.^[34] Wicked broke its own record in the week ending November 26, 2006, when it grossed a total of $1,715,155.^[35] The Broadway production broke its own record again in the week ending December 30, 2007, grossing $1,839,950. That week the show also broke its own weekly gross records in Los Angeles ($1,949,968), Chicago ($1,418,363), and in St. Louis ($2,291,608), as the seven worldwide productions of the show grossed a collective $11.2 million.^[36]

Although West End theatres do not publish audited weekly grosses,^[37] the London production of Wicked claims to hold the record for highest reported one-week gross at £761,000, achieved in the week ending December 30, 2006.^[38][39] On June 23, 2008, the producers reported that over 1.4 million people had seen the London production since its opening, grossing over £50 million.^[40] Per the same reports, the show has consistently been one of the two highest-grossing shows in the West End.^[39]

The Broadway company of Wicked celebrated its 1,000th performance on March 23, 2006.^[41] Several of the other productions have also reached the landmark figure, including the North American touring company on 15 August 2007,^[42] the Chicago company on November 14 2007.^[43] and the West End company on 14 February 2009.^[44]

[edit] Popular culture

The extraordinary success of Wicked has made several of the songs popular and engendered references to the show, characters, and songs in popular culture. Media as diverse as the anime series Red Garden, the daytime drama Passions and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novels have all parodied Wicked's songs and characters.^[45][46] The production itself has been featured in episodes of television programs, including Brothers & Sisters and The War at Home.^[47] In an episode of Ugly Betty ("Brothers"), Betty gets tickets to see Wicked, discussing with a friend how much she relates to Elphaba's outcast status in a popularity and beauty-oriented environment.^[48] In a later episode ("Something Wicked This Way Comes"), Betty goes to see Wicked on a date and accidentally stops the show.^[49] Although Betty attends the Broadway production, the episode is shot primarily in Los Angeles: the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood doubled for the Gershwin Theatre for filming purposes.^[50]

The musician and actor John Barrowman has been singing a version of The Wizard And I on his 2008 UK tour, with adapted lyrics referring to his Doctor Who and Torchwood character Jack's affection for The Doctor. In the 2008 Broadway musical [title of show], the main characters fantasize about being a part of Broadway theater business and mention that they will be able to see Wicked for free, while the 2009 musical Shrek the Musical parodies the show's Act I finale with "What's Up, Duloc?"; Lord Farquaad reenacts Wicked's "Defying Gravity" by proclaiming "No one's gonna bring me down" followed by the legato belt while atop his castle.

Hannah Fury's 2000 album "The Thing That Feels" contains an "Oz Cycle" of five songs, with a further two on her 2003 single "I Can't Let You In". It is more strictly the case that the Fury songs and the musical were all based on the book rather than the musical as the Fury songs pre-date the musical by a number of years.

In "Wheels," an episode of the Fox series Glee, Rachel and Kurt compete in a "diva-off" to sing the solo for "Defying Gravity" in the future sectionals competition. Though Rachel is initially given the part because she is female, Kurt's father protests and Kurt is given the opportunity to compete with her for the part - and is able to produce the high F necessary to clinch the part, after some practice. But soon after, Kurt's father receives an anonymous and threatening phone call referring to Kurt's homosexuality; in order to keep his father from having to deal with the aftermath if he wins the part, Kurt throws the audition by missing the high F note at the end of the song on purpose.

[edit] Behind the Emerald Curtain

The success of the Broadway production has led to the development of an auxiliary show, Behind the Emerald Curtain. Created by Sean McCourt and Anthony Galde, two cast members of Wicked. The show features a ninety minute behind-the-scenes tour of the props, masks, costumes and sets, led by cast members, who also take part in a question-and-answer session.^[51] Behind the Emerald Curtain is part of the Wicked productions running in New York and San Francisco, and accompanies the national tour.^[52]

[edit] Other productions

[edit] 2005 First National tour

Wicked launched its first national tour in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in March 2005. Since then it has visited numerous cities throughout North America.^[10] The original touring cast included Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba, Derrick Williams as Fiyero, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond, Logan Lipton as Boq and David Garrison as the Wizard. Notable replacements have included Julia Murney, Shoshana Bean, Victoria Matlock, and Carmen Cusack as Elphaba; Megan Hilty and Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda; Sebastian Arcelus, Cliffton Hall, and Richard H. Blake as Fiyero; Carole Shelley and Alma Cuervo as Madame Morrible; Lee Wilkof, Lenny Wolpe, and Richard Kline as the Wizard; and Deedee Magno as Nessarose.

Over 2.2 million people saw the touring production in its first two years, and it grossed over $155 million.^[3] The tour has played to capacity crowds at almost every performance,^[3] with tickets for four-week engagements selling out in as little as seven hours.^[3] The touring company celebrated its 1,000th performance on August 15, 2007 in Philadelphia.^[42] In the week ending December 30, 2007 the production took in $2,291,608 in St Louis, Missouri, the highest weekly gross in North American touring history.^[53]

[edit] 2005 Chicago

The first non-Broadway sit-down production of Wicked opened in Chicago, Illinois at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre on July 13, 2005. In its first week, the show grossed $1,400,000. It continued to set records, becoming the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago history,^[43] and is considered a key part of the booming Chicago theatre scene.^[54] The limited engagement from April 29 to June 12, 2005 with the original touring cast was extended to an open-ended run.^[55]

The original Chicago cast included Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba, Kate Reinders as Glinda, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Telly Leung as Boq, Heidi Kettenring as Nessarose and Gene Weygandt as the Wizard. ^[56] Notable Chicago cast replacements have included Kristy Cates, Dee Roscioli, and Lisa Brescia as Elphaba; Erin Mackey, Kate Fahrner, and Annaleigh Ashford as Glinda; Brad Bass as Fiyero; Carole Shelley and Barbara Robertson as Madame Morrible; David Garrison as the Wizard; and Timothy Britten Parker and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond.

During the 2007 Christmas holiday season, the production broke its own Chicago box office record with a gross $1,418,363.24 for the week ending December 30, 2007.^[57] Producer David Stone commented on the unanticipated success of the production in Variety magazine, saying "To be honest, we thought it would run 18 months, then we'd spend a year in Los Angeles and six months in San Francisco... but sales stayed so strong that the producers created another road show and kept the show running in Chicago."^[58] The Chicago production played its 1,000th performance on November 14, 2007.^[59] Wicked played to more than 2 million visitors in Chicago with a gross of over $200 million, making it the highest grossing show in Chicago history by June 2007.^[59][60]

The production closed on January 25, 2009 after over 1,500 performances.^[61]

[edit] 2006 Universal Studios, Japan

The theme park Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan presents a 35-minute theme park version of Wicked, which began performances in July 2006. It focuses mainly on Elphaba and Glinda's relationship, but also includes the Wizard. Fiyero, Nessarose, Madame Morrible, and Doctor Dillamond are absent from the production. The production generally uses American and Australian actresses to play Elphaba, while Japanese actresses play Glinda. The show is performed four times a day, with several actresses sharing each role. This version is performed mostly in Japanese, with portions in English.^[62]

[edit] 2006 West End, London

The first international production of Wicked previewed on September 7, 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London's West End with an official opening of September 26, 2006. The West End production reunited the show's original creative team with its Tony Award-winning star, Idina Menzel.^[63] Other original London cast members included Australian Helen Dallimore as Glinda, Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible, Adam Garcia as Fiyero, Martin Ball as Doctor Dillamond, James Gillan as Boq, Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose and Nigel Planer as the Wizard. Replacements have included Kerry Ellis and Alexia Khadime as Elphaba; Dianne Pilkington as Glinda; Oliver Tompsett as Fiyero; Susie Blake and Harriet Thorpe as Madame Morrible; Desmond Barrit and Sam Kelly as the Wizard; Caroline Keiff and Natalie Anderson as Nessarose.

The run has been extended to 30 October 2010. On 14 February 2009 Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance in London.^[64]

The production was slightly tailored for a British audience, including minor creative changes to dialogue, choreography, and special effects. In the same fashion as the modifications that were made for the 1st national tour, most of these changes were later incorporated into all productions of Wicked.^[65]

[edit] 2007 Tokyo

Wicked opened its first non-English production in Tokyo, Japan on June 17, 2007, with previews starting on June 15, 2007. Numao Miyuki and Hamada Megumi played Glinda and Elphaba in the original Tokyo production. The Shiki Theatre Company at the Dentsu Shiki Theatre "Umi" produces it. The production has a Japanese and Chinese cast and is performed entirely in Japanese.^[62]. The production closed on September 6, 2009 and will resume performances in Osaka from October 11, 2009. With previews performances on the 9 & 10 October.^[66]

[edit] 2007 Los Angeles

Wicked launched its fifth open-ended production in Los Angeles, California at the Pantages Theatre. Performances began on February 10, 2007, with an official opening on February 21. All but two of the principals had previously performed their roles in another production – representatives from the Broadway, Chicago, and touring productions made up most of the original cast, with Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.^[67] Other original cast members included Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond, Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose, Adam Wylie as Boq, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, and John Rubinstein as the Wizard. Notable replacements have included; Caissie Levy and Teal Wicks as Elphaba; Erin Mackey as Glinda; Jo Anne Worley as Madame Morrible; David Garrison as the Wizard; and Marcie Dodd as Nessarose.

In the week ending March 4, 2007, the show grossed $1,786,110 and became the highest-grossing attraction in Los Angeles theatre history, taking the record from The Producers, which had set the record in June 2003 at the same theatre.^[68] In the week ended December 30, 2007, Wicked set a new box office record of $1,949,968 in Los Angeles.^[53] During the week ending January 4, 2009, WICKED again set the Los Angeles single week record with a gross of $2,579,944.50 with nine performances. During the final week of the run, Wicked again played at capacity, grossing $2,291,511.50, breaking its own record for a regular eight-performance week. The average weekly gross during the show's run at the Pantages was over $1,450,000 per week. In the end the production grossed over $145 million and was seen by more than 1.8 million patrons.^[69]

The production closed on January 11, 2009 after 791 performances and 12 previews.^[70]

[edit] 2007 Stuttgart

Wicked: Die Hexen von Oz ("Wicked: The Witches of Oz") premiered November 15, 2007, at the Palladium Theater in Stuttgart. Willemijn Verkaik and Lucy Scherer headline the production as Elphaba and Glinda. Wicked has become one of Germany's top musicals.^[71] A recording of this production was released on December 7, 2007. The production will close on January 30, 2010 and transfer to Oberhausen, where it will begin performances in March. It will be replaced by the revival of Tanz der Vampire.^[72]

[edit] 2008 Melbourne

An open-ended Australian production of Wicked officially opened on July 12, 2008 with previews commencing June 27 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia.^[73][74] Australians Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack play Elphaba and Glinda respectively. They are joined by Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible, Rob Guest as The Wizard, Rob Mills as Fiyero, Anthony Callea as Boq and Penny McNamee as Nessarose.^[75] The Australian production has also broken box-office records, selling 24,750 tickets in just three hours during pre-sales and grossing over $1.3 million worth in ticket sales on the first business day after its official opening.^[76] On April 27 2009, the production passed the milestone of 500,000 patrons.^[77]

Rob Guest (The Wizard) died suddenly on October 2, 2008 after suffering a major stroke the previous day.^[78] After Guest's passing, Rodney Dobson (Doctor Dillamond) played the Wizard with Anton Berezin (Witch's Father) taking over his role, until favourite television personality Bert Newton stepped in as Guest's replacement, which allowed Dobson and Berezin to return to their original roles.

From June 10-July 10 2009 Carmen Cusack, from the 1st National tour and Chicago companies of Wicked took on the role of standby for Elphaba, as regular standby Jemma Rix was playing the role full time due to Amanda Harrison's extended leave.^[79] Harrison returned to the role on August 2, 2009 after a two month absence.^[80]

Wicked's success in Melbourne prompted rumours that the production would transfer to Sydney; this was initially denied by John Frost, the Melbourne producer, who confirmed it would be staying in Melbourne for all of 2009, with no plans to come to Sydney any time soon.^[81] However, on May 13, 2009 this was reversed and it was announced that the production would close in Melbourne on August 9, 2009, after 464 performances, and will resume performances at the Capitol Theatre on September 5, 2009.^[82]

[edit] 2009 San Francisco

An open-ended engagement began previews at the Orpheum Theatre on January 27, 2009 and officially opened on February 6, 2009.^[83] The cast features all principal actors who have previously played or understudied their roles. Teal Wicks and Kendra Kassebaum lead the cast as Elphaba and Glinda. The company also featured Nicolas Dromard as Fiyero, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, David Garrison as the Wizard, Deedee Magno as Nessarose, Tom Flynn as Doctor Dillamond, and Eddy Rioseco as Boq. ^[84][85] Notable replacements have included Patty Duke as Madame Morrible and Lee Wilkof as the Wizard.

[edit] 2009 2nd National tour

A second tour of the United States and Canada began previews on March 7, 2009 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, Florida, with an official opening night on March 12, 2009. Since then it has visited numerous cities throughout North America. The original cast stars Marcie Dodd as Elphaba, Helene Yorke as Glinda, Colin Donnell as Fiyero, Kristine Reese as Nessarose, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Morrible, David De Vries as Doctor Dillamond, Ted Ely as Boq, and Tom McGowan as the Wizard.^[86]. Replacements have included; Lenny Wolpe as the Wizard.

[edit] 2009 Sydney

The production began previews on September 5, 2009 at the Capitol Theater in Sydney, Australia, with the official opening on September 12, 2009. Many of the Melbourne cast returned, including Amanda Harrison as Elphaba, Lucy Durack as Glinda, Rob Mills as Fiyero, Bert Newton as the Wizard, Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible, Rodney Dobson as Doctor Dillamond, and Penny McNamee as Nessarose, with Melbourne understudy James Smith taking over as Boq. The production recently broke the record for highest grossing musical at the Capitol Theatre, beating other blockbuster musicals such as The Lion King, Billy Elliot, and Miss Saigon. Standby Jemma Rix is temporarily replacing Amanda Harrison as Elphaba, due to Harrison's health problems. Jennifer DiNoia (Standby for Elphaba on Broadway) is temporarily filling in as standby.

[edit] 2009 Osaka

Performances began October 11, 2009 at the Osaka Shiki Theater, Japan. Previews began October 9. Transfer of the Tokyo production.

[edit] 2010 Oberhausen

Performances begin on March 17, 2010 at the Metronom Theater Centro, Oberhausen, Germany. Transfer of the Stuttgart production.^[87] Casting is to be decided.

[edit] Recordings

A cast recording of the original Broadway production was released on December 16, 2003, by Universal Music. All of the songs featured on stage are present on the recording with the exception of "The Wicked Witch of the East". The short reprise of "No One Mourns the Wicked" that opens Act II is attached to the beginning of "Thank Goodness".^[88] The music was arranged by Stephen Oremus, who was also the conductor and musical director, and James Lynn Abbott, with orchestrations by William David Brohn.^[88] The recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005^[89] and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30, 2006.^[90]

A German recording of the Stuttgart production was released on December 7, 2007, featuring a track listing and arrangements identical to those of the Broadway recording.^[91]

Although a London cast recording has been discussed, none has been recorded. It has also been noted that if a West End recording were to be released, Elphaba would be played by Kerry Ellis, the original London standby, rather than Idina Menzel who originated the part both on Broadway and in the West End.^[92]

The Japanese cast recording was released on July 23, 2008, featuring the Original Tokyo cast.^[93]

A fifth-anniversary special edition of the original Broadway cast recording was released on October 28, 2008, with a bonus CD including tracks from the Japanese and German cast recordings, Making Good, and song later replaced by The Wizard and I, sung by Stephanie J. Block with Schwartz at the Piano, "I'm Not That Girl" by Kerry Ellis and Brian May, Menzel's dance mix of "Defying Gravity", and "For Good" sung by LeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem.^[94]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official production sites
  • North America (Broadway/On Tour/San Francisco revival)
  • London
  • Osaka
  • Stuttgart
  • Sydney
  • Behind the Emerald Curtain (Behind the scenes tour on Broadway)
• Cast lists for several productions at Wikia
• Wicked at the Internet Broadway Database
• Wicked at MusicalSchwartz.com, the official Stephen Schwartz fan site
• Wicked Tickets at Stubdepot.com, the official fan site for secondary ticketing

Articles Related to the Musical – Wicked v • d • e Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical The Wiz (1975) · Annie (1977) · Ain't Misbehavin' (1978) · Sweeney Todd (1979) · Evita (1980) · The Pirates of Penzance (1981) · Nine (1982) · Little Shop of Horrors (1983) · Sunday in the Park with George (1984) · The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1986) · Les Miserables (1987) · Into the Woods (1988) · Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989) · City of Angels (1990) · The Secret Garden (1991) · Crazy for You (1992) · Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993) · Passion (1994) · Show Boat (1995) · Rent (1996) · The Life (1997) · Ragtime (1998) · Parade (1999) · Contact (2000) · The Producers (2001) · Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) · Hairspray (2003) · Wicked (2004) · Spamalot (2005) · The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) · Spring Awakening (2007) · Passing Strange (2008) · Billy Elliot the Musical (2009) v • d • e Wicked Books Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West • Son of a Witch • A Lion Among Men Stage adaptations Wicked Characters Elphaba • Glinda • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz • Fiyero • Boq • Madame Morrible • Nessarose • Doctor Dillamond • Liir Songs "No One Mourns the Wicked" • "Popular" • "Defying Gravity" • "As Long as You're Mine" • "No Good Deed" • "For Good" People Gregory Maguire • Stephen Schwartz • Winnie Holzman • Joe Mantello Other List of awards and nominations for the musical Wicked • Wicked (album) • Grimmerie • Kiamo Ko • Shiz University v • d • e Stephen Schwartz Music and lyrics Godspell · Pippin · The Magic Show · The Baker's Wife · Working · Personals · The Trip · Children of Eden · Wicked · Thiruvasagam · Captain Louie Lyrics MASS · Rags · Der Glöckner von Notre Dame Recordings Reluctant Pilgrim · Uncharted Territory Film work Butterflies Are Free (title song) · Pocahontas (lyrics) · The Hunchback of Notre Dame (lyrics) · The Prince of Egypt (songs) · Enchanted (lyrics) Television Geppetto (music and lyrics) · Johnny and the Sprites (theme song) v • d • e The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Oz portal General Land of Oz · Characters · Major books · Apocrypha · Adaptations · The Oz Film Manufacturing Company Authors L. Frank Baum · Ruth Plumly Thompson · John R. Neill · Jack Snow · Rachel Cosgrove Payes · Eloise McGraw · Alexander Volkov · Sherwood Smith Illustrators William Wallace Denslow · John R. Neill · Frank Kramer · Dirk Gringhuis · Dick Martin · Eric Shanower Characters Princess Ozma · Dorothy Gale · Scarecrow · Tin Woodman · Cowardly Lion · Hungry Tiger · Saw-Horse · The Wizard of Oz · Good Witch of the North · Glinda · Wicked Witch of the West · Nome King · Mombi · Ugu the shoemaker · Tik-Tok · Jack Pumpkinhead · Aunt Em · Uncle Henry · Cap'n Bill · Unc Nunkie · Jellia Jamb · Woggle-Bug · Shaggy Man · Polychrome · Frogman · Cayke · Ervic · Belfaygor of Bourne · Toto · Billina · Eureka · Glass Cat · Button-Bright · Betsy Bobbin · Trot · Peter Brown · Wicked Witch of the East · Bell-snickle · Jenny Jump · Soldier with the Green Whiskers · Guardian of the Gates · Dr. Pipt · Ojo the Lucky · Ku-Klip · Nimmie Amee · Patchwork Girl · Jinjur · Woozy · Kabumpo · Sir Hokus of Pokes · Jinnicky the Red Jinn · Pigasus · Pastoria · Gayelette · Queen Lurline · Princess Langwidere · Queen Coo-ee-oh · Doctor Nikidik · Mrs. Yoop · Johnny Dooit · The Gump · Boq · Munchkins · Winkies · Quadlings · Gillikins Adaptations Official canon The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays · The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910) · Dorothy and the Scarecrow in Oz · The Land of Oz · The Patchwork Girl of Oz · The Magic Cloak of Oz · His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz · Wizard of Oz (1925) · The Wizard of Oz (1933) · The Wizard of Oz (1939) · Tales of the Wizard of Oz · Return to Oz (1964) · The Wonderful Land of Oz · Journey Back to Oz · The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1975) · The Wiz · The Marvelous Land of Oz · The Wizard of Oz (1982) · Return to Oz (1985) · Lost in Oz · The Muppets' Wizard of Oz · Emerald City Confidential · The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2011) TV series The Wizard of Oz (1990) · The Oz Kids (1996) Translations Oz no Mahōtsukai · The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz · Os Trapalhões e o Mágico de Oróz · Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde Parodies The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's The Wizard of Mars · Zardoz · Oz · Tin Man The Wicked Years Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West · Son of a Witch · A Lion Among Men · Wicked