Wicked

Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, focusing on the friendship between Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, who will become Glinda the Good. Set before and during the events of The Wizard of Oz, the musical explores how the two women grow apart as they respond very differently to power and public opinion.

The musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, with a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Joe Mantello directed the original Broadway production, while Wayne Cilento created the choreography.

Wicked opened at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003. It received ten Tony Award nominations and won three, including Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design. Songs such as “Defying Gravity” and “For Good” have become some of the best-known numbers in modern musical theatre.

The musical was later adapted into a two-part film version directed by Jon M. Chu, bringing the story and Stephen Schwartz’s score to a new audience.