Wicked (musical)

Wicked is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.

Wicked is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It reimagines the Land of Oz before Dorothy’s arrival, focusing on the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda and how Elphaba becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Plot

The story follows Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University in Oz before Dorothy arrives. It explores their friendship, rivalry, and the events that shape Elphaba’s public image as a villain. Elphaba is portrayed as an outcast because of her green skin and later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The musical centers on the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, who begin as classmates and become close friends.

Source material

The musical adapts Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. That novel itself reimagines the world created by L. Frank Baum and later popularized by the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The musical is based on the novel, not directly on The Wizard of Oz alone.

Production history

Wicked premiered on Broadway on October 30, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre. It became a long-running hit. Its success later led to productions in the West End and other international stagings. Wicked has also been staged in Canada, including major productions that have toured to Canadian cities, contributing to its broad popularity with Canadian theatre audiences.

Themes

The musical is known for themes of friendship, identity, prejudice, power, and moral complexity. It presents Oz as a world where public narratives can differ from private realities.