Wicked – Broadway Show

“Wicked” has been playing on Broadway for a very long time (since May 2003, to be precise) and its first and second string of stars have moved on, but the audience’s fascination with this musical continues. The current stars, Megan Hilty and Shoshana Bean do have some way to go before they can measure up to the histrionics of Idina Menzel, who got the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress and Jennifer Laura Thompson, but the musical remains as entertaining as it was nearly 7 years ago.

This musical premiered at the Curran Theater in San Francisco and came to Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre in October 2003. In spite of receiving mixed reviews from critics, the production was patronized by theater goers in great numbers. Just to give you an idea, it broke the record for the biggest opening in the West End by grossing over £100,000 in the first hour on sale. Such was the success of this Broadway musical that productions were spawned in Los Angeles, Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, and San Francisco.

Wicked the musical was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 2004 and won 3 of them. Apart from the Best Actress Award which has been mentioned above, it also bagged the awards for the best Scenic Design and Costume Design. In addition to this, it also got six Drama Desk Awards. That sure is a carton full of awards for one musical. Makes you curious enough to go and watch it, doesn’t it?

Wicked the musical traces the story of Oz before the appearance of Dorothy on the scenes. It speaks of a most unlikely kind of friendship between the green-skinned Elphaba who later comes to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West and the beautiful and ambitious Galinda who later becomes the Good Witch of the North. Both Elphaba and Galinda are people with opposing personalities and viewpoints, and the audience is made to see how misunderstood the former is. Elphaba fights injustice and speaks up against the corrupt government of the Wizard of Oz and eventually, falls from grace and is termed as “evil.”

As you can see, it’s a complete anti-thesis of the bright and colorful movie “Wizard of Oz” that was such a hit among children and adults alike. However, even as “Wicked” pays a tribute to this memorable movie, it also changing your understanding of it and shows you how there are two sides to every story. As time magazine puts it, “If every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place!”

Venue: Gershwin Theatre in New York City

Address: 222 West 51st Street

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes (with 1 intermission)

Timings:

Sunday – 3:00 PM

Monday – Dark

Tuesday – 7:00 PM

Wednesday – 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM

Thursday – 8:00 PM

Friday – 8:00 PM

Saturday – 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM

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