Wicked the Musical grabs your imagination from the very first act. With the powerful score by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked has already been seen by over two million fans in sold out shows across North America for over two years, breaking industry sales recorders, as well as winning 15 awards.
Full of spirit and intrigue and showing the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked appeals to all age groups by taking the fantastic elements of The Wizard of Oz and providing a modern spin on the story. And in Wicked, the women take center stage. From green to blonde, the characters couldn't be more different, and many of us will find a bit of ourselves and our friends in the main characters, both good and bad.
Taking the original Wizard of Oz and the parallel novel Wicked as a base, the musical heads off into new territory. Wicked the Musical focuses on the Wicked Witch of the West, given the name Elphaba Thropp and how she came to play such a pivotal roll in The Wizard of Oz, including answering the question why she's green and turning her into a tragic character we can all empathize with. The Good Witch Glinda is her roommate and the play illuminates how the characters of the Wizard of Oz got to be where they are, how the ruby shoes came into existence, as well as the flying monkeys.
Starting from Glinda addressing the citizens of Oz after the death of Elphaba the narration goes back to the beginning - the Green Elixir that gives Elphaba her unique green skin tone, and Glinda and Elphaba being roommates. Mentioning the rest of the characters would ruin the tie-in with The Wizard of Oz, and that's what makes this outstanding story so much more than a run-of-the-mill musical. It takes the story that everyone knows and showing that there's more than the original story, that everyone in Oz has a history.
The Oz of our childhood was a world that Dorothy visited only briefly before returning to her home, it was an allegorical world, with the cowardly lion, the scarecrow and the tin man accompanying her as she struggled against the Wicked Witch of the West and the flying monkeys. Wicked explores this world some more and does not disappoint.
Dorothy's visit, while important, isn't the main story element in Wicked, Dorothy herself is only seen as a shadow. The main story appeals to audiences of all ages, retaining the mythic elements of The Wizard of Oz combined with the compelling and tragic evolution of characters into their more familiar incarnations. This enchanting musical combines the full range of human experiences, love, betrayal, jealously, intrigue.
Join the more than two million people who have already met these wonderfully diverse characters and personalities and experience the wickedness! The story, music, acting and stage makes this musical a must see for everyone who has ever seen The Wizard of Oz and wondered what more lurked beyond the yellow brick road and past the Emerald City.