Wicked Tickets - Broadway Musical

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Wicked The Musical Performance Locations

The Story Behind Wicked

The Tony award-winning Broadway musical Wicked is produced by Universal Pictures and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The musical is directed by Joe Mantello, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and a book by Winnie Holzman. Following Maguire's novel, the musical is the grand re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is set in the point of view of the witches of Oz. Wicked was originally set to become a major motion picture but it was quickly realized that it would be better suited as a musical.

Wicked is a story that focuses primarily on the two witches of Oz, the beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland (who ultimately becomes Glinda the Good Witch), and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp. The show explores the concept that Thropp is a misunderstood, victimized person whose behavior was merely a reaction against a charlatan wizard's corrupt government. The indepth story of her relationship with Galinda and their struggling friendship is portrayed throughout the show as they clash with extreme personality conflicts, opposing viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and the course that leads to Elphaba's fall from grace.

The musical's initial Broadway production began its previews at the George Gershwin Theatre on October 8, 2003, officially opening on October 30. Included in the cast was Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West), and Joel Grey as The Wizard. Critics gave the musical mixed reviews, casting an uncertain shadow over the production, but audiences showed great enthusiasm and it was their word-of-mouth praise that created vast popularity. The show has been regarded positively for its various demographical subject matter including women, camaraderie, and social standards.

Wicked was nominated for ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, but the show's largest feat came when Menzel was named Best Actress in a Musical. Accompanying that award were two additional Tony awards: Eugene Lee for Tony Award for Best Scenic Design and Susan Hilferty for Tony Award for Best Costume Design. On November 30, 2006, the RIAA certified the cast recordings album platinum, and the album also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The production announced that Wicked had broken the record for the highest weekly box office gross in Broadway history, going on to break their own show's records since.

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