Wicked (musical)

Wicked
The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz

Official poster of the original Broadway production

Music

Stephen Schwartz

Lyrics

Stephen Schwartz

Book

Winnie Holzman

Basis

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked

Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

2003
2003
2005
Productions
2006
Various
below)

San

Francisco

tryout
Broadway
US
Tour
West
End
international productions (see

Awards

2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding

Musical
2004 Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding Broadway Musical

Wicked (full title: Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz) is a musical with music and
lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the 1995 Gregory
Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a parallel novel of
the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's 1900 classic story The Wonderful Wizard of
Oz. The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins
before and continues after Dorothy's arrival in Oz from Kansas and includes several references
to the 1939 film and Baum's novel. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the
Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North), who struggle through
opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the
Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.
Produced by Universal Pictures in coalition with Marc Platt and David Stone, the Joe Mantello
directed and Wayne Cilentochoreographed original production of Wicked premiered on
Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003, after completing pre-Broadway SHN
tryouts at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in May 2003. Its original stars included Idina Menzel
as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard.[1] The original Broadway
production won three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards whilst its cast album received a
Grammy Award. It celebrated its tenth anniversary on Broadway on October 30, 2013, and
played for over 4,155 performances,[1] making Wicked the 11th longest-running Broadway show
in history.[2]
The success of the Broadway production has spawned several other productions worldwide,
including various North American productions, a long-running Laurence Olivier Award
nominated West End production and a series of international productions. Since its 2003 debut,
Wicked has broken box office records around the world, currently holding weekly-gross-takings
records in Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London. In the week ending January 2, 2011, the
London, Broadway, and both North American touring productions simultaneously broke their
respective records for the highest weekly gross.[3][4] In the final week of 2013, the Broadway
production broke this record again, earning $3.2 million.[5] The West End production and the
North American tour have each been seen by over two million patrons.[6]

Inception and development

Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz

Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discovered writer Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West while on vacation and saw its
potential for a dramatic adaptation.[7] Maguire, however, had released the rights to Universal,
who had planned to develop a live-action feature film.[8] Schwartz met Maguire in Connecticut
in 1998 and persuaded him to release them for a stage production [9] while making what
Schwartz called an "impassioned plea" to Universal producer Marc Platt to realize his potential
adaptation. Persuaded too, Platt signed on as joint producer of the project with Universal and
David Stone.[8]
The novel, described as a political, social, and ethical commentary on the nature of good and
evil, takes place in the Land of Oz, in the years leading to Dorothy's arrival. The story centers on
Elphaba, the misunderstood, smart, and fiery girl of emerald-green skin who grows up to
become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda, the beautiful, blonde, popular
girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good Witch of the North. The story is divided into five
different sections based on the plot location and presents events, characters and situations
from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its 1939 film adaptation in new
ways. It is designed to set the reader thinking about what it really is to be "Wicked", and
whether good intentions with bad results are the same as bad intentions with bad results.
Schwartz considered how best to condense the novel's dense and complicated plot into a
sensible script.[9] To this end, he collaborated with Emmy Awardwinning writer Winnie
Holzman to develop the outline of the plot over the course of a year[10] while meeting with
producer Marc Platt to refine the structural outline of the show, spinning an original stage piece
rather than creating a strict adaptation of Maguire's work.[9]

While the draft followed Maguire's idea of retelling the story of the 1939 film from the
perspective of its main villain, the story line of the stage adaptation "goes far afield" from the
novel. As Holzman observed in an interview with Playbill, "It was [Maguire's] brilliant idea to
take this hated figure and tell things from her point of view, and to have the two witches be
roommates in college, but the way in which their friendship develops and really the whole
plot is different onstage."[11] Schwartz justified the deviation, saying "Primarily we were
interested in the relationship between Galinda who becomes Glinda and Elphaba...the
friendship of these two women and how their characters lead them to completely different
destinies."[12] In addition to this change in focus, other major plot modifications include Fiyero's
appearance as the scarecrow, Elphaba's survival at the end, Nessarose using a wheelchair
instead of being born without arms, Boq having a continuing love interest for Glinda - and
eventually becoming the Tin Woodman instead of Nick Chopper, the complete cutting of
Elphaba's years in the Vinkus, and Doctor Dillamond not being murdered.[13]
The book, lyrics, and score for the musical were developed through a series of readings.[9] For
these developmental workshops, Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Awardwinning actress whom
Stephen Schwartz had in mind while composing the music for the character, [14] joined the
project as Glinda. Stephanie J. Block originally read the role of Elphaba before fellow performer
Idina Menzel was cast in the role in late 2000. In early 2000, the creators recruited New York
producer David Stone who began the transition of the workshop production into a full
Broadway production. Joe Mantello was brought in as director and Wayne Cilento as
choreographer while Tony Awardwinning designer Eugene Lee created the set and visual style
for the production based on both W. W. Denslow's original illustrations for Baum's novels and
Maguire's concept of the story being told through a giant clock. [14] Costume designer Susan
Hilferty created a "twisted Edwardian" style through more than 200 costumes, while lighting
designer Kenneth Posner used more than 800 individual lights to give each of the 54 distinct
scenes and locations "its own mood".[14] By April 2003, a full cast had been assembled and the
show readied its public debut.[14]

The Curran Theatre in San Francisco, where Wicked made its public debut
On May 28, 2003, the first public performance of Wicked was held at the Curran Theatre in San
Francisco, as the start of SHN pre-Broadway tryouts. After officially opening on June 10, 2003, it

ran there for the month and finished on June 29, 2003. Audience reaction was mostly positive
and although critics tended to compliment the aesthetic and spectacle of the show, they
disparaged the state of its book, score and choreography.[15] Dennis Harvey of Variety
commented positively of the "sleekly directed", "snazzily designed" and "smartly cast"
production yet still disapproved of its "mediocre" book, "trite" lyrics and "largely generic"
music[16] while Karen D'Souza of the San Jose Mercury News wrote that "Style over substance is
the real theme in this Emerald City."[15] Noting mixed response, the creative team started
making extensive changes, tweaking it before its transfer to Broadway.[14] Winnie Holzman
stated, "Stephen [Schwartz] wisely had insisted on having three months to rewrite in-between
the time we closed in San Francisco and when we were to go back into rehearsals in New York.
That was crucial; that was the thing that made the biggest difference in the life of the show.
That time is what made the show work."[17]
Elements of the book were rewritten while several songs underwent minor transformations.[14]
This included the excision of "Which Way is the Party?", the introductory song to the character
Fiyero, which was subsequently replaced by "Dancing Through Life" in Schwartz's fear that the
former failed to be a clear "statement of Fiyero's philosophy of life". [18] In addition, there was
concern that Menzel's Elphaba "got a little overshadowed" by Chenoweth's Glinda. [19] San
Francisco Chronicle critic Robert Hurwitt wrote, "Menzel's brightly intense Elphaba the Wicked
Witch [needs] a chance of holding her own alongside Chenoweth's gloriously, insidiously bubbly
Glinda",[20] so the creative team set about making her character "more prominent".[19] On the
subject of the Broadway revisions, Schwartz recalled, "It was clear there was work to be done
and revisions to be made in the book and the score. The critical community was, frankly, very
helpful to us. We learned a lot from the reviews, which were honest and constructive in the
aggregate, unlike New York, where the critics make up their minds before they come to the
theatre."[19] On October 30, 2003, the musical opened on Broadway.[14]

Wicked The Musical Synopsis

The show starts off at the end of the story, (No One Mourns the Wicked) with Glinda coming
down in a bubble giving the citizens good news of Elphaba's death. We learn of Elphaba's birth,
how she was the illegitimate daughter of a traveling salesman and her mother. When she is
born, she is green because of a drink her mother purchased from the salesman and drank
during their affair. Upon seeing her color, her father rejects her. Glinda then takes us back to
when she met Elphaba at Shiz university (Dear Old Shiz). Everyone HATES her because she's
green and has powers. Elphaba is her sister's, Nessarose, official caretaker because she (Nessa)
is crippled, and Galinda (not a typo, you'll see), well, is completely carefree. Through a funny
mixup, the two end up rooming with each other. At the same time Madame Morrible discovers

that Elphaba has an amazing natural talent of magic/sorcery, and tells Elphaba that she could
end up at the top if she "makes good" (Wizard and I). Unfortunately for Galinda, she's not
accepted into Morrible's renowned sorcery program (which was the only reason she went to
Shiz), although Elphaba is, and she's shattered. So the rift between them deepens.
Elphaba and Galinda have to room with each other, and LOATHE each other (What is This
Feeling?). EVERYONE hates Elphaba, but she's the teacher's pet because she's so smart. She
befriends Dr. Dillamond, who's a goat, and learns that things in Oz aren't always as they seem
(Something Bad). Dillamond is afraid that he too will be taken away to some sinister fate. Soon
a prince, Fiyero, shows up (Dancing Through Life) and ends up as Galinda's boyfriend. They
prepare for a dance at the Ozdust ballroom. Meanwhile,this munchkin named Boq is infatuated
with Galinda, and she gets rid of him by telling him to go invite Nessarose to the ball, etc. even
though he doesn't love her, just feels sorry for her. At the same time Galinda has this disgusting
hat which she wants to get rid of, but "doesn't hate anyone enough to give it away." Some of
her friends persuade her to give it to Elphaba as a cruel joke. Elphaba takes it thinking it's a gift.
In return for the "gift" and for setting up a date for Nessa, Elphaba gets Galinda access to
Morrible's program. Galinda then feels HORRIBLE for what she did, but it's too late, Elphaba is
already on the dance floor, and everyone is making fun of her. Galinda goes and dances with
Elphaba,
and
the
students
then
follow
suit.
After the dance, Galinda has a new affection for Elphaba, and begs that they exchange secrets.
Galinda's is that she's going to marry Fiyero, even though he doesn't know it yet. Elphaba sadly
admits that her father hates her and that it was her fault that her mother died and that
Nessarose is crippled. It's not REALLY her fault, though, everyone just blamed her for it. She also
carries around a bottle of green elixir, which was all she had as a memento of her mother.
Glinda, touched, decides to make her her new "project" (Popular). The next day, Fiyero starts
falling for "Elfie", as Galinda has dubbed her. But in class Dr. Dillamond is being taken away and
yells that they're "not being told everthing". At the same time, a lion cub is being experimented
upon as an in-class exhibit. Outraged, Elphaba stops it using magic, and she and Fiyero, since he
was not affected by her spell, run out into the woods or something to save it and let it free.
Fiyero, thrilled and enchanted, yet also a bit embarrassed, awkwardly leaves, and Elphaba
ponders on what could be (I'm Not That Girl). As she regretfully thinks about it, Madame
Morrible finds and tells er that she has been officially invited to the Emerald City.
Later at the train station, Galinda puts on a brave face, because Fiyero is now distant.
Nessarose at the same time, is noticing that Boq's attention isn't entirely for her. Fiyero shows
up and is very courteous and attentive to Elphaba, and hints at how horrible Dr. Dillamond's
arrest was, and how they rescued the Lion cub. Galinda, trying to join in says how she will
change her name to Glinda in honor of Dr. Dillamond, who could NEVER pronounce it as
"GAlinda", only "GLInda". Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to the Emerald City
(One
Short
Day).
They meet the Wizard and he introduces him self to them, saying that he wants to make
Elphaba his right hand man, so to speak, and that to prove herself she needs to give his
assistant, a monkey named Chistery, the ability to fly (Sentimental Man). She opens up this

ancient and immensely powerful sorcery book called the Grimmery and proceeds to chant out a
spell. To their amazement, Chistery grows wings. The wizard then shows Elphaba her power by
opening a curtain and showing her a cage full of monkeys with wings, and that she had done
that, and now they would be perfect spies. Elphaba now realizes that she's been duped into
helping the Wizard exploit and harm animals, such as Dr. Dillamond (in Oz, animals are normal
citizens like people and munchkins, etc.), making them the "common enemy", just so that he
could be popular and beloved. She also understands that he has no power at all and needs
someone with power, like her, to do things for him, using the Grimmery. She steals the
Grimmery and escapes. She says goodbye to Glinda, vowing that she now knows her destiny,
what she is meant to do, and how she'll fight the wizard with every last ounce of strength (
Defying Gravity ).
Act II
The citizens, Glinda, Fiyero, and Madame Morrible, who are all government officials now, are
celebrating because Glinda, unbeknownst to Fiyero, has decided to get married. Fiyero is NOT
enthusiastic about life at the moment because he hates what is happening to Elphaba, although
he's head of the hunt to find her. He leaves halfway through the ceremony because he can't
take the lies, propaganda, and superficiality of it any longer, making Glinda's happiness and glee
abruptly succumb to feelings of sadness and discontent, as she contemplates at what cost she
has
achieved
her
dreams
(Thank
Goodness).
Elsewhere, and this is the song they kept off the CD (Wicked Witch of the East , it's basically a
longer reprise of the theme that Boq and Nessa sing during "Dancing Through Life", plus a
harmony sung by Elphaba. It's quite lovely actually, but I can understand why they left it off),
Nessarose is now governor of Munchkinland and has stripped the Munchkins of their rights in
order to keep Boq with her. Elphaba shows up to find a hiding spot, get help from her father,
and say hello. Boq is now Nessa's official servant, and Nessa has become mean and bitter. She's
very mad at Elphaba for abandoning her and she demands to know why Elphaba hasn't given
her the ability to walk. Elphaba casts a spell on Nessa's slippers, which become ruby colored, so
that she can walk. Elphaba is happy that she's finally done something good with her powers,
Nessa is happy because she can walk, and Boq is overjoyed because now he thinks he can leave.
But Nessa has other plans. In a rage she casts a spell on him from the Grimmery, despite
Elphaba's efforts to stop her. Boq's heart starts to shrink, and Elphaba, desperate to save his
life, turns him into tin. He's lost his heart though, and Nessa blames Elphaba for the disaster.
Back in the Emerald City, Elphaba shows up to free the flying monkeys. The Wizard stops her
and tempts to her into giving up her cause and staying, to become a celebrity. (Wonderful). She
almost gives in, but notices a shrouded figure, who turns out to be Dr. Dillamond, completely
reverted into a dumb animal, he doesn't even know who she is. Elphaba rejects and tried to

escape, but the Wizard is too fast. Fiyero bursts in and saves Elphaba. Glinda comes in too, and
is overjoyed to Elphaba, but her joy turns to hatred and heartbreak as Fiyero runs off with
Elphaba.
(I'm
Not
That
Girl,
reprise)
Acting upon her emotions, Glinda suggests to Madame Morrible and the Wizard that they use
Nessarose as bait to capture Elfie. The other two think it's a good idea, but decide to take it a
step
further.
Hidden away, the two confirm their newfound love ( As Long As You're Mine ). But before they
can run off to Fiyero's abandoned "extra" castle, Elphaba sees a strange vision of a flying house
in the sky. She flies off to Munchkinland to discover the arrival of Dorothy and the death of her
sister.
She and Glinda spar off verbally, and physically, in a pretty darned funny cat fight. Fiyero arrives
and tries to save Elphaba. But in rescuing her, he is sentenced to death, and is hung up on a
stick and carried off into a field to die, unless he tells the guards where Elphaba went, which he
won't.
Back at Fiyero's castle, Elphaba, enraged, disillusioned, and desperate tries to cast a spell to
save Fiyero's life, and thinking she's failed yet again, she "owns the fact that she's never gonna
be loved by the world, and embraces her power" (as said by Idina Menzel at the Tonys 2004
Lunch) (No Good Deed). Elsewhere in Oz we see the mobs preparing to have a witchhunt
(March
of
the
Witch
Hunters).
Glinda starts to catch on to the larger scheme of things and confronts Morrible about it, asking
how Nessa died. Morrible merely snaps back angrily and warns Glinda to do her job without
asking
questions.
Elphaba has now captured Dorothy, and Glinda shows up to persuade her to let Dorothy go.
Elphaba tries to explain herself to Glinda, and after receiving a note regarding Fiyero,
emotionally collapses as she admits that she has failed, that she is, indeed "limited" That all her
attempts at good and in following her heart, integrity, character, were no match for a corrupt
world. She begs Glinda to take charge now, and to let her die in peace so that Glinda can carry
on doing good, because maybe she actually will be able to achieve it. She also makes Glinda
swear that she will never clear Elfie's name, because otherwise people would turn against
Glinda, keeping the power with the Wizard and Morrible, and thus corruption and evil will
reign. Glinda sadly promises to do so. Then Elphaba hands over the Grimmery to Glinda telling

her to learn how to use it, because it will give Glinda as much power as she needs. At this final
parting, the two friends say goodbye and affirm their true, deep, friendship (For Good).
After
Elphaba
has
melted,
Glinda
goes
to
resolve
old
problems....
Glinda first puts two and two together. Elphaba had carried a bottle of green elixir all her life, it
was her mother's, and Glinda had only seen it one other place, and that was with the Wizard. In
fact the Wizard was Elphaba's father. She was a child of "both worlds" and thus had great
powers. Madame Morrible is sent away, as is the Wizard, and Glinda takes over. At the Witch's
castle, the straw man shows up, and bends over an old witches hat on the ground. He kicks it
aside, and taps on the floor, and up comes Elphaba out of a secret trap in the ground. Fiyero is
the straw man, thanks to Elphaba he survived. He makes her swear that she won't tell Glinda,
and Elfie sadly acknowledges that they will never be able to return to Oz. And as she walks
away, Glinda is preparing to tell the news of the Elfie's death to the populace...As a
heartbroken, though happy faced Glinda gives the news, unbeknownst to one another, Elphaba
and Glinda say goodbye one last time amidst the rejoicing of the citizens of Oz. (Finale)
Glinda is sadly preparing to tell the news of the Elfie's death to the populace, although they
think it's great. She mourns, ponders, and cherishes her lifechanging friendship with Elfie, as
the voices of the whole cast come together to end the show in a bittersweet ode(Finale).