Wicked (musical)
| Wicked | |
|---|---|
 Broadway poster | |
| Music | Stephen Schwartz |
| Lyrics | Stephen Schwartz |
| Book | Winnie Holzman |
| Basis | Novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire |
| Productions | 2003 Broadway production 2005 USA tour 2005 Chicago production 2006 West End production 2007 Los Angeles production |
| Awards | 2004 Drama Desk Award for Best Musical 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics 2004 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical 2005 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album |
Wicked is a Tony award-winning American musical produced by Universal Pictures with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and book by Winnie Holzman. The story is loosely based on the best selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
The original Broadway production opened at the George Gershwin Theatre on October 30 2003.[1] The production is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.[2]
The musical, following Holzman's novel, is a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the point of view of the witches of Oz . The plot of Wicked makes reference, however to both Baum's original novel, and to the classic 1939 film. Set mostly prior to Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, the plot begins at Shiz University, where the intelligent green-skinned teenager, Elphaba, becomes roommates with the beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland. Their lives intertwine, and throughout the show their friendship struggles to endure extreme personality conflicts, opposing viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and, of course, Elphaba's eventual fall from grace. Wicked explores the concept that the Wicked Witch of the West was a misunderstood, victimized person whose behaviour was merely a reaction (indeed a brave reaction) against a charlatan wizard's corrupt government.
History
The original Broadway cast included Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba, and Joel Grey as The Wizard. Business and popularity boomed due to very good word-of-mouth, and the box office was boosted when the show was nominated for ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It subsequently lost that award along with the Tony Awards for best score and best book to another new musical of the season, Avenue Q. Menzel was named Best Actress in a Musical, and the musical received two additional Tony awards—to Eugene Lee for scenic design and Susan Hilferty for costume design. The cast recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005 and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30, 2006.[3]
The show began its first US national tour in early 2005. In late June of 2005, a permanent production of Wicked, separate from the national tour, opened at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre with an open-ended run, which many consider to be a harbinger of things to come for Chicago theatre. A second sit-down production is now open in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre, making a total of four simultaneous productions of Wicked in the United States.
Internationally, another engagement opened in London, England on September 27, 2006 with Idina Menzel reprising her role as Elphaba. In addition to the 30-minute version of the show (which opened July 12, 2006) at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, a full sit-down production of the show was opened June 17, 2007 in Tokyo. There will be full productions in Germany (opening November 15, 2007).[4] . An Australian production will open in Melbourne in July 2008.
Synopsis
The transript from the Broadway play can be found at the following web address. http://libretto.musicals.ru/text.php?textid=609&language=2
Act One
Glinda descends from the sky in a bubble, announcing the death of The Wicked Witch of the West ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). Glinda tells the tale of the birth of the witch. She was the result of a tryst between her mother and a traveling salesman who seduced her with Green Elixir.
Glinda reminisces about when she was in school (her name was Galinda back then). ("Dear Old Shiz"). It was there that she first met the Witch, Elphaba, and her wheelchair-bound sister, Nessarose. When Elphaba's father drops the girls off, he gives Nessarose a pair of silver shoes, but gives nothing to Elphaba. Elphaba and Galinda are forced to room together. Madame Morrible, the headmistress, is "thrillified" to discover that Elphaba has amazing natural magical talent. She tells Elphaba that she could become the Wizard's Magic Grand Vizier ("The Wizard and I"). Galinda is disgruntled, both because of the strangeness of her new roommate and because Elphaba was accepted into the sorcery seminar. Elphaba and Galinda reveal their mutual loathing of each other ("What Is This Feeling?"). After an anti-animal disruption one day in history class Doctor Dillamond, a goat and college professor, confides in Elphaba that things in Oz aren't as they seem -- something is causing the Animals of Oz to lose their power of speech ("Something Bad").
Fiyero, a Winkie prince, arrives at Shiz and teaches the students his philosophy: live for the moment and have fun ("Dancing Through Life"). Boq, an abnormally tall munchkin, asks Galinda to attend the dance with him. Galinda, who has her sights set on Fiyero, suggests that he ask Nessarose instead. To stay in Galinda's good graces, he invites Nessarose. Elphaba confronts Galinda about he movtives and Galinda gives her a peaked black hat. In return, Elphaba insists to Madame Morrible that Galinda be included in the sorcery seminar. Elphaba arrives at the Ozdust Ballroom in the hat, and is ridiculed. Despite the taunts, Elphaba steps out onto the dance floor and, though there is no music, begins to dance. Feeling guilty, Galinda joins her on the dance floor and is joined by all in attendance at the dance. After the dance, Galinda has a new affection for Elphaba. Galinda decides to make Elphaba her newest "project" and give her a makeover ("Popular").
The next day, Doctor Dillamond is taken away by Ozian officials. The new history teacher arrives to explain Oz's newest invention, the cage, and unveils a caged Lion cub as the subject of an in-class experiment. Outraged, Elphaba and Fiyero set the cub free. The two admit that they have feelings for each other, but Fiyero leaves, embarrassed. As rain begins to fall, Elphaba takes shelter under a bridge, believing that it would be impossible for Fiyero to love her ("I'm Not That Girl"). Madame Morrible finds Elphaba and, stopping the storm with magic, announces that Elphaba has been given an audience with the Wizard. At the train station, Galinda and Fiyero are seeing Elphaba off to the Emerald City. In an attempt to impress Fiyero, Galinda announces that she will change her name to "Glinda" in honor of Dr. Dillamond's infamous mispronunciation. Fiyero doesn't much care and, feeling bad for Glinda, Elphaba invites her along to the Emerald City.
After enjoying "One Short Day" of sightseeing in the Emerald City, Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard. He reveals his true nature to them ("A Sentimental Man"), and invites Elphaba to be his right hand man. As a test, he asks that Elphaba give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly. Madame Morrible, now the Wizard's press secretary, arrives with the Grimmerie -- a book of spells. Elphaba finds a levitation spell and, as she begins to chant, Chistery grows wings. Showing her true power, the Wizard reveals a cage full of winged monkeys.
Madame Morrible explains that this had long been a plan of the Wizard: the winged monkeys were meant to report any subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the Wizard has no power of his own, Elphaba steals the Grimmerie. Madame Morrible declares that Elphaba is now a Wicked Witch. Elphaba enchants a broomstick and makes a getaway("Defying Gravity"). She tries to convince Glinda to join her, but Glinda is unwilling.
Act Two
A few years have passed and Elphaba is now known as The Wicked Witch of the West ("No One Mourns the Wicked (reprise)"). Glinda, Fiyero, and Madame Morrible – all now government officials – hold a press conference to celebrate Glinda's surprise engagement to Fiyero ("Thank Goodness"). Fiyero, is concerned for Elphaba and leaves in the middle of the ceremony.
In the Munchkinland governor's mansion, Nessarose has made Boq her personal servant. Elphaba arrives, seeking refuge, but Nessa is furious that Elphaba has abandoned her. Seeing her jeweled shoes, Elphaba casts a spell on them, turning them ruby red enabling her sister to walk. Seeing this, Boq announces that he is off to find Glinda because she no longer needs him. Nessarose casts a spell on Boq so that he would lose his heart to her, but his heart begins to shrink. Elphaba casts a spell such that he might be able to live without a heart. Nessa reflects on how tyrannical she has become ("The Wicked Witch of the East") as Elphaba leaves. Boq wakes up and realizes that he is now made of tin. Nessa blames Elphaba.
The Wizard attempts to reconcile with Elphaba when she returns to him to free the flying monkeys. He urges her to try to become a celebrity, and working together they can set things right ("Wonderful"). Rejecting the Wizard's offer, Elphaba tries to escape, but is caught by the royal guards. Fiyero bursts in and dispatches the guards: he loves Elphaba and is rescuing her. Glinda sees this and her initial joy at being reunited with Elphaba turns sour. The Wizard offers Glinda a green drink "to dull the pain" but she refuses. She and Madame Morrible conspire to spread a rumor to discredit Nessa in order to bait Elphaba. Returning to her bedchamber, Glinda is crestfallen that the two people closest to her have betrayed her ("I'm Not That Girl (reprise)")
At Kiamo Ko, Fiyero's castle, he and Elphaba are confirming their love ("As Long As You're Mine") as they hear a wailing in the distance. Seeing a house flying through the air, Elphaba knows that her sister is in danger. As she flies off to help, there is the sound of a loud crash. Glinda calls down the yellow brick road, bidding Dorothy farewell. Elphaba arrives, angry that Glinda has given away her shoes. When the Wizard's guards arrive to take Elphaba, Fiyero arrives and allows Elphaba to escape before surrendering himself. Despite Glinda's protests, the guards apprehend Fiyero, hang him on poles, and carry him into a cornfield to be tortured until he gives up Elphaba's location. Elphaba tries to cast any spell she can to save Fiyero. Thinking she has failed again, she begins to accept her reputation as "wicked" ("No Good Deed"). The citizens of Oz, Boq and the Cowardly Lion from the history class prepare a witchunt to save Dorothy, whom Elphaba has captured ("March of the Witch Hunters").
Glinda arrives to persuade Elphaba to let Dorothy go, but Elphaba refuses. She receives a note from one of her monkeys regarding the fate of Fiyero and collapses as she admits surrender. She pleads with Glinda to leave her in peace and take charge: their friendship and all that has been, has been "For Good". As the mob arrives at the castle, Elphaba tells Glinda to hide and she draws a curtain. The silhouette of Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, and she disappears with a shriek and in a cloud of smoke. Chistery opens the curtain, and Glinda sees the peaked hat she had given her. As she cries over the loss of her friend, Chistery hands her a small green vial that Elphaba had always carried with her. Realizing that Elphaba's father could only be the man that had previously attempted to ply her with the same liquid, Glinda returns to the Wizard to confront him. He realizes that Elphaba must have been his daughter, and Glinda asks him to leave Oz. He agrees, and Madame Morrible begs Glinda to spare her, but Glinda sends her to prison. Glinda gets into her bubble, ready to face the citizens of Oz.
Fiyero, now in the form of a Scarecrow, opens a trap door. Elphaba, very much alive, emerges from the trap door and embraces her straw-stuffed love. Although their reunion is joyous, Elphaba only wishes that Glinda could know that they are alive. Fiyero insists that she can never know, and in order for them to be safe, he and Elphaba must leave Oz forever. Glinda addresses the citizens of Oz, proclaiming that she would like to be "Glinda the Good" as she will reform the government. Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz. The citizens of Oz sing the final lines, and Glinda and Elphaba say goodbye one last time ("Finale").
Musical numbers
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Act I
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Act II
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* "The Wicked Witch of the East" and "The Wizard And I (Reprise)" are not included on the Original Broadway Cast Recording and "No One Mourns The Wicked (reprise) is a part of the song, "Thank Goodness" on the Original Broadway Cast Recording
Productions
The pre-Broadway run
On May 28, 2003, the musical opened a pre-Broadway run at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. While most of the original cast members remained when the show opened on Broadway, the San Francisco run featured multiple actors in roles that would eventually be re-cast — most notably, Robert Morse as The Wizard. While the show received mediocre reviews, the audience response was generally enthusiastic. The trial run closed on June 29 and, after extensive retooling, began previews on Broadway on October 8.
Re-cast parts
- Joel Grey replaced Robert Morse as The Wizard
- Christopher Fitzgerald replaced Kirk McDonald as Boq
- William Youmans replaced John Horton as Doctor Dillamond
- Kristy Cates replaced Stephanie J. Block as an ensemble member/understudy for Elphaba
- Additionally, standbys Eden Espinosa (Elphaba) and Laura Bell Bundy (Glinda) would not join the company until the show officially opened on Broadway.
- It is a common myth that Stephanie J. Block was set to play Elphaba and that Idina Menzel was cast at the last minute. Idina Menzel had been with Wicked since 2001 performing workshops and finally, the show in San Francisco and New York City. Stephanie J. Block did workshops as Elphaba in 1999 and 2000. She was cast as an Elphaba standby in San Francisco, but only went on once. She was going to standby Idina Menzel on Broadway but couldn't because of her involvement in The Boy From Oz. She played Elphaba in the United States of America/Canada tour of Wicked.
US/Canada Tour
There is a touring production of Wicked in the United States of America and Canada. It has visited several cities already and will visit more soon.
Chicago production
The first sit-down production of Wicked in Chicago opened at The Oriental Theatre on July 13, 2005. In its first week alone, the show grossed $1,400,000. It has continued to set records, and is a key part of the booming Chicago theatre scene.
London production
A new engagement of Wicked opened in September 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London, previously home to Starlight Express and Bombay Dreams. Previews began September 7 with an official opening of September 27.
The West End production reunited the show's original creative team with its original Tony Award-winning star, Idina Menzel. Kerry Ellis, who previously had played Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady, Fantine in Les Misérables and Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You, succeeded Idina Menzel in the role of Elphaba from the beginning of January 2007 after serving as the standby for Elphaba during the four months when Idina Menzel played Elphaba. She is the first British actress to perform the role of Elphaba.
In April 2007, the producers reported that over 500,000 people had seen the London production, and it has grossed over £18 millon.[5]
Los Angeles production
Wicked launched its fifth open-ended production in Los Angeles, California at the Pantages Theatre. Performances began on February 10, 2007, with an official opening on February 21.[6]
On October 30, 2006, the principal actors in the Los Angeles cast were announced in honor of Wicked Day; all but two of these principals have all performed their roles in some capacity - representatives from the Broadway, Chicago and Touring productions make up most of the Original LA Cast.
On the week ending on March 4, the show grossed a massive $1,786,110 and became the highest grossing attraction in Los Angeles theatre history. The previous record holder was The Producers, June 2003 at the Pantages.[7]
Stuttgart production
On September 28 2006, just one day after the London premiere, Stage Entertainment Germany announced that it would be bringing a German-language adaptation of Wicked to the stage by the end of the following year. The show (titled Wicked: Die Hexen von Oz) is scheduled to premiere November 15, 2007, at the Palladium Theater in Stuttgart. Willemeijn Verkaik will be headlining the Stuttgart production as Elphaba. The full cast will be announced in September.
Osaka production
Universal Studios in Japan has a 30-minute theme park version of Wicked. It focuses mainly on Elphaba and Glinda's relationship but also includes the Wizard. Fiyero, Nessarose and Madame Morrible are not in it. Wicked in Osaka is required to hire American and Australian actresses to play Elphaba and only Japanese actresses to play Glinda. Jillian Giacchi, an American Osaka Elphaba, left Wicked last year. Jemma Stevenson, Hamada Megumi, Taylor Jordan, and Lara Janine have played her, and Australian Erin Cornell is currently playing Elphaba while Ms Tainai and three other Japanese actresses are rotating as Glinda. The show is performed 4 times a day and is in performed 70% in Japanese and 30% in English.
Tokyo production
This musical opened it's second production in Asia on June 17, 2007. With a full sit-down production in Tokyo, Japan produced by the Shiki Theatre Company at the Dentsu Shiki Theatre "Umi". This production has an all-Eastern Asian cast and is performed entirely in Japanese.
Melbourne production
An Australian production of Wicked has been confirmed to open in July 2008 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia.[8] Native Australian Helen Dallimore from the London production has reportedly been invited to reprise her role as Glinda. Although the London production's website states that Dallimore will be leaving the London production and has been invited to star in the Australian premiere,[9] John Frost, producer of the Australian production, has denied any precasting, saying Dallimore is only one of several candidates under consideration. No further casting has been announced.[10]
Box office and business
Wicked earned back its entire initial investment by December 21, 2004.[11] The show had a $14 million capitalization. In its first year it grossed more than $56 million. The show, which is open-ended, has been playing to capacity crowds for almost every recent performance and grosses more than a million dollars every week according to Playbill.com's weekly grosses.[12] In the week ending January 1, 2006, it was announced that Wicked had broken the record for the highest weekly box office gross in Broadway history, with $1,610,934; a record that was previously held by The Producers.[13] Wicked broke its own record in the week ending November 26, 2006, when it grossed a total of $1,715,155.[14] The Broadway company of Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance on March 23, 2006.[15]
The musical holds the record for the highest weekly gross on Broadway, and in Chicago, London, and Toronto, all for the week commencing Monday, December 25, 2006.
Awards & nominations
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (June 2007) |
- Every actress who has played Elphaba on Broadway has performed the role in at least two productions of Wicked.
- Long-time couple Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer (the original Broadway Fiyero and Nessarose) are presently engaged to be married, as are Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus (Fiyero and Elphaba in the show's national tour).
- Original cast star Idina Menzel's husband Taye Diggs made a special appearance in the Broadway production as Fiyero during the 2003 holiday season while Norbert Leo Butz was on medical leave.
- DeeDee Magno Hall and Clifton Hall who currently play Nessarose and Fiyero in the National tour are a married couple.
- During her second-to-last performance in the Broadway production of Wicked, Idina Menzel fell through the trap door used in the melting scene and broke several ribs. She was replaced by her standby Shoshana Bean. Her accident mirrors one experienced by Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West in the original 1939 film, who was severely burned when the trapdoor used to facilitate her exit in her opening scene malfunctioned. Idina returned to the stage for her last show, out of costume, and performed her final song. She then bowed with the rest of the cast, including her standby.
- Onstage, the part of the mysterious lover is played by the actor who plays Chistery but is voiced offstage by the actor who plays the Wizard.
- The part of Dorothy is played by one of Glinda's understudies.
- On February 26, 2006 Kristin Chenoweth performed the song "For Good" alongside Alanis Morissette at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for her final performance.
References in pop culture
- In issue 3 of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic, Xander refers to the wiccan Willow as Elphaba.
- The off-Broadway show Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit parodies Wicked in the number "Wickeder."
- In the anime Red Garden, episode 5 ("At Every Window"), the iconic faces of Glinda and Elphaba are drawn on a billboard, and the show advertised is called "Witches."
- In an episode of Brothers & Sisters, the characters played by Calista Flockhart and Sally Field go see the Los Angeles production of Wicked (Interestingly, this episode aired before the Los Angeles production opened!). In another episode, the Walkers attend a charity benefit where the theme is back to Broadway. Tyler, Justin's boss, wears green to the black and white event (For the Children). Ironically, the table at which she is seated is the "Wicked" table. In yet another episode, broadcast on May 20, 2007, the characters played by Dave Annable and Matthew Rhys also go see the Los Angeles production.
- On an all-celebrity episode of Jeopardy!, Kate Reinders performed "Popular" in a Daily Double about Wicked. TV personality Nancy Grace gave the correct question.
- In an episode of Ugly Betty ("Brothers"), Betty gets tickets to see Wicked, after humming "Popular" in the elevator, commenting how much she'd love to see the show, and discussing with a coworker, Henry, how much she relates to Elphaba's being out of place in a popularity- and beauty-oriented environment. Henry later presents her a T-shirt bearing the logo of the show. Coincidentally, original cast member Kristin Chenoweth appeared in the season finale ("East Side Story") as an orthodontic technician named Diane who love romantic comedies and gets too involved in her patients' love lives - including Betty's.
- In another episode of Jeopardy! the cover of the Wicked playbill is shown when a contestant asked for a question in the Broadway category. The contestant was to name the show of the playbill shown.
- In an episode of "CSI: New York", "Young Blood", Danny and Lindsay find an iPod that had songs from Wicked. (This Episode was first released during Wicked Week in 2005)
- On an episode of Wheel of Fortune, a trip to the Broadway production of Wicked was put as a prize on the wheel. Although a contestant picked up the prize, she later lost it when she hit a "BANKRUPT" space.
External links
- Wicked the Musical – Official Broadway Site
- Wicked in Chicago – Official Chicago Production Site
- Wicked on Tour – Official National Tour Site
- Wicked the Musical – Official UK Site
- Wicked in LA – Official Los Angeles Production Site
- Wicked in Germany Wicked - Die Hexen von Oz in Stuttgart, Germany
- Wicked in Japan Official Japanese Production Site
- Wicked in Australia Official Australian Production Site
- Wicked index at Musicalschwartz.com – Official Stephen Schwartz Fan Site
- Wicked The Musical on Broadway.com
- Wicked The Musical in London on Theatre.com
- Wicked Audition Advice & Show Information from MusicalTheatreAudition.com
- Wicked info page on StageAgent.com – Wicked plot summary & character descriptions
References
- ^ http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=13485
- ^ http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=13485
- ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14090
- ^ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101022.html
- ^ http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/pressreleases/25-april-07.php
- ^ http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-et-wicked17jul17,0,931.story?coll=cl-home-more-channels
- ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=16365
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21741284-2702,00.html
- ^ http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/pressreleases/13-march-07.php
- ^ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/106447.html
- ^ David Cote (2005). Wicked: The Grimmerie: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical. Hyperion. p. 13. ISBN 1-4013-0820-1.
- ^ http://www.playbill.com/features/section/7.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=8293
