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Wicked (musical)

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Wicked is a musical that premiered on Broadway at the George Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003. It is touted as the untold story of the witches of Oz and is loosely based on the best selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. The musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento, Wicked is directed by Tony winner Joe Mantello.

The original cast included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, 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. The show was considered the front-runner for the award, making it the show to beat. 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. The musical received two additional Tony awards—to Eugene Lee for scenic design and Susan Hilferty for costume design. The cast recording received a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Wicked earned back its entire initial investment by December 21, 2004. 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. 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. The Broadway company of Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance on March 23, 2006.

The show began its first national tour in early 2005 with extended runs in cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and Boston. 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. In addition, another engagement is scheduled to open in London's West End theatre district on September 27, 2006. There have also been rumors of future productions in Los Angeles, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

Synopsis

The story is an alternative to L. Frank Baum's classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and is also heavily influenced by the iconic 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. Set in the days prior to Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, the story explores the idea that the infamous antagonist we call the Wicked Witch of the West was misconstrued and victimized. Her alleged evilness was merely retaliation against a charlatan wizard’s corrupt government. At Shiz University, the intelligent green-skinned woman, Elphaba Thropp, meets beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland (who changes her name to Glinda during the course of the play and later becomes Glinda the Good) when the two become room mates. Their lives intertwine, and, throughout the show, their friendship struggles to endure extreme personality differences, opposing viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and of course, Elphaba’s eventual tragic fall from grace. Template:Spoiler

Act One

The show starts off at the end of The Wizard of Oz, with Glinda descending in a bubble giving the citizens of Oz good news of the death of The Wicked Witch of the West ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). Glinda reveals the story of the Witch's childhood as the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, and how she was actually illegitimately conceived when her mother had an affair with a traveling salesman. When the Witch was born, her skin was green because of a drink called Green Elixir that her mother purchased from the salesman and drank during their affair. Upon seeing her color, her father immediately rejected her.

Back in the present, as Glinda prepares to leave the festivities, a citizen asks if it is true that she and the Witch were friends. Glinda then takes us back to when she was a student (then named Galinda) at Shiz University ("Dear Old Shiz"), where she met the Witch, whose name was Elphaba. Elphaba arrives with her crippled, yet spoiled sister, Nessarose. All of the students immediately take a disliking to Elphaba because she is green. Elphaba's father gives a pair of jeweled shoes to Nessarose as a gift, and reminds Elphaba that the only reason she is attending school is to take care of her sister. Madame Morrible arrives to greet the new students, and amongst a confusion with room assignments, Elphaba and Galinda end up rooming with each other. At the same time, Madame Morrible discovers that Elphaba has an amazing natural talent of magic, and tells Elphaba that she could end up at the top if she "makes good" ("The Wizard and I").

Galinda is disgruntled, both because of her new roommate, and because it was Elphaba who was accepted into the sorcery seminar, even though Galinda was keen on studying it. The rift between them deepens, and Elphaba and Galinda reveal how much they loathe each other. All of the other students side with Galinda and share her loathing for Elphaba. ("What Is This Feeling?"). Elphaba and Galinda find themselves at each other's necks in history class, where Elphaba happens to be the smartest student. Galinda is frustrated with the history teacher, a Goat named Doctor Dillamond, because he cannot pronounce her name correctly and instead calls her "Glinda." This prompts Elphaba to intervene, claiming that everyone is different, and Doctor Dillamond begins to explain how Animals in Oz have been suffering from discrimination. His lesson is interrupted when he turns over the blackboard to reveal a threatening message: "ANIMALS SHOULD BE SEEN, NOT HEARD." Doctor Dillamond dismisses the class, but Elphaba stays behind. Doctor Dillamond reveals to Elphaba that things in Oz aren't as they seem; something is causing the Animals in Oz to lose their powers of speech and intelligence ("Something Bad"). Dillamond is afraid that he too will be taken away to some sinister fate.

Shortly after, a Winkie prince named Fiyero shows up at Shiz. At the same time, an abnormally tall munchkin named Boq is trying to ask Galinda out, but Galinda has her mind set on Fiyero. Fiyero teaches the students his philosophies of living carelessly and having fun ("Dancing Through Life"), and they decide to have a dance at the most "swankified" place in town, the Ozdust Ballroom. Boq attempts to ask Galinda to go to the dance with him, but Galinda gets him out of her way by convincing him to ask Nessarose to go with him instead. Boq agrees, only because he thinks it will impress Galinda. Later, Nessarose excitedly tells Elphaba how tonight will be the first "fun night" of her life, and it is all thanks to Galinda. Elphaba does not believe that the shallow and arrogant Galinda could perform such an act of kindness. Meanwhile, as Galinda prepares for her date, her friends discover an ugly peaked black hat that Galinda has been meaning to get rid of. Her friends persuade her to give it to Elphaba as a cruel joke. Elphaba takes it, thinking it is a gift, and that Galinda might not be so cold-hearted after all. At the dance, Fiyero and Galinda kiss, and when Boq sees this, he tries to tell Nessarose the real reason he asked her out, but he doesn't have the heart to do so. Madame Morrible arrives at the ballroom with a gift for Galinda: a training wand. She reveals that Elphaba insisted Galinda be included in the sorcery seminar. Galinda begins to have second thoughts about Elphaba, but she brushes them away until Elphaba arrives at the ballroom wearing the black hat. Upon her entrance, the music stops and all of the students immediately begin to make fun of her. Elphaba, realizing what Galinda really did, steps onto the dance floor wearing the hat and dances alone, with no music. Galinda feels incredibly guilty for what she did, and goes to dance with Elphaba, with all of the students eventually following suit.

After the dance, Galinda has a new affection for Elphaba, and begs that they exchange secrets. Galinda's secret is that she's going to marry Fiyero, even though he doesn't know it yet. She then asks why Elphaba carries around a bottle of green liquid, which Elphaba says was all she had as a memento of her mother. Elphaba sadly admits that her father hates her, and that because of her condition, her father took extra precautions when her mother was carrying Nessarose, making her mother chew milk flowers day and night. Because of this, Nessarose was born prematurely with paralyzed legs, and her mother died in childbirth. Her father put all the blame on Elphaba, but Galinda helps her realize that it was not her fault. Galinda, touched, decides to make Elphaba her new "project" and give her a makeover ("Popular"). The next day, Fiyero starts falling for "Elphie", as Galinda has dubbed her. However, in class, Doctor Dillamond is being taken away and yells that they're "not being told the whole story." The new history teacher arrives to explain Oz's newest invention, the cage, and how Animals being contained in cages will never learn how to speak. He unveils a caged Lion cub (who is presumably the same Lion who will later encounter Dorothy), which is experimented upon as an in-class exhibit. Outraged, Elphaba stops it by uncontrollably using magic, causing the entire class except for Fiyero to make involuntary gyrations. Elphaba and Fiyero quickly take the Lion cub away to set it free. In this moment, Elphaba and Fiyero silently admit that they might have affections for each other. 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 her that she has been officially invited by the Wizard to the Emerald City.

At the train station, Galinda puts on a brave face, because Fiyero is now distant from her. At the same time, Nessarose is noticing that Boq's attention is not entirely for her. Fiyero shows up and is very courteous and attentive to Elphaba, hinting at how horrible Dr. Dillamond's arrest was, and how they rescued the Lion cub. Galinda, trying to join in and to impress Fiyero, says how she will change her name to Glinda in honor of Dr. Dillamond's infamous mispronunciation of her real name. Her plan fails and Fiyero does not seem to care. Once he leaves, Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to the Emerald City.

After enjoying a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City ("One Short Day"), Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard, who immediately introduces his true self to them, saying that he wants to make Elphaba his right hand man, so to speak ("A Sentimental Man"). He suggests that, to prove herself, Elphaba should try to give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly. Madame Morrible arrives, now the Wizard's new press secretary. She carries an ancient and immensely powerful sorcery book called the Grimmerie, and Elphaba proceeds to naturally chant out a levitation spell. To their amazement, Chistery grows wings. The Wizard then shows Elphaba how powerful she really is by showing a giant cage full of winged monkeys. To Elphaba's horror, Madame Morrible reveals that the Wizard had planned this all along, and that the winged monkeys were to serve as spies for the Wizard to "report any subversive rebel activity." Elphaba now realizes that she has been trapped into helping Morrible exploit and harm Animals, because the Wizard has no real power of his own. The Wizard explains that he was afraid of the animals, and in his fear tried to take away their abilities, but his restrictions went out of control. The Wizard tries to apologize to Elphaba and Glinda over, but can only seem to convince Glinda. Enraged, Elphaba steals the Grimmerie and escapes. The Wizard, fearing that Elphaba will try to destroy him, sends his guards after her to bring her back. Madame Morrible makes an announcement to all of Oz, quickly deeming Elphaba a "wicked witch" who is not to be believed. Elphaba, with no chance of turning back now, enchants a broomstick to levitate. She says goodbye to Glinda, vowing that she now knows her destiny, what she is meant to do, and how she will fight the poor Wizard with every last ounce of strength. ("Defying Gravity")

Act Two

Some years later, rumors and lies about Elphaba have grown to the extent that she is now known as The Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda, Fiyero, and Madame Morrible, all now government officials, hold a press conference to celebrate Glinda's surprise engagement to Fiyero ("Thank Goodness"). Fiyero, who became the captain of the guard in order to find Elphaba, is no longer the life enthusiast he used to be, and hates what is happening to Elphaba and the rumors that people are believing, such as one that claims "her soul is so unclean, pure water can melt her." He reluctantly accepts Glinda's proposal, but abruptly leaves halfway through the ceremony, 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. Still, Glinda wears a smile on her face and continues to sing how, ironic as it may be, she "couldn't be happier."

In the Munchkinland governor's mansion, Nessarose, as an attempt to keep Boq with her, has made him her personal servant. Elphaba arrives seeking refuge, and to get help from her father so that she does not stand alone in her cause. Nessarose reveals that upon hearing how Elphaba had disgraced her family, her father was "embarrassed to death." Elphaba is in disbelief at first, but then sees this in a positive light, since it is now just her and her sister, but spoiled Nessarose is furious with Elphaba for "abandoning her", when she had depended on Elphaba for her entire life because of her condition. Elphaba notices the jeweled shoes Nessarose is wearing, and casts a spell on them. As the shoes glow ruby, Nessarose takes her first steps out of her wheelchair. Thrilled, she calls Boq in, who panics upon seeing Elphaba. He explains to Elphaba that Nessarose is as "wicked" as she is, and has stripped the Munchkins of all of their rights in order to keep Boq with her(including making them small). Nessarose shows Boq her new ability, and Boq thinks that now she no longer needs assistance, this is his chance to leave once and for all so he can tell Glinda how he still feels for her. In a rage, Nessarose steals the Grimmerie and, despite Elphaba's efforts to stop her, casts a spell on him to lose his heart to her. Because of Nessarose's clumsy chanting, Boq's heart instead starts to shrink, and Elphaba, desperate to save his life, casts another spell on him so that he can live without a heart. As she is doing this, Nessarose reflects on just how tyrannical she has become ("The Wicked Witch of the East"). When Elphaba is finished, she leaves, once again leaving Nessarose alone. Boq wakes up, and they are both horrified to see that he is now entirely made of tin. As Boq flees, Nessarose calls after him that it was all Elphaba's fault.

Back in the Emerald City, Glinda and Fiyero are holding a ball to celebrate their engagement. Elphaba shows up at the Wizard's chamber to free the flying monkeys. The Wizard stops her and tries to attempt to make peace. He urges her to give up her cause and stay to achieve her dreams and become a celebrity, working together with the Wizard to perhaps set things right ("Wonderful"). Elphaba almost gives in, willing to accept his proposition if he sets the monkeys free. The Wizard agrees, and amongst all of the flying monkeys, Elphaba notices a figure struggling undereath a blanket. Elphaba uncovers the blanket only to reveal Dr. Dillamond, completely reverted into an unintelligent, nonspeaking animal, who does not even remember who Elphaba is. Elphaba, remembering what she stands for, rejects the Wizard's offer and tries to escape, but the the guards burst in. Fiyero bursts in, sends the other guards away, and saves Elphaba by holding the guards at gunpoint. Glinda then runs in and is overjoyed to see Elphaba, but confronts Fiyero's attack on the guards. Fiyero decides that he is leaving with Elphaba, and Glinda's joy at seeing her friend turns to hatred and heartbreak as they both run off. The Wizard meekly offers Glinda a drink from a bottle of green liquid, but Glinda declines. Acting upon her emotions, Glinda suggests to Madame Morrible that they spread a rumor about Nessarose as bait to capture Elphaba, who would fly to her side the moment Nessarose was in any trouble. The evil secretary thinks it is a good idea, but that Elphaba is too smart for a rumor. Madame Morrible decides to take it a step further, saying "a change in the weather" might just be the thing to draw Elphaba from hiding. Glinda retreats to her bedchamber, heartbroken that the two people closest to her in her life have just abandoned her ("I'm Not That Girl," reprise)

Hidden away in the Great Gillikin Forest, Elphaba and Fiyero confirm their newfound love ("As Long As You're Mine"). However, before they can run off to Fiyero's abandoned "extra" castle in Kiamo Ko, Elphaba hears a wailing in the distance. Instinct tells her that Nessarose is in danger, and Elphaba sees a strange vision in the distance of a house flying through the sky. Elphaba hastily flies off to her sister, leaving Fiyero alone in the forest. The sky goes dark, the wind picks up, and it all suddenly ends with the sound of a loud crash.

In Munchkinland, at the site of the fallen house, Glinda calls down the yellow brick road, bidding Dorothy farewell. Now alone, Glinda mourns the death of Nessarose, when Elphaba arrives, angry that Glinda had given away Nessarose's shoes, the only memory Elphaba had of her sister. Elphaba too mourns the death of Nessarose, and Glinda tries to console her, but the two end up in an argument about Fiyero. Elphaba and Glinda spar verbally and physically and are about to engage in a brawl, when the Wizard's guards arrive and take hold of Elphaba. Elphaba, thinking Glinda had planned Nessarose's death as a trap to capture her, is even more furious. Fiyero arrives and tries to save Elphaba by holding Glinda at gunpoint. Elphaba escapes, and Fiyero immediately surrenders himself. Glinda finally accepts that Fiyero loves Elphaba, but despite her protests, the guards take Fiyero, hang him up on poles, and carry him off into a cornfield to be tortured until he tells the guards where Elphaba went.

In the castle at Kiamo Ko, Elphaba, enraged and disillusioned, desperately tries to cast any spell she can to save Fiyero's life. Thinking she has failed yet again, she begins to accept her reputation as "wicked," claiming that no matter how much good she can try to do, everything always seems to go wrong ("No Good Deed"). Elsewhere in Oz, angry mobs led by Boq and the Cowardly Lion from the history class at Shiz prepare to have a witchhunt and save Dorothy, whom Elphaba has captured ("March of the Witch Hunters"). Glinda starts to catch on to the larger scheme of things and confronts Morrible about how Nessarose died. Morrible, finally showing her true colors, snaps back angrily that Glinda, getting the fame she had always wanted, should do her job without asking questions. Glinda leaves the scene as Morrible continues to encourage the witch hunters.

Elphaba is becoming increasingly frustrated with Dorothy, who cannot stop crying and will not give up Nessarose's shoes. Glinda shows up to persuade her to let Dorothy go and, somewhat ironically, says that it is unrealistic to take such radical actions just for a pair of shoes. Elphaba is stubborn, but after receiving a note from one of her monkeys regarding Fiyero, emotionally collapses as she admits that she will surrender because she has failed, and 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 leave her in peace so that Glinda can carry on doing good, because maybe she actually will be able to achieve it. Elphaba also makes Glinda swear that she will never clear her name, because otherwise people would turn against Glinda, keeping the power with Morrible, and thus corruption and evil will reign. Glinda sadly promises to do so. Then Elphaba hands over the Grimmerie 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").

Elphaba and Glinda embrace, but they are quickly interrupted by the mob that is coming after Elphaba. Elphaba tells Glinda to hide, takes a bucket and pulls a curtain across the stage, blowing one final kiss to Glinda. The audience sees the scene from Glinda's point of view, as the silhouette of Dorothy runs in and throws the bucket of water at Elphaba. With a piercing shriek, Elphaba descends to the floor in a cloud of steam and the room goes dark. Chistery finally opens the curtain and Glinda, not quite sure what has just happened, sees nothing of Elphaba remains but the hat that Glinda had given her. She cries over the death of her friend, and Chistery hands to her the green bottle that Elphaba had carried with her.

Glinda returns to the Wizard's palace, just after he finished his business with Dorothy and her comrades. She shows the Wizard the green bottle, stating that it was Elphaba's mother's, and Glinda had only seen it one other place, which was with the Wizard. The Wizard soon realizes that Elphaba was his daughter as the audience realizes he was the mysterious lover who had an affair with Elphaba's mother. Madame Morrible concludes that the reason Elphaba had so much power was because she was "a child of both worlds." Glinda asks the Wizard to leave Oz, to take Dorothy home, and the Wizard agrees. Madame Morrible tries to dissuade Glinda from doing anything to her, but Glinda has finally come to the realization that Morrible is not to be trusted, and Glinda has her taken into prison. Alone, Glinda gets into her bubble and the monkeys give her the Grimmerie. She then sets off to face the citizens of Oz, who are now celebrating the death of the Witch as they were at the beginning of the show. During the finale, Fiyero, who has become the Scarecrow, shows up, and takes Elphaba(who never melted, but sank through a trapdoor.) away to begin a new life with her, unbeknownst to Glinda and the rest of Oz.

Broadway Cast

Current Broadway Cast (2006)

File:Wicked1 1136902311.jpg
Eden Espinosa currently stars as Elphaba. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Denizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Jerad Bortz, Ben Cameron, Michael DeVries, Lori Ann Ferreri, Adam Fleming, Anthony Galde, Rhett George, Gaelen Gilliland, Kristen Leigh Gorski, Tiffany Haas, Zach Hensler, Kisha Howard, Reed Kelly, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Corinne McFadden-Herrera, Mark Myars, Jan Neuberger, Clifton Oliver, Walter Winston Oneil, Megan Sikora, Heather Spore, Charlie Sutton, Phillip Spaeth, Marty Thomas, Shanna VanDerwerker, Katie Webber.

Standbys and Understudies: For Elphaba - Saycon Sengbloh, Brandi Chavonne Massey. For Glinda - Katie Adams, Megan Sikora. For The Wizard - Sean McCourt, Anthony Galde, Michael DeVries. For Madame Morrible - Jan Neuberger, Gaelen Gilliland. For Fiyero - Jerad Bortz, Clifton Oliver. For Nessarose - Lori Ann Ferreri, Megan Sikora. For Boq - Adam Fleming, Walter Winston ONeil. For Doctor Dillamond - Michael DeVries, Anthony Galde. For Chistery -Reed Kelly, Mark Myars, Charlie Sutton. For Witch's Father and Ozian Official - Jerad Bortz, Ben Cameron, Anthony Galde. For Witch's Mother - Lori Ann Ferreri, Kristen Leigh Gorski.

Swings: Anthony Galde, Tiffany Haas, Charlie Sutton.

Dance Captains/Swings: Kristen Leigh Gorski, Mark Myars.

Original Broadway Cast (2003)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Denizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Ioana Alfonso, Ben Cameron, Cristy Candler, Kristy Cates, Mellisa Bell Chait, Marcus Choi, Kristoffer Cusick, Kathy Deitch, Melissa Fahn, Rhett G. George, Kristen Leigh Gorski, Manuel Herrera, Kisha Howard, Mark Myars, Walter Winston Oneil, Andrew Palermo, Andy Pellick, Michael Seelbach, Lorna Ventura, Derrick Williams

Standbys and Understudies: For Elphaba - Eden Espinosa, Kristy Cates. For Glinda - Laura Bell Bundy, Melissa Bell Chait. For The Wizard - Sean McCourt. For Madame Morrible - Jan Neuberger, Lorna Ventura. For Fiyero - Kristoffer Cusick. For Nessarose - Cristy Candler, Eden Espinosa. For Boq - Andrew Palermo. For Doctor Dillamond - Sean McCourt.

Broadway Cast Replacement History

Note: only replacements of principal characters are noted

  • Kristoffer Cusick replaced Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero on November 25, 2003
  • Taye Diggs replaced Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero on December 22, 2003
  • Norbert Leo Butz returned to the role of Fiyero on January 20, 2004
  • Randy Harrison replaced Christopher Fitzgerald as Boq on June 22, 2004
  • George Hearn replaced Joel Grey as The Wizard on July 20, 2004
  • Joey McIntyre replaced Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero on July 20, 2004
  • Jennifer Laura Thompson replaced Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda on July 20, 2004
  • Christopher Fitzgerald returned to the role of Boq on July 27, 2004
  • David Ayers replaced Joey McIntyre as Fiyero on January 11, 2005
  • Shoshana Bean replaced Idina Menzel as Elphaba on January 11, 2005*
  • Jeffrey Kuhn replaced Christopher Fitzgerald as Boq on January 11, 2005**
  • Megan Hilty replaced Jennifer Laura Thompson as Glinda on May 31, 2005
  • Rue McClanahan replaced Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible on May 31, 2005
  • Ben Vereen replaced George Hearn as The Wizard on May 31, 2005
  • Sean McCourt replaced William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond on July 26, 2005
  • Gene Weygandt replaced Ben Vereen as The Wizard on August 30, 2005
  • Ben Vereen returned to the role of The Wizard on September 4, 2005
  • Robb Sapp replaced Jeffrey Kuhn as Boq on October 11, 2005
  • Cristy Candler replaced Michelle Federer as Nessarose on January 10, 2006
  • Eden Espinosa replaced Shoshana Bean as Elphaba on January 10, 2006
  • Carol Kane replaced Rue McClanahan as Madame Morrible on January 10, 2006
  • Derrick Williams replaced David Ayers as Fiyero on January 10, 2006
  • George Hearn replaced Ben Vereen as The Wizard on January 17, 2006
  • Ben Vereen returned to the role of The Wizard on February 3, 2006
  • Jenna Leigh Green replaced Cristy Candler as Nessarose on March 17, 2006
  • David Garrison replaced Ben Vereen as The Wizard on April 4, 2006
  • Kate Reinders will replace Megan Hilty as Glinda on May 30, 2006

*Shoshana Bean officially replaced Idina Menzel on January 11. However, due to an injury that Menzel sustained during the January 8, 2005 matinee performance, Bean started her run earlier, at the evening performance of the same date.

**Christopher Fitzgerald departed Wicked on January 2, 2005. Understudy Robb Sapp went on in the interim between Fitzgerald and Jeffrey Kuhn, who joined the cast on January 11.

Broadway Standbys Replacement History:

  • Megan Hilty replaced Laura Bell Bundy as the standby for Glinda on August 3, 2004
  • Shoshana Bean replaced Eden Espinosa as the standby for Elphaba on August 24, 2004
  • Saycon Sengbloh replaced Shoshana Bean as the standby for Elphaba on January 11, 2005
  • Stacie Morgain Lewis replaced Megan Hilty as the standby for Glinda on May 31, 2005
  • Katie Adams replaced Stacie Morgain Lewis as the standby for Glinda on December 19, 2005

Chicago Cast

File:Stacie Morgain Lewis & Kristy Cates in Wicked in Chicago.jpg
Stacie Morgain Lewis and Kristy Cates currently star as Glinda and Elphaba in Chicago. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Current Chicago Cast (2006)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Citizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Christina Bailey, Brad Bass, Matt Clemons, Dioni Michelle Collins, Courtney Corey, Jason Davies, Delandis, Jennifer DiNoia, Kristina Fernandez, Jay Gamlin, Jacqui Graziano, Jill Hayman, Colleen Hieber, Mahi Kekumu, Jeremy Kocal, Kate Loprest, Vanessa McMahan, Don Richard, Ashley Robinson, Alexander Selma, Briana Yacavone.

Standbys and Understudies: Standby for Elphaba - Dee Roscioli. Understudy for Elphaba - Courtney Corey. For Glinda -Kate Loprest, Erin Mackey. For The Wizard - Peter C. Ermides, Don Richard. For Madame Morrible - Dioni Michelle Collins, Jill Hayman. For Fiyero - Brad Bass, Ashley Robinson. For Nessarose - Jacqui Graziano, Kate Loprest. For Boq - Jeremy Kocal, Alexander Selma. For Doctor Dillamond - Peter C. Ermides, Don Richard.

Swings: Jennifer DiNoia, Peter C. Ermides, Jacqui Graziano, Ryan Weiss

Fight Captain/Dance Captain/Swing: Jason Davies, Rozlyn Roberson

Original Chicago Cast (2005)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Citizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Christina Bailey, Dioni Michelle Collins, Courtney Corey, Delandis, Jeff Dumas, Sarah Jane Everman, Kristina Fernandez, Adam Fleming, Sara Jean Ford, Jay Gamlin, Colleen Hieber, Mahi Kekumu, Barrett Martin, Vanessa McMahan, Ashley Robinson, Kathy Santen, Ryan Silverman

Swings: Jason Davies, Peter C. Ermides, Jacqui Graziano, Rozlyn Roberson, Ryan Weiss

Chicago Cast Replacement History

Note: only replacements of principal characters are noted

  • Ben Vereen guest starred as The Wizard starting on August 30, 2005
  • Gene Weygandt returned to the role of The Wizard on September 4, 2005
  • Kristy Cates replaced Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba on January 24, 2006
  • Stacie Morgain Lewis replaced Kate Reinders as Glinda on January 24, 2006
  • Timothy Britten Parker replaced Steven Skybell as Doctor Dillamond on March 28, 2006
  • Carole Shelley replaced Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible on April 25, 2006
  • Rondi Reed will return to the role of Madame Morrible on June 27, 2006

The National Tour

Current National Touring Cast (2006)

File:Julia Murney as Elphaba.jpg
Julia Murney currently stars as Elphaba in the National Tour production. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Denizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Timothy George Anderson, Terra Lynn Arrington, Annaleigh Ashford, Dominic Chaiduang, Nicolas Dromard, Maria Eberline, Luis Figueroa, Cliffton Hall, Celisse Henderson, Lori Holmes, Kyle McDaniel, Michele Micholas, K.W. Miller, Jonathan Ritter, Emily Rozek, Christopher Russo, Adam Sanford, Brian Slaman, Paul Slade Smith, Barbara Tirrell, Sunny Yokoyama

Standbys and Understudies: For Elphaba - Maria Eberline, Victoria Matlock. For Glinda - Annaleigh Ashford, Emily Rozek. For The Wizard - Christopher Russo, Paul Slade Smith. For Madame Morrible - Celisse Henderson, Barbara Tirrell. For Fiyero - Nicolas Dromard, Cliffton Hall, Kyle McDaniel. For Nessarose - Laura Dysarczyk, Maria Eberline, Lori Holmes. For Boq - K.W. Miller, Jonathan Ritter, Adam Sanford. For Doctor Dillamond - Christopher Russo, Paul Slade Smith. For Witch's Father/Ozian Official - Nicolas Dromard, Christopher Russo. For Chistery - Nicolas Dromard, James Tabeek.

Swings: Nicolas Dromard, Laura Dysarczyk, Chelsea Krombach.

Dance Captain/Swing: James Tabeek.

Assistant Dance Captain/Swing: Kristen F. Oei.

Original National Touring Cast (2005)

Principals (in order of appearance)

Monkeys, Students, Denizens of the Emerald City, Palace Guards and Other Citizens of Oz: Katie Adams, Aaron Albano, Timothy George Anderson, Terra Lynn Arrington, Peter John Chursin, Kathy Deitch, Maria Eberline, Cliffton Hall, Lori Holmes, Adam Lambert, K.W. Miller, Chris Peluso, Emily Rozek, Christopher Russo, Brian Slaman, Brooke Wendle, Nicole Winhoffer

Swings: Nicolas Drommard, Laura Dysarczyk, Kristen Oei, James Tabeek

Cities

  • Toronto, ON - March 8, 2005 - April 24, 2005 - Canon Theatre
  • Chicago, IL - April 29, 2005 – June 12, 2005 - Ford Center for the Performing Arts*
  • Los Angeles, CA - June 17, 2005 – July 31, 2005 - Pantages Theatre
  • San Francisco, CA - August 5, 2005 - September 11, 2005 - Orpheum Theatre
  • Denver, CO - September 16, 2005 – October 2, 2005 - Buell Theatre
  • Dallas, TX - October 6, 2005 – October 23, 2005 - Music Hall at Fair Park
  • Houston, TX - October 26, 2005 - November 13, 2005 - Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
  • St. Louis, MO - November 16, 2005 - December 4, 2005 - Fox Theatre
  • Hartford, CT - December 7 - December 18, 2005 - The Bushnell
  • Washington, DC - December 21, 2005 - January 15, 2006 - Kennedy Center
  • Tampa, FL - January 18, 2006 - February 5, 2006 - Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FL - February 8, 2006 – February 19, 2006 - Broward Center
  • Pittsburgh, PA - February 22, 2006 - March 5, 2006 - Benedum Center
  • Cincinnati, OH - March 8, 2006 – March 19, 2006 - Aronoff Center
  • Philadelphia, PA - March 22, 2006 - April 9, 2006 - Academy of Music
  • Boston, MA - April 12, 2006 – May 14, 2006 - Opera House
  • Atlanta, GA - May 17, 2006 – May 28, 2006 - The Fox Theatre
  • Detroit, MI - May 31, 2006 - June 18, 2006 - Masonic Temple Theatre
  • Cleveland, OH - June 21, 2006 – July 9, 2006 - State Theatre
  • Minneapolis, MN - July 12, 2006 - July 23, 2006 - Orpheum Theatre
  • San Diego, CA - July 26, 2006 – August 6, 2006 - San Diego Civic Theatre
  • Costa Mesa, CA - August 9, 2006 - August 20, 2006 - Orange County Performing Arts Center
  • Tempe, AZ - August 23, 2006 – September 3, 2006 - ASU’s Gammage Auditorium
  • Portland, OR - September 6, 2006 - September 17, 2006 - Keller Auditorium
  • Seattle, WA - September 20, 2006 - October 1, 2006 - Paramount Theatre
  • Toronto, ON - October 7, 2006 - November 19, 2006 - Canon Theatre
  • Providence, RI - January 3, 2007 - January 21, 2007 - Providence Performing Arts Center
  • Tampa, FL - February 21, 2007 - March 11, 2007 - Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
  • Miami, FL- March 14, 2007 - March 25, 2007- Miami Performing Arts Center
  • Houston, TX - March 28, 2007 - April 15, 2007 - Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
  • Dallas, TX - April 18, 2007 - May 6, 2007 - Music Hall at Fair Park
  • Denver, CO - May 16, 2007 - June 3, 2007 - Buell Theatre
  • Columbus, OH -June 20, 2007-July 8,2007 - Ohio Theatre
  • East Lansing, MI - July 11, 2007 - July 22, 2007 - Wharton Center for the Performing Arts
  • Philadelphia, PA - July 25, 2007 - August 19, 2007 - Academy of Music

*The Chicago stop on the national tour preceded the current open-ended production.

National Touring Cast Replacement History

Note: only replacements of principal characters are noted

  • Eden Espinosa replaced Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba on August 5, 2005
  • Stephanie J. Block returned to the role of Elphaba on September 16, 2005
  • Carole Shelley replaced Carol Kane as Madame Morrible on December 21, 2005
  • Sebastian Arcelus replaced Derrick Williams as Fiyero on January 1, 2006
  • Julia Murney replaced Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba on March 8, 2006
  • Alma Cuervo replaced Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible on March 8, 2006
  • P.J. Benjamin replaced David Garrison as The Wizard on March 8, 2006
  • Jennifer Waldman replaced Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose on March 8, 2006
  • K. Todd Freeman replaced Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond on March 28, 2006
  • Kirk McDonald replaced Logan Lipton as Boq on May 2, 2006

The London Production

A new engagement of Wicked is scheduled to open on London's West End theatre district later this fall. In December 2005, the UK press was reporting that the show would start at the Apollo Victoria Theatre with previews from September 7, 2006 and opening officially on September 27, 2006.

The West End production will reunite the show's original creative team. In April of 2006, it was announced that actress Idina Menzel would be reprising the role of Elphaba. Menzel won a Tony Award for creating this role in the Original Broadway Cast of the show. She will perform the role through early 2007. Later that month, it was announced that Olivier Award-nominated actor Adam Garcia would be playing Fiyero in the West End production. Producer David Stone has stated that the show will feature a British ensemble. On May 5, it was revealed that Miriam Margolyes would play the role of Madame Morrible and that Nigel Planer would play the role of The Wizard. On Kerry Ellis' website, She has announced once Idina Menzel relinquishes the role, she will take over as Elphaba in London.

It has been rumoured that Helen Dallimore, a theatre actress from Australia will be playing the role of Glinda, though this is yet to be confirmed.

The West End production of Wicked will also be tailored for a UK audience. There has been little official word on what these changes will be, except that the majority of them involve the scenes set at Shiz University in the first act.

The official website for the London production was launched in January of 2006; tickets are currently on sale.

Original London Cast

  • Idina Menzel as Elphaba
  • Helen Dallimore TBC as Glinda
  • Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible
  • Nigel Planer as The Wizard
  • Adam Garcia as Fiyero
  • All other roles are to be confirmed. Final casting information is thought to be given during the week starting 08/05/2006.

Awards & Nominations

2004 Tony Awards (11 Nominations, 3 Wins)

2004 Drama Desk Awards (11 Nominations, 6 Wins)

2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards (10 Nominations, 4 Wins)

2004 Drama League Awards (3 Nominations, 1 Win)

2004 Eddy Awards (1 Win)

2004 Grammy Awards (1 Win)

2006 Helen Hayes Awards (3 Nominations, 1 Win)

2006 Jefferson Awards (5 Nominations)

Musical Numbers

File:Defyinggravity1.jpg
Idina Menzel performing "Defying Gravity" (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Act I

  • "No One Mourns the Wicked" – Glinda and Citizens of Oz
  • "Dear Old Shiz" – Galinda and Students of Shiz University
  • "The Wizard and I" – Elphaba and Morrible
  • "What Is This Feeling?" – Galinda, Elphaba, and Students of Shiz University
  • "Something Bad" – Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba
  • "Dancing Through Life" – Fiyero, Boq, Nessarose, Galinda, Elphaba, and Students of Shiz University
  • "Popular" – Galinda
  • "I'm Not That Girl" – Elphaba
  • "One Short Day" – Elphaba, Glinda and Denizens of the Emerald City
  • "A Sentimental Man" – The Wizard
  • "Defying Gravity" – Elphaba, Glinda, and Guards & Citizens of Oz

Act II

  • "No One Mourns the Wicked" (reprise) – Citizens of Oz
  • "Thank Goodness" – Glinda, Morrible, and Citizens of Oz
  • "The Wicked Witch of the East"* – Nessarose, Elphaba, & Boq
  • "Wonderful" – The Wizard and Elphaba
  • "I'm Not That Girl" (reprise) – Glinda
  • "As Long As You're Mine" – Elphaba and Fiyero
  • "No Good Deed" – Elphaba
  • "March of the Witch Hunters" – Boq, Morrible, and Citizens of Oz
  • "For Good" – Elphaba and Glinda
  • "Finale" – Glinda, Elphaba, and Citizens of Oz

* "The Wicked Witch of the East" is not included in the Original Broadway Cast Recording

Pre-Broadway Run

In May of 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 a month later, and after extensive retooling, began previews on Broadway in early October.

Re-Cast Parts

Musical Numbers

Act I

  • "No One Mourns The Wicked" – Glinda and Citizens of Oz
  • "Dear Old Shiz" – Students
  • "The Wizard And I" – Elphaba and Morrible
  • "What Is This Feeling?" – Galinda, Elphaba, and Students
  • "Something Bad" – Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba
  • "Which Way Is The Party?"/"We Deserve Each Other" – Fiyero, Galinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba and Students*
  • "Popular" – Galinda
  • "I'm Not That Girl" – Elphaba
  • "Dear Old Shiz" (Reprise) – Mourners
  • "The Wizard And I" (Reprise) – Elphaba
  • "One Short Day" – Elphaba, Glinda and Denizens of the Emerald City
  • "A Sentimental Man"/"The Chance to Fly" – The Wizard, Elphaba, Morrible, and Glinda
  • "Defying Gravity" – Elphaba, Glinda, Madame Morrible, Guards, and Citizens of Oz

Act II

  • "Thank Goodness"/"I Couldn't Be Happier" – Revelers, Morrible and Glinda
  • "We Deserve Each Other" (Reprise) – Nessarose and Boq**
  • "Wonderful" – The Wizard and Elphaba
  • "I'm Not That Girl" (Reprise) – Glinda
  • "As Long As You're Mine" – Elphaba and Fiyero
  • "No Good Deed" – Elphaba
  • "March Of The Witch Hunters" – Boq, Morrible, Glinda, and Citizens of Oz
  • "For Good" – Glinda and Elphaba
  • "No One Mourns The Wicked" (Reprise) – Citizens of Oz
  • "A Sentimental Man" (Reprise) – The Wizard
  • "Finale" – Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, and Citizens of Oz

*The song "Which Way Is The Party?" was replaced by "Dancing Through Life" when the musical made its transition from San Francisco to Broadway.

**The song "We Deserve Each Other" (Reprise) is now known as "The Wicked Witch of the East" in the final production.

References

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