Welcome to the last Musical Monday of the semester! It felt very appropriate to have today’s edition be about my first favorite musical ever, which I refer to as my “gateway musical.” Those who know me know that I am of course talking about the 1995 book turned 2003 Broadway musical turned 2024 hit movie, “Wicked: the Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.”
Plot
“Wicked” takes the classic story of “The Wizard of Oz” and turns it on its head, telling the story of the thought-to-be Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba Thropp is actually a young woman wronged by the world and othered by society due to her green skin. The show tells the story of her and her relationship with Glinda the Good Witch of the East, who takes the role of Elphaba’s college roommate. Throughout the show, we see how Elphaba becomes “wicked” in the eyes of the public, even if there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Show History
“Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz first got the idea for the musical when he read Gregory Maguire’s novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” and immediately thought it would make a good stage show. However, Universal Pictures had already acquired the rights to adapt the novel into a film. Schwartz persuaded Maguire and Universal producers to give him the rights instead, and began to adapt it. Book writer Winnie Holzman was brought on to adapt the complex plot of the novel into a more digestible musical.
“Wicked” went through many workshops and readings before rehearsals began in early 2003 for an out-of-town tryout. The tryout received critical feedback, and Schwartz made many changes based on it. One of the main changes was the addition of “Dancing Through Life,” the introductory song of Prince Fiyero Tigelaar. The production underwent changes to make Elphaba’s role more central to the show, as critics felt she was being overshadowed by Glinda.
The Broadway production of “Wicked” opened Oct. 30, 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre, to rave reviews. The production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, but only won Best Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design. The award for “Best Musical” went instead to “Avenue Q,” a decision that is regarded to this day as a snub from the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League.
The West End production of “Wicked” opened on Sept. 27, 2006, and is still running today. There are many ongoing international productions and tours of the show. The first part of the film adaptation of “Wicked” opened in Nov. 2024, to rave reviews, catapulting the show even more into the public eye.
Personal History
My first memory of “Wicked” is of a family friend playing “Popular” on one of our yearly trips to a cabin on the Conejos River in Colorado. I did not know what it was from, and I do not remember how old I was, but I do remember it igniting a spark in me that began to shape me into the theatre kid I am today.
That same family friend received tickets to the National Tour of “Wicked” for her 13th birthday, which was a trip with all of the families who attended the yearly cabin excursion. I believe I was seven at the time, and seeing “Wicked” live changed my life. That sounds like an exaggeration. But it truly did. Falling in love with “Wicked” is what kickstarted my longstanding love of musical theatre. It cannot be overstated how much this show means to me.
Favorite Songs
It seems like it should be difficult to pick favorite songs from “Wicked,” but the nostalgia factor associated with this musical made it easy. The easy answer to my favorite song is “Popular.” Of course, it was the first song I remember hearing from the show, but Glinda is a role I would love to be able to play one day, making it even more important to me. Another favorite is Fiyero’s “Dancing Through Life.” It encapsulates much of what makes me love “Wicked,” and it is simply a blast to listen to. The final song that stands out among a soundtrack of great songs is “For Good.” This duet between Glinda and Elphaba means so much to me when I think of it in relation to the female friendships in my life. It is perhaps the song from the show that I listen to the most.
Favorite Fact
I actually have two favorite facts about “Wicked,” but one of them is brief. The first is that leading lady Elphaba’s name is based on the original “Wizard of Oz” author L. Frank Baum’s name.
Second, Idina Menzel was not the first to play Elphaba. Though she originated the role on Broadway, the workshops featured now-Tony winner Stephanie J. Block. When the show began preparing for a potential Broadway run, Block was told that she was “too green” for the role. Being green is an industry term for not having enough experience, but Block could not help seeing the irony in being told she was “too green” to play the famously green witch. Block was offered the role of standby Elphaba, which she took for the out-of-town tryout. However, when the show was transferred to Broadway, Block had the opportunity to make her Broadway debut in the featured role of Liza Minelli in “The Boy from Oz.” She then originated Elphaba on the National Tour before eventually playing the role on Broadway.
I am a devoted fan of Stephanie J. Block, and because of this she will always be the original Elphaba in my eyes. I love Idina Menzel — and she was incredible in the role — but Block is one of my favorite musical theatre actors of all time.
Author: Tessa Cheshire
Photos courtesy of Joan Marcus
Editor: Anna Mower
arts@suunews.net
