10 thrillifying moments in Wicked history

Wicked is celebrating 22 spellbinding years on Broadway this week!

Based on the hit novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the story of two unlikely university friends in the land of Oz, one destined to become Glinda the Good and the other, the Wicked Witch of the West. For the stage, it is written by Winnie Holzman (book) and Stephen Schwartz (score) and directed by Joe Mantello.

With the march to Wicked: For Good bubbling into cinemas well and truly underway, we’re looking at momentous occasions in Wicked’s stage history.

30 October officially becomes National Wicked Day!

The show began previews in New York on 8 October 2003 before an opening night at the end of the month, starring Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. It is now the fourth-longest-running production in Broadway history, and the tenth-longest-running in the West End. It’s a common misconception that Wicked opened officially on Broadway on Halloween, when in fact it was the day before, which just happened to be a Wicked Wednesday!

‘Too much to mention’!

Early workshops were crucial to getting the show on the road, before an out-of-town tryout in San Francisco – which movie director Jon M Chu attended! Those early performances are credited for developing the role of Elphaba to be the lead character.

Stephanie J Block is the original Elphaba, having played her in early workshops. During a readthrough, Block sang “too much, too much to mention” in “No Good Deed” after losing her place and trying to find it. What started as an error is very deep in the Wicked DNA.

Block wasn’t the only starry name connected to the show in workshops. The late, great Gavin Creel played Boq, while Tony Award winner Sutton Foster played Glinda’s friend Pfanee (since removed from the musical), and Dorothy, who appears on stage in a very different way.

A celebration throughout Oz!

A Halloween connection has never been completely ignored, however. To celebrate 15 years on Broadway, NBC aired A Very Wicked Halloween, seeing the original cast reunite, while the Broadway cast appeared alongside Pentatonix, Adam Lambert, and a future Glinda, Ariana Grande – who performed an Elphaba track, “The Wizard and I”!

Congratulotions are in order!

Wicked is one of four Broadway shows to ever reach 20 years on Broadway, the others are the now-closed Phantom of the Opera, the 1996 revival of Chicago, and The Lion King. Despite this, the show didn’t take home the coveted 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical. Instead, that honour went to Avenue Q.

The show must go on…

Menzel suffered an injury when she fell through the trap door on stage during the famous “melting” scene in Wicked. As a result, she endured a broken rib and after a trip to the hospital (wearing her very expensive costume and green paint!), was forced to bow out of her last two shows on Broadway as Elphaba, with Shoshana Bean getting greenified in seven minutes to conclude the last two minutes of the show and taking on the role full-time earlier than expected.

However, Menzel was welcomed back on stage at the Gershwin during what would’ve been her final performance to receive and bid farewell to co-star Joey McIntyre – we’ve all seen the video of the red tracksuit!

As an aside, Chenoweth has performed the show wearing a bedazzled neck brace. During tryouts in San Francisco, she sustained an injury after vigorous “toss tossing” of her blonde curls, and the injury often flared up.

Defying Gravity in three different languages!

Willemijn Verkaik is – so far – the only Elphaba to perform the role in multiple languages. She originated the role in Germany, before playing the role in her native Dutch, and then in English in the West End and on Broadway. Coincidentally, Verkaik also provides the voice of Elsa in the German and Dutch versions of Disney’s Frozen – voiced in English, of course, by Menzel.

“For Good” is based on another friendship

Schwartz’s daughter Jessica and her best friend Sarah are the source of inspiration behind many of the lyrics in the powerful duet. The composer asked his daughter what she’d say if she were never able to see her friend again, and what she said largely became the first verse.

It’s good to see them, isn’t it?

In recent years, Wicked has made progress with its casting. Only earlier this year did the show welcome Lencia Kebede, who became the first Black actress to assume the role of Elphaba full-time on Broadway. In London, Alexia Khadime became the first Black woman to play Elphaba full-time in 2008. She returned to the show in 2023, starring opposite Lucy St. Louis as Glinda. Together, the pair became the West End’s first Black Elphaba and Glinda.

Accessibility in Oz

As part of the same cast as Kedebe, Jenna Bainbridge became the first wheelchair-using actor to take on the role of Nessarose on stage. In the film, Marissa Bode became the first wheelchair-using actor to play the character of Nessa, with Wicked: For Good set to see her fly as part of the accessibility changes. Meanwhile, on Broadway, several changes have been made at the Gershwin Theatre for Bainbridge.

Record-breaking film adaptation

The Chu-directed big-screen blockbuster Wicked, starring Erivo and Grande, has been a huge hit so far, with part two flying into cinemas next month. With a worldwide press tour, nominations for countless awards, including ten Oscars (and winning two), and becoming the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation ever, the Wicked movie has been unlimited!