magical musical
WICKED
Gershwin Theatre
225 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10036
(between 8th Avenue & Broadway)
Subway: 50th Street Station: 1-C-E;
49th Street Station: N-Q-R
The long-running musical Wicked reveals the “untold” back-story of the famous Witches of Oz. It’s based on the 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire, and loaded with references to the infamous MGM filmed musical, The WIzard of Oz. After its opening in 2003, Wicked was nominated for 10 Tony® Awards (and won three), and is now the 6th longest-running show on Broadway.
The musical tells the story of two unlikely friends: the green-faced Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and the blonde Galinda (who later calls herself Glinda, The Good Witch). Elphaba is smart, fiery, talented – and misunderstood. When she arrives at school, her roommate, Galinda, could not be more different: she’s bubbly, popular and “fits in” to societal norms. The two women clash over a shared love-interest, a corrupt government, and an un-accepting society – until a series of life-altering events lead the two rivals two become allies and friends.
The original production starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the leading roles, and both women were nominated for Best Actress at the Tony® Awards. Idina ended up winning, and the show itself picked up awards for Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design.
After the success of the Broadway production, numerous national tours were launched (and continue today), as well as productions around the world, including London, Tokyo, Sydney, Copenhagen and dozens more.
Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.
Wicked is recommended for ages 8 and up, and no one under the age of 4 will be permitted in the theatre.
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OUR TAKE
It’s hard not to love Wicked, even after 10+ years on Broadway.
Its magical sets, memorable music (including hum-out-of-the-theatre songs like Popular, For Good, and Defying Gravity), and its underlying commentary on how society shapes what’s-good and what’s-evil help make the production a timeless classic for adults and kids alike. Although Wicked is sometimes knocked by critics as being too “show-y,” I personally think it’s the spectacular staging itself (by director Joe Mantello) that continues to make the show so exciting and memorable.
Whether marveling at the live version of the infamous Flying Monkeys, or trying to figure out how they made Elphaba fly (and melt!), the show’s visuals only enhance – not diminish – the fun Stephen Schwartz score and message-driven book by Winnie Holzman.
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SHOW INFORMATION
ORIGINAL OPENING
RE-OPENING DATE
CLOSING DATE
3 PRO TIPS
Ticket Lottery
A day-of-performance lottery for 26 select orchestra seats is held daily, 2-½ hours prior to show time, at the theatre box office. It’s an old-school names-in-a-hat drawing for a chance at up to 2 tickets. Names are drawn 30 mins later for $30 orchestra seats, (cash only).
For Fans
The official Wicked page has lots of stuff for fans. Create your own WICKED GIF, download computer backgrounds, themed Apple watch faces, and lots more. Head to their website to check out all the content – and while you’re there, sign up for their newsletter for more exclusives.
Access
The Gershwin is located several floors above street level, and is usually accessed by a combination of escalators and stairs. If you have mobility issues, be sure to flag this to the ushers as soon as you enter for assistance via elevator. (see Accessibility Link on this page)
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