Something WICKED this way comes
Image: Brittney Johnson as Glinda in Wicked. Photo: Joan Marcus
By EVIE MCLOUGHLIN
The Wizard of Oz-inspired musical WICKED is landing back on Australia’s theatres in 2023. The award-winning show will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in August 2023.
WICKED made its Broadway debut in 2003 and has since performed in 16 countries worldwide including a successful run from 2008 – 2011 in Australia. Snatching up three Tonys, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and six Drama Desk Awards, it’s shown consistent popularity, remaining the fourth longest-running musical on Broadway.
The WICKED storyline is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz and tells the backstory of the Wonderful Wizard and the events that took place before Dorothy landed in the Land of Oz. It introduces the friendship between Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch).
With words and music by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman WICKED the Musical was influenced by Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It was a four-year creative process for Schwartz.
“I think what appealed to me more, when I first came across Gregory Maguire’s novel and was immediately smitten with the desire to adapt it as a musical, is the theme, one which has always fascinated me: looking at a familiar story or characters from a different point of view, and thus revealing that life is not as simple or as black-and-white as we tend to think.” (Stephen Schwartz 2010, Wicked History)
As well as its engaging storyline, WICKED’s soundtrack is enthralling and memorable, including the stand-out hit “Defying Gravity”. Concluding the first act, “Defying Gravity” plays as Elphaba has the realisation that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not really good and has vowed to stand up to him.
“Defying Gravity” is something this musical will for years to come.
