 | Wicked is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a libretto by Winnie Holzman. The story is based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz. Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. The plot is set mostly before Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. |
| The musical debuted on Broadway on October 30, 2003. It is produced by Universal Pictures and directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Its original stars were Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. Although the production received mixed reviews and was panned by The New York Times, it has proved to be a favorite among patrons. The Broadway production's success spawned productions in Chicago, Los Angeles, London's West End, Tokyo, and Stuttgart, along with a North American tour that has visited over 30 cities in Canada and the United States. The photo shows the Apollo Victoria Theatre, the home of Wicked in London. Wicked has broken box office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London, and the record for biggest opening in the West End (£100,000 in the first hour on sale). The West End production has played to more than 1.2 million people, and the North American tour has been seen by over two million patrons. The show was nominated for ten 2004 Tony Awards, winning those for Best Actress, Scenic Design and Costume Design. It also won six Drama Desk Awards. | |
Broadway Musical Wicked - Defying Gravity sang by Idina Menzel Lyrics: Defying Gravity Elphaba: Something has changed within me Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules Of someone else's game Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep It's time to trust my instincts Close my eyes and leap It's time to try Defying gravity I think I'll try Defying gravity And you can't pull me down... Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together. I'm Limited Together we're unlimited Together we'll be the greatest team There's ever been, Glinda, Dreams the way we planned 'em Glinda: If we work in tandem Both: There's no fight we cannot win Just you and I Defying gravity With you and I Defying gravity Elphaba: They'll never bring us down... Well? Are you coming? Glinda: I hope you're happy Now that you're choosing this... Elphaba: You too - I hope it brings you bliss Both: I really hope you get it And you don't live to regret it I hope you're happy in the end I hope you're happy, my friend... Elphaba: So if you care to find me Look to the western sky As someone told me lately - Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly And if I'm flying solo At least I'm flying free To those who'd ground me Take a message back from me - Tell them how I Am defying gravity! I'm flying high Defying gravity! And soon I'll match them in renown And nobody in all of Oz No wizard that there is or was Is ever gonna bring me down! Glinda: I hope you're happy! Citizens of Oz: Look at her, shes wicked! Get her! Elphaba: ...bring me down! Citizens of Oz: No one mourns the wicked So we've got to bring her... Elphaba: Ahhhh! Citizens of Oz: Down! | |
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