Wicked Celebrates Huge Achievement
- therevueuk
- May 1, 2024
- 2 min read
Wicked first opened in London at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in September 2006 and has remained a fan favourite ever since. On 24 April 2024, the show celebrated becoming the 10th longest-running show in West End history with its 6,762nd performance.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. A book that was in turn based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 film adaptation.
The musical is both a prequel and a sequel to The Wizard of Oz and the plot begins before Dorothy arrives in Oz and continues after. Wicked tells the story of the unlikely friendship between the two witches in the Land of Oz, Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good.
The original London production was brought together by the original team behind the Broadway production but was tailored slightly for a British audience. The minor changes included changes to dialogue, choreography, and certain special effects as well as a change in accent. The West End production came after the success of the Broadway production that opened in October 2023. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, and even won a Grammy Award for the original cast album.
Original London cast members included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, who originated the role on Broadway. Alongside Helen Dallimore as Glinda, Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible, Adam Garcia as Fiyero, Martin Ball as Doctor Dillamond, James Gillan as Boq, Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose and Nigel Planer as the Wizard. Idina Menzel played the role until the end of December 2006 before being succeeded by Kerry Ellis, who became the first British woman ever to play the role of Elphaba.
Wicked has broken box-office records around the world and is Broadway’s second-highest-grossing musical, following only The Lion King. The West End production overtook 'No Sex Please, We’re British' as the 10th longest-running West End show earlier this month. The show has been seen by over 12 million people and was already the 8th longest-running musical in West End history. The West End production received five Olivier Award nominations and finally won one at the 2010 ceremony for Audience Award for Most Popular Show.
A two-part film adaptation is also on its way with the first part set for release on 27 November 2024 and the second part to follow the following year on 26 November 2025. The all-star cast for the film includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero.
Wicked is currently playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and plays performances Tuesday-Sunday. With evening performances at 7:30 pm Tuesday-Saturday and matinees at 2.30 pm Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
