Theatre: Wicked (October 2018)

Wicked is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, an alternative telling of the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale's arrival in Oz from Kansas, and it includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (whose name later changes to Glinda the Good Witch), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. The novel, described as a political, social, and ethical commentary on the nature of good and evil, takes place in the Land of Oz, in the years leading to Dorothy's arrival. The story centers on Elphaba, the misunderstood, smart, and fiery girl of emerald-green skin who grows up to become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda, the beautiful, blonde, popular girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good Witch of the South. The story is divided into five different sections based on the plot location, and presents events, characters, and situations from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its 1939 film adaptation in new ways. It is designed to set the reader thinking about what it really is to be "Wicked", and whether good intentions with bad results are the same as bad intentions with bad results.

The original production of Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003; its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, while its original cast album received a Grammy Award. In July 2017, Wicked surpassed The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway's second-highest grossing show, trailing only The Lion King. In July 2018, Wicked surpassed A Chorus Line to become Broadway's sixth-longest running show.

While the draft followed Maguire's idea of retelling the story of the 1939 film from the perspective of its main villain, the storyline of the stage adaptation "goes far afield" from the novel. It was [Maguire's] brilliant idea to take this hated figure and tell things from her point of view, and to have the two witches be roommates in college, but the way in which their friendship develops– and really the whole plot– is different onstage. Primarily we were interested in the relationship between Galinda– who becomes Glinda– and Elphaba ... the friendship of these two women and how their characters lead them to completely different destinies. In addition to this change in focus, other major plot modifications include Fiyero's appearance as the scarecrow, Elphaba's survival at the end, Nessarose using a wheelchair instead of being born without arms, Boq having a continuing love interest for Glinda - and eventually becoming the Tin Woodman instead of Nick Chopper, the complete cutting of Elphaba's years in the Vinkus, the deletion of Liir's birth, Fiyero not having a wife and children, and Doctor Dillamond not being murdered. Elements of the book were rewritten, while several songs underwent minor transformations.

Act I

In the Land of Oz, a lot of celebrating is going on; the Ozians are rejoicing over the demise of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda the Good Witch talks about Elphaba’s past and you see Elphaba’s mother have an affair after Elphaba’s father goes out of town. As her mother has this affair she drinks green elixir. She then gets pregnant and when she gives birth her baby has green skin ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). Glinda arrives to congratulate Dorothy Gale (unseen though frequently mentioned) for restoring peace to the land until an Ozian asks her if Elphaba and she were friends. She reluctantly admits that they were, leading Glinda to tell them the story of how they became best friends. A flashback starts with a scene at school, Shiz University, when Elphaba arrives ("Dear Old Shiz"). Elphaba was believed to be the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, although we know her real father is the man her mother had an affair with. Her father resented her and showered his affection on her younger sister, Nessarose, who is physically disabled and uses a wheelchair. The two sisters both go to Shiz University, where the beautiful and popular Glinda, formerly known as Galinda, is also in their class. As their father says goodbye, he gives Nessarose a pair of silver slippers. The headmistress, Madame Morrible, decides to take Nessarose under her protection, leaving Elphaba and Galinda as roommates to their chagrin. Elphaba attempts to take back her sister, and her anger manifests physically in an explosion. Madame Morrible recognizes that Elphaba has special powers and decides to teach her sorcery. She tells Elphaba her powers might allow her to one day work with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, something Elphaba has dreamed of her whole life ("The Wizard and I"). All of this does little to endear Elphaba to Galinda, and the feeling is mutual ("What is this Feeling?"). They fight constantly, even in their classes, such as their history class with Dr. Dillamond, the only Animal (a sentient goat) professor at the university, who is beginning to suffer from discrimination. He tells Elphaba a conspiracy is afoot to stop Animals from speaking, and she wants to let the Wizard know, for he would surely stop it ("Something Bad").

Later, Fiyero Tigelaar, an Arjiki prince from the Vinkus, has arrived at Shiz and shares his life philosophy. They all decide to have an orientation party at the Ozdust Ball that evening. Boq, a Munchkin who has developed a crush on Galinda, tries to invite her to the party, but she convinces him to ask Nessarose out of pity, leaving Galinda free to go with Fiyero. Nessarose, who has a crush on Boq, is delighted and tells her sister how Galinda made it happen. When Galinda gives an ugly hat to Elphaba to wear at the party, Elphaba takes it as an act of kindness. At the party that evening, Boq tries to tell Nessarose the real reason he invited her, but is too nice to hurt her feelings ("Dancing Through Life"). She continues to fall for him. Madame Morrible arrives to tell Galinda she can join her sorcery class, at Elphaba's obliging request. Elphaba arrives wearing the witch's hat, only to find the other students laughing and staring while she awkwardly dances alone. Galinda feels regretful and goes to dance with Elphaba. Everyone joins them, and the two girls look at each other in a new light.

Back in their room, they continue to bond. Galinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover ("Popular"). When Elphaba arrives at class the next day, Fiyero sees Galinda's influence and tells Elphaba that she does not need to change. Dr. Dillamond enters to tell the class that he has been excommunicated. Elphaba wants to help, but no one will stand up with her. Afterward, the students are introduced to the cage, which will keep animals controlled, so they never learn to speak. Elphaba's fury cannot be contained, and in the ensuing chaos, Fiyero and she steal the lion cub in the cage and escape.

Fiyero is disillusioned about what transpired, but is taken by Elphaba's passion. She begins to fall in love with him and they share a tender moment before he leaves to free the lion cub. Elphaba reminds herself that it is pointless to wish for something to happen between them ("I'm Not that Girl"). Madame Morrible comes to tell her that the Wizard has decided to meet her. Nessarose and Galinda come to see her off, and Fiyero meets her, too. Galinda tries to win Fiyero's respect by changing her name to "Glinda", in solidarity with Dr. Dillamond, who always mispronounced her name, but Fiyero is not impressed, saying goodbye to Elphaba, instead. Elphaba invites Glinda to the Emerald City with her ("One Short Day").

The girls meet the Wizard of Oz, who turns out to be not quite as intimidating as they thought ("A Sentimental Man"). He promises Elphaba that he will grant her request if she proves herself. Madame Morrible appears; she is the Wizard's new "press secretary". She gives Elphaba an ancient book of spells, called the Grimmerie, which only the magically gifted can read. Elphaba is asked to try a levitation spell on the Wizard's monkey servant, Chistery. However, the spell does not go the way Elphaba plans when Chistery sprouts wings, and she realizes that the Wizard is the one behind the suppression of the Animals. Elphaba realizes the Wizard has no powers; he is merely a fraud. He offers Glinda and her everything they have ever wanted if they will help him, but Elphaba is unwilling to comply. She runs away, and to prevent the truth from getting out, Madame Morrible spreads reports that Elphaba is a "wicked witch". This only reaffirms Elphaba's belief that she must not let anyone hold her down. She performs a spell on a broom and flies away from the Emerald City, never to return ("Defying Gravity").

Act II

Some time later, Elphaba's opposition of the Wizard's regime has earned her the title "the Wicked Witch of the West". Glinda has become the positive public front of the Wizard's regime, given the title "Glinda the Good" and positioned by Morrible as the nation's defender against the Witch ("No One Mourns The Wicked (Reprise)"). A press conference to celebrate Fiyero's appointment as captain of the guard (a position he has accepted to find Elphaba) is hijacked by the crowd's panicked rumors about the Witch, including a story that she will be melted by water. Fiyero is incredulous and not convinced by Glinda's insistence that Elphaba does not want to be found. He is further angered when Morrible announces his engagement to Glinda and runs off. Glinda attempts to keep a cheerful front for the press, but clearly, she realizes her dream life has come at a great price ("Thank Goodness").

Elphaba pays a visit to Nessarose, who is now the governor of Munchkinland following the death of their father, whom Nessarose says "died of shame" when he heard what Elphaba did. Nessarose has taken away the rights of the Munchkins in a desperate attempt to keep Boq at her side. Elphaba tries to convince her sister to side with her against the Wizard, but Nessarose is more concerned with her own problems. Elphaba tries to help by giving Nessarose the power to walk by turning the silver slippers into the "ruby slippers". Convinced that Boq must love her now, Nessarose calls for him, but he only sees this as proof that she does not need him anymore. Hurt, Nessarose takes Elphaba's spell book and tries to cast a spell to make Boq fall in love with her. However, the spell backfires, making her the "Wicked Witch of the East", shrinking Boq's heart ("The Wicked Witch Of The East"). Elphaba must work another spell to save his life, if in a slightly different condition than he was before. When Boq awakens, he is disgusted at his new state as a man made of tin, and Nessarose tells him that it was Elphaba who did this to him.

Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace to free the monkey servants, and comes across the Wizard himself. He tries once again to convince her to work with him, telling her that he is not evil - just an average man who came into his position by chance, led to stay by the reverence of the Ozians, and he offers to redeem Elphaba's reputation ("Wonderful"). She is almost won over until she sees Dr. Dillamond, who has lost the power of speech. Angered by this, Elphaba accuses the Wizard, but he calls the guards to arrest Elphaba for fraud. In response, Fiyero and the guards enter, followed by Glinda. However, Fiyero instead helps Elphaba escape and decides to leave with her. Although broken hearted of Fiyero switching sides with Elphaba ("I'm Not that Girl (Reprise)"), Glinda suggests to the Wizard and Madame Morrible that the way to apprehend Elphaba is to use her sister as bait, allowing the officials to recapture Elphaba once and for all.

Elphaba and Fiyero are both taken by surprise by the strength of their feelings for each other, and promise to be together always ("As Long As You're Mine"). Their happiness is interrupted when Elphaba suddenly has a vision of a house flying through the sky and Nessarose being in danger. Before Elphaba leaves to investigate, Fiyero tells her about a castle that his family owns in which she can stay.

Glinda and Elphaba meet again at the site where Nessarose has been crushed by a house with a girl named Dorothy Gale inside. Fueled by the rivalry over Fiyero, the two have a heated argument. The guards arrive and tackle Elphaba, who guesses that Glinda arranged for all of this as a trap. Fiyero arrives, as well, and holds Glinda hostage until Elphaba is allowed to go free. Glinda pleads for the guards not to harm him, but they do not listen, as they escort Fiyero to the field where they can interrogate and torture him (by crucifixion) into revealing Elphaba's whereabouts. Elphaba tries to cast a spell to protect him, but is crestfallen by the limitations of her power. She decides that from this point on, she will live up to her reputation as the Wicked Witch of the West ("No Good Deed").

Later, back at Oz's capital, all of Oz's citizens unite, declaring war on Elphaba due to Madame Morrible and Boq's testimony against her. Meanwhile, Glinda has realized Morrible, who can control the weather, is responsible for Nessarose's death, but when she is about to accuse her, Morrible simply reminds her that blood is on her hands, as well. Feeling guilty for her association, Glinda flees in horror to warn Elphaba, as the angry mob sets out to take Kiamo Ko by force ("March of the Witch Hunters").

Back at Kiamo Ko, Elphaba has already captured Dorothy, refusing to release her until she relinquishes Nessarose's slippers – the only things left of her dead sister. Glinda travels to Elphaba's castle to warn her of the danger and persuade her to let Dorothy go. Elphaba refuses until she receives a letter saying that Fiyero has died. The two women forgive each other, acknowledging they have both made mistakes. To help her in her future, Elphaba gives the Grimmerie to Glinda. The two friends embrace for the last time before saying goodbye ("For Good"). As the mob arrives, Elphaba tells Glinda to hide, and she watches helplessly from the shadows as Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba, who appears to disintegrate. Shaken, Glinda sees that all that remains of her friend is her black hat and the small bottle of green elixir.

In the Emerald City, Glinda confronts the Wizard with Elphaba's bottle, which he recognizes as identical to his own. He was Elphaba's biological father and the cause of her green skin. He breaks down in sorrow, and Madame Morrible surmises that Elphaba's powers were so strong because she was a child of two worlds. Glinda banishes the Wizard from Oz and sends Madame Morrible to prison for murder.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Fiyero (now a scarecrow) comes to the spot where Elphaba was melted. Making sure that no one is watching, he knocks on the floor and out from a trap door steps Elphaba, very much alive; the entire thing was a ruse to convince her enemies of her death and to ensure her future with Fiyero, who was transformed into the scarecrow by her spell unintentionally. Before leaving, Elphaba regrets that she will never see Glinda again and tell her that they are alive. Simultaneously, returning to the musical's starting point, Glinda promises the people of Oz to properly earn her title as Glinda the Good. As the people celebrate and Glinda mourns, Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz together forever ("Finale").

Gershwin Theatre

The Gershwin Theatre is located on the lower levels of the Paramount Plaza building, a towering office complex. It is named after brothers George Gershwin, a composer, and Ira Gershwin, a lyricist. It has the largest seating capacity of any Broadway theatre with 1,933 seats. Designed in an Art Nouveau style, it opened as the Uris Theatre in 1972, with a disastrous first show that lost a million dollars and closed after only seven performances (Via Galactica starring Raul Julia). From 1974 to 1976, it served as a concert hall. The American Theatre Hall of Fame, which has names of actors, playwrights, songwriters, designers, directors, and producers who have had notable careers in American theater embossed in bronze lettering on the entrance walls flanking the theatre’s grand staircase and escalator. In 1983, the theatre was renamed to honor the Gershwins. It has been home to the blockbuster musical Wicked since 2003.