Wicked tale to bewitch Capital
One of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters ever, Wicked – the untold true story of the witches of Oz, is coming to Wellington.
It will premiere at St James Theatre on August 17 next year, running to September 3.
Wicked tells the story of what happened in Oz, but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives from Kansas, there is another young woman, born with green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent.
When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships – until the world decides to call one good and the other one wicked.
‘‘After a fabulous season of Les Misérables, we are thrilled to be bringing Wicked to the St James. We look forward to celebrating the magic of the ‘other Oz’ story with you all,’’ said Capital Theatre Trust chairperson Sandy Brewer.
The Wellington production will be directed by Grant Meese, who helmed this year’s season of Les Misérables.
‘‘You have waited such a long time to see this production. The story is full of heart and filled with magic. I know you will love it,’’ Meese said.
It is the first time the show has been staged in Wellington.
Wicked has been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide since it opened in 2003.
Its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, with Joel Grey as the Wizard. The original Broadway production won three Tonys, while the original cast album received a Grammy.
In 2019, it surpassed Les Misérables to become Broadway’s fifth-longest running show. It’s been performed in more than 100 cities in 16 countries and is Broadway’s second-highest grossing musical behind The Lion King, having amassed more than $4.6 billion in global sales.
Its score includes the hit songs Defying Gravity, Popular and For Good, with its music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
The show’s book was written by Winnie Holzman, based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which in turn was based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation.
A two-part film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey is also in the works.
The show is being brought to the capital by the Capital Theatre Trust and G&T Productions. Pre-sales open today, remaining tickets Wednesday, November 2 at 9am via Ticketmaster.