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Wicked
"Wicked" is the name of a musical that is based on the book of the same name. The lead characters already are known to us through the Oz books, movies, and plays. Contributors to the category typically ask and answer questions to learn specifics about the casts, costumes, music, performances, and special effects of the musical; and the comparison of the characters and the story of the book and the play.
413 Questions
What is the history of the musical 'Wicked'?
Two books trace the history of the musical 'Wicked'. One is Carol de Giere's book, 'Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked' [New York: Applause Books, 2008]. The other is 'Wicked: The Grimmerie, A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical' [Hyperion, 2005]. It's authored by theater critic David Coté, photographer Joan Marcus, and composer lyricist Stephen Lawrence Schwartz [b. March 6, 1948].
It's unknown how old Glinda is. Fans, readers, and specialists of the original Oz book series by Lyman Frank Baum [May 15, 1856-May 6, 1919] suggest that she may be immortal. Throughout his 14 books, Baum indeed presents Glinda as always beautiful, powerful, and wise.
But if she's not immortal, then Glinda may be the same age as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West from 'The Wizard of Oz'. Elphaba's story is told, decades after Baum's death, in the form of a prequel by Gregory Maguire [b. June 9, 1954]. Maguire has Elphaba and Glinda be class and room mates. He puts Elphaba's age at 38, at the time of her disappearance under a bucketful of water thrown by Dorothy Gale.
Serpico, The cop who defied the system was written by Peter Maas. It was the biography of New York City policeman Frank Serpico.
What happens to Elphaba and Fiyero in 'Wicked'?
In the book version of 'Wicked', Elphaba and Fiyero die. Fiyero is killed. Elphaba Thropp, who also is called the Wicked Witch of the West, also dies. But the book includes the information that a witch never dies a true death. Elphaba is a witch, and therefore she will be back.
In the musical version of 'Wicked', Elphaba and Figyero only appear to die. Fiyero is changed into a Scarecrow and therefore survives the torture of the Wizard of Oz's guards. Everyone is led to believe that water destroys Elphaba. So Dorothy Gale throws water on Elphaba, who appears to melt. Elphaba actually makes a successful escape through a trap door. She and Fiyero then leave the lands of Oz, for a fresh start elsewhere.
Who played Nessarose in 'Wicked' in the United States in 2008?
The following actresses played Nessarose in performances of 'Wicked' in the United States of America in 2005:
1. On Broadway, Michelle Federer [b. December 5, 1973] was Nessarose.
2. On the first national tour, Jenna Leigh Green [b. August 22, 1974] was Nessarose.
3. In Chicago, Heidi Kettenring was Nessarose.
How does Elphaba get her name in 'Wicked'?
L. Frank Baum was the name of the author of "The Wizard of Oz," which Gregory Maguire based "Wicked" off of.
Since the book and musical are loosly based off of his noval and film, she is named after him. If you sound out the first letter of his first, last, and middle name, you get elphaba. LFB El-Fa-Ba.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask me anymore questions.
What is the name of the Wicked Witch of the West?
If you mean in the broudway musical, her real name was supposed to be Elphaba. If you haven't seen Wicked the musical, I HIGHLY suggest you do!
Who is the musical director of 'Wicked'?
The writer of the music/lyrics in the musical 'Wicked' is Stephen Schwartz and the writer of the play is Winnie Holzman
Hope this helps!
The music and lyrics of the musical Wicked were written by Stephen Schwartz, and the book by Winnie Holzman.
Who sings all the songs in the musical 'Wicked'?
1. "Overture / No One Mourns the Wicked" Kristin Chenoweth, Sean McCourt, Cristy Candler, Jan Neuberger, Ensemble 6:40 2. "Dear Old Shiz" Kristin Chenoweth, Ensemble 1:26 3. "The Wizard and I" Idina Menzel, Carole Shelley 5:09 4. "What Is This Feeling?" Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Ensemble 3:32 5. "Something Bad" William Youmans, Idina Menzel 1:39 6. "Dancing Through Life" Norbert Leo Butz, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Fitzgerald,Michelle Federer, Idina Menzel, Ensemble 7:37 7. "Popular" Kristin Chenoweth 3:44 8. "I'm Not That Girl" Idina Menzel 2:58 9. "One Short Day" Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Ensemble 3:03 10. "A Sentimental Man" Joel Grey 1:15 11. "Defying Gravity" Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Ensemble 5:53 12. "No One Mourns the Wicked (Reprise) / Thank Goodness" Kristin Chenoweth, Carole Shelley, Ensemble 6:22 13. "Wonderful" Joel Grey, Idina Menzel 4:57 14. "I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)" Kristin Chenoweth 0:49 15. "As Long as You're Mine" Idina Menzel, Norbert Leo Butz 3:45 16. "No Good Deed" Idina Menzel 3:31 17. "March of the Witch Hunters" Christopher Fitzgerald, Ensemble 1:30 18. "For Good" Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel 5:06 19. "Finale: For Good (Reprise)"
Who wrote the book for the musical 'Wicked'?
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (b. March 6, 1948) is responsible for the music and lyrics, and Winnie Holzman (b. 1954) is responsible for the text, to the musical "Wicked."
Specifically, Holzman's text is based on the book "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West." In fact, her script is an adaptation of the prequel by Gregory Maquire (b. June 9, 1954) to "The Wizard of Oz." The composer, the scriptwriter and the writer worked closely together to come up with an award-winning musical.
Who wrote the song 'Popular' for the musical 'Wicked'?
Glinda the Good sings 'Popular' in the musical 'Wicked'. It's after the party where it's clear that no one wishes Elphaba well. But Elphaba just does what she can to have a good time, even if it means dancing by herself.
Glinda's impressed by Elphaba's brave handling of bullying, disdain, ridicule, and shunning. It's the turning point in the interaction between the two young university students. Specifically, after the party, the two room and class mates move from being the worst of enemies to the best of friends.
The change in the interaction is indicated by the song 'Popular'. Glinda sings it while she gives Elphaba a makeover.
What is the setting for the musical 'Wicked'?
The country they are in is Oz. The settings for the individual sections are as followed:
- Part 1- Munchkinland
- Part 2- Gillikin
- Part 3- Emerald City
- Part 4- the Vinkus
- Part 5- Munchkinland, Gillikin, the Vinkus
What is the full name of the Wicked Witch of the West?
No, in neither the original 1900 book edition nor in the beloved 1939 film version of 'The Wizard of Oz' are the names of the Wicked Witch of the West Elvira Gultch or of the Witch of the East Glenda the Good. In the book, the Wicked Witch of the West is given no name. In the film, she's the personality that Almira Gulch takes on in Dorothy Gale's dream.
Likewise, in the book, the Witch of the East has no name. There's a witch named Glinda the Good. But she's the Good Witch of the South, in the Red Quadling Country. In the film, the Witch of the East has no name. Glinda appears, but as the Good Witch of the North.
Where is the Wicked Witch of the West?
According to the original 1900 book edition, and the beloved 1939 film version, of 'The Wizard of Oz', the Wicked Witch of the West melts into nothingness. According to the much later book 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West', the Witch melts, but perhaps not into nothingless. For there's the provision, and the fear, in the end that she will come back. In the musical 'Wicked', which is based on the book, the Witch fakes her death by escaping through a trapdoor. She leaves the lands of Oz for some unspecified location beyond and outside its borders, for a new life of happiness with her love interest, Prince Fiyero.
What are the names of all the actresses who have played Elphaba in 'Wicked'?
Broadway:
Idina Menzel (October 8, 2003 - January 9, 2005)
Shoshana Bean (January 11, 2005 - January 8, 2006)
Eden Espinosa (January 10, 2006 - October 8, 2006)
Ana Gasteyer (October 10, 2006 - January 7, 2007)
Julia Murney (January 9, 2007 - October 7, 2007)
Stephanie J. Block (October 9, 2007 - June 15, 2008)
Kerry Ellis (June 17, 2008 - November 9, 2008)
Marcie Dodd (November 11, 2008 - January 11, 2009)
Nicole Parker (January 16, 2009 - July 19, 2009)
Dee Roscioli (July 21, 2009 - Present)
1st National Tour:
Kristy Cates (March 9, 2005 - April 13, 2005)
Stephanie J. Block (April 15, 2005 - March 5, 2005)
Eden Espinosa (Temp. for Summer 2005)
Julia Murney (March 8, 2006 - September 3, 2006)
Shoshana Bean (September 6, 2006 - December 31, 2006)
Victoria Matlock (January 3, 2007 - November 3, 2007)
Carmen Cusack (November 6, 2007 - November 2, 2008)
Donna Vivino (November 4, 2008 - Present)
Chicago:
Ana Gasteyer (June 24, 2005 - January 22, 2006)
Kristy Cates (January 24, 2006 - December 10, 2006)
Dee Roscioli (December 12, 2006 - June 1, 2008)
Lisa Brescia (June 3, 2008 - August 24, 2008)
Dee Roscioli (August 26, 2008 - January 25, 2009)
London:
Idina Menzel (September 7, 2006 - December 30, 2006)
Kerry Ellis (January 1, 2007 - June 7, 2008)
Alexia Khadime (June 9, 2008 - November 29, 2008)
Kerry Ellis (December 1, 2008 - May 9, 2009)
Alexia Khadime (May 11, 2009 - March 27, 2010)
Rachel Tucker (as of March 29, 2010)
Los Angeles:
Eden Espinosa (February 2007 - December 30, 2007)
Caissie Levy (January 1, 2008 - May 11, 2008)
Teal Wicks (May 13, 2008 - October 30, 2008)
Eden Espinosa (October 31, 2008 - January 11, 2009)
Tokyo (appeared in random rotation):
Megumi Hamada
Higuchi Asami
Ebata Masae
Stuttgart:
Willemijn Verkaik (November 1, 2007 - January 6, 2010)
Roberta Valentini (January 7 - 29, 2010)
Melbourne:
Amanda Harrison (June 27, 2008 - May 29, 2009)
Jemma Rix (May 30, 2009 - August 1, 2009)
Amanda Harrison (August 2 - 9, 2009)
San Francisco:
Teal Wicks (January 27, 2009 - March 18, 2009)
Vicki Noon (March 21, 2009 - May 1, 2009)
Teal Wicks (May 2, 2009 - Present)
2nd National Tour:
Marcie Dodd (March 7, 2009 - Present)
Sydney:
Amanda Harrison (September 5, 2009 - October 25, 2009)
Jemma Rix (October 27, 2009 - December 17, 2009)
Jemma Rix and Pippa Grandison (December 18, 2009 - Present)
Are there any auditions for the musical 'Wicked'?
Bernard Telsey is in charge of casting. Another source of complete, correct, current information is webmaster Carol de Giere.
She may be contacted at carol@musicalschwartz.com. Please be sure to type 'Comment' or 'Question' on the subject line so that she knows that your message isn't spam. Also check the related link for info.
What are the salaries of the stars of 'Wicked'?
It is most difficult to come up with an estimate as to the royalties for the musical 'Wicked'. The musical still is being performed on Broadway, and through national tours of the United States of America and international tours. At this point, there still is no end in sight to the successful run of performances and the expansion of the tours to additional places and times.
There are currently 8 productions.
The actresses who play Glinda are:
Broadway - Katie Rose Clarke
1st U.S. Tour - Chandra Lee Schwartz
London - Dianne Pilkington
Stuttgart, Germany - Lucy Scherer
Sydney, Australia - Lucy Durack
San Francisco, U.S. - Kendra Kassebaum
2nd U.S. Tour - Helene Yorke
Osaka, Japan - Miyuki Numao
What part does the Wicked Witch of the West play in 'Wicked'?
Answer #1 If you mean the Broadway musical, it is about how Glinda and the Wicked Witch were friends back in school. It has very good songs. Answer #2 The book 'Wicked' and the play of the same name serve as a prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz'. For there's very little that we know about the Witch from either the original 1900 book edition or the beloved 1939 film version. For example, we know that she is the hated ruler of the Yellow Winkie Country of the West. We know that she wants the Slippers of the Wicked Witch of the East. And we know that the Wizard of Oz wants both witches dead. So the book and the play give ElphabaThropp, who is the Wicked Witch of the West, a chance to tell her side of the story. As a result, readers of the book and viewers of the play learn about the circumstances of her birth, education, family life, love interests, and passionate causes. There are differences between the book and the stage versions. The book is less sympathetic to Elphaba as sister to Nessarose, the Wicked Witch of the East and her father's favorite; and as the green-skinned outsider to 'decent' society. The play is more appealing, with its more sympathetic presentation and with its most appealing music score.
What tiome start the musical Wicked?
No specific time period is given in "Wicked."
Specifically, the musical is based upon the novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by author Gregory Maguire (b. June 9, 1954) and the American fairy tale "The Wizard of Oz" by Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919). No time period is mentioned in either one of these publications. But Maguire's novel is intended as a prequel to Baum's story, and the illustrations in Baum's book have a distinctly 19th-century flair to them.
