Rejoicify! Wicked Celebrates 20 Years on Broadway October 30 | Playbill

Broadway News Rejoicify! Wicked Celebrates 20 Years on Broadway October 30

The international hit Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical officially opened on Broadway on this date in 2003.

McKenzie Kurtz and Alyssa Fox in Wicked Joan Marcus

The international hit musical Wickedwhich became the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history this past April, celebrates another milestone October 30: 20 years at the Gershwin Theatre. (Click here for a list of Broadway's longest-running shows.)

Following a weekend of anniversary celebrations that included a performance on ABC's Good Morning America, a Wicked Day Block Party outside the Gershwin, and special “Pink” and “Green” performances that boasted either a Pink Performance Wicked Day Playbill or a Green Performance Wicked Day, the Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical offers a 20th anniversary performance for Wicked alums and fans at 6:30 PM at the Gershwin. To mark the occasion, the Empire State Building is being lit in green.

READ: All the Women Who Have Played Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway

The 20th anniversary festivities are scheduled to conclude October 31 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts with a free panel discussion about the creation of the global blockbuster. Panelists will include Wicked composer-lyricist Schwartz, librettist Holzman, and producer David Stone.

Photos: 9 Wicked Secrets of the Gershwin Theatre

Wicked is the winner of over 100 international awards and has been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world. The musical has been translated into six languages, been seen by nearly 65 million people worldwide, and has amassed over $5 billion in global sales. The musical is currently in its 17th year in London, and a U.K. tour will re-launch in Edinburgh this December.

Watch 4 Elphabas Sing 'Defying Gravity' and 4 Glindas Perform 'Popular' From Wicked

Wicked's Broadway cast currently features Alyssa Fox as Elphaba, McKenzie Kurtz as Glinda, John Dossett as The Wizard, Michele Pawk as Madame Morrible, Jordan Litz as Fiyero, Jake Pedersen as Boq, Kimber Elayne Sprawl as Nessarose, and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond.

READ: Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz Starred in Frozen Together, Now They've Reunited in Wicked

Wicked began previews on Broadway October 8, 2003, with an official opening October 30. The original cast included Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as, respectively, the green-faced, misunderstood Elphaba and the curly-locked Glinda.

READ: 11 Elphabas Reflect on Playing Broadway's Not-So-Wicked Witch

Wicked, with music and lyrics by Schwartz and a book by Holzman, is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.

The Joe Mantello-helmed production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. Casting is by the Telsey Office.

Photos: Broadway's Wicked Celebrates 20th Anniversary at the Plaza

Wicked won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Lee).

The musical, which reopened on Broadway September 14, 2021, following the pandemic shutdown, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.

Check Out Production Photos of the 20th Anniversary Cast of Wicked

 
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!