The leaves are changing colors, and temperatures are dropping. An incredibly important landmark on the road to winter, though, is Halloween, when monsters and vampires and witches are in style. Speaking of witches, two of New York’s most famous ones reside in the heart of the Theater District, in the Gershwin Theatre, on 51st Street between Eighth Avenue and Broadway.
A worldwide musical theater phenomenon, Wicked is the story of what happened before Dorothy dropped in and found herself the unwilling thief of the Wicked Witch’s ruby slippers. Wicked is now celebrating 16 years on Broadway, having opened on Oct. 30, 2003. For its 15th anniversary last year, the production marked the occasion with an hour-long TV special that featured the past and present stars of Wicked, as well as pop stars, including Ariana Grande and Adam Lambert, performing popular tunes from the show.
Read on to learn why snagging tickets to Wicked should be at the top of your to-do list this season!
It’s fun for the whole family
Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t love The Wizard of Oz? Sure, the Winkie Guards or the Flying Monkeys or even the Wicked Witch’s cackle might be frightening at a young age, but ultimately, the classic 1939 film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s novel is a pure delight, to say the absolute least. In the same way, Wicked is family-friendly, with recognizable characters, plot elements, and themes that will resonate with people of all ages.
The special effects remain cutting-edge
Perhaps one of the most brilliant technical feats of modern musical theater is how Elphaba really does defy gravity during her show-stopping number at the end of Act One. And during a time of year that’s all about spells, tricks and magic, why not experience the undeniable magic of Broadway? See Elphaba fly into the air, carrying her signature broom, and marvel as she is melted at the hands of Dorothy at the end of the show. Watch Glinda descend from the sky in her signature bubble, before giggling at her attempt to turn Elphaba’s simple frock into a beautiful ball gown to make her more “popular.” Find out how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man came to be, as their transformations from their former forms play out onstage.
Stellar Halloween costume inspiration
Although they were already iconic characters in the American literary and film traditions, over the past sixteen years, Wicked has skyrocketed Elphaba and Glinda to fame in a way probably never imaginable for Gregory Maguire, author of WICKED: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the book that inspired the story-line for Wicked. Costume designer Susan Hilferty won a Tony Award for crafting Wicked’s glittering ensembles, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to replicate one of her iconic looks this Halloween. You can choose to sport Elphie’s classic Wicked Witch look, which she dons for “Defying Gravity,” or the shimmering blue bubble dress that Glinda wears. Alternatively, if you’re feeling ambitious and want to impress Wicked superfans, you can create your own version of what the magical duo wears when they are impressionable college students at Shiz University.
A soaring score
No Broadway musical, of course, is complete without dazzling show tunes, and Wicked more than delivers in this department. The eclectic score by six-time Tony Nominee Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin) hits every emotional note in the story while effortlessly spanning musical styles ranging from vaudeville to pop rock. You’ll want to bop along to Glinda’s perky paean “Popular,” bust a move during the buoyant “Dancing Through Life” and – dare we say it – defy gravity with Elphaba during her soaring signature song. Another musical element that truly elevates the score is the subtle way it pays tribute to the sonic lushness of the golden age of movie musicals that culminated in the iconic The Wizard of Oz film, with the help of a 23-piece orchestra and arrangement contributions from film composer Herbert Stothart.
The timeless message of change “For Good”
The Halloween season would be nothing without a healthy dose of witches, and Elphaba and Glinda deliver everything we could ever hope for and more in this realm. But what really sets this dynamic duo apart from other famous sorceresses is what their story teaches us about the power of friendship. Although they are theoretically all-powerful, they come from incredibly different backgrounds, and are forced into leading different lives that are based mostly on others’ perceptions of them. Against all odds, though, they find best friendship in each other. Although Wicked is, without a doubt, an unforgettable spectacle set in a world of witches, its message – that friendship triumphs over all – is the show’s real magic.
Ready to take a journey to the land of Oz? Score great deals on tickets to see Wicked on Broadway with TicketsatWork today!
By Mikey Miller
TicketsatWork Blog 