Broadways biggest blockbuster WICKED is coming, are you excited?

Wicked is set to arrive in Australia this year, in spectacular fashion. Wicked is a highly popular musical that has been performed around the world and has a dedicated fan base. It’s popularity continues to grow for many reasons. One of the main reasons is its story, which is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, and explores the backstory of the witches of Oz, specifically the friendship and rivalry between the two main characters, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North). The show delves into themes of friendship, acceptance, and the true meaning of good and evil, which resonates with audiences of all ages.

Another reason for its popularity is the music. The score, written by Stephen Schwartz, is widely acclaimed and features memorable and catchy songs such as “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” which have become popular among musical theater fans. The music is well-written and the lyrics are clever and have a lot of depth to them.

Additionally, the performances in Wicked have been widely praised by audiences and critics alike. The lead roles of Elphaba and Glinda are challenging and demanding, and the actors who have played these roles have been widely acclaimed for their performances.

The production value of the show is also a factor in its popularity, with elaborate sets and costumes that help to transport audiences to the magical land of Oz.

Finally, the show’s message of friendship and acceptance is universal and has a broad appeal. It’s a story about two unlikely friends who come from different backgrounds and how they help each other to see the world in a different way. The show teaches us about the importance of acceptance and understanding, which is something that people can relate to on a personal level, regardless of their age or background.

All these elements combined make Wicked a highly popular and critically acclaimed musical that continues to draw in audiences around the world.

However, there is growing sentiment that Australian audiences want something new….

With a show that has been running for over a decade, it’s not uncommon for some audience members to feel that they’ve seen it too many times and may prefer to see something new. Additionally, the continued popularity of the show may have led to a sense of over saturation, with many people feeling that they’ve heard too much about the show and don’t feel the need to see it again. Additionally some critics argue that many recent productions have lacked creativity and have been too focused on nostalgia and revivals rather than new and innovative shows.

However, it’s worth noting that Broadway has a long history of cycles of popularity and there are many factors that influence audience’s interest in musicals.

What are your thoughts. Are you excited to see Wicked in 2023?

Vote and leave a comment in the comments section below.

Are you excited to see the 2023 Australian production of Wicked?

 

Sarah Johnson

Sarah is a British born Communication and Media Graduate from the University of Leeds. Sarah has written for a number of publications and has an avid interest in theatre and the arts in general.

Sarah Johnson

4 thoughts on “Broadways biggest blockbuster WICKED is coming, are you excited?

  • I’ve never actually seen this show! so im really excited 🙂

    Reply
  • I’ve seen it three times in Aus and once on Broadway, so excited to see it a few more times in Sydney!

    Reply
  • Australia is the only place in the entire world that has access to community licensing of Wicked. All the major companies have had a shot at it in the past 5 years, especially in Sydney. Why is this coming back? Money. That’s the sole reason. If there was any creative integrity, then we would get one of the hundreds of original, successful shows that the states get. Instead, we will once get a watered down touring version of the Broadway production with a reduced orchestra (no strings for example) and still be forced to pay big ticket prices. This production is unnecessary, especially after we had 2010 and 2015-16 professional seasons. Give something else a turn

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *