Wicked Becomes 20th Longest-Running Show in Broadway History Dec. 15

By Andrew Gans
15 Dec 2009

Erin Mackey as Glinda
Erin Mackey as Glinda
Photo by Joan Marcus

The hit Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical Wicked becomes the 20th longest-running show in Broadway history when it plays its 2,535th performance Dec. 15 at the Gershwin Theatre.

The Tony-winning Avenue Q previously held that position.

The musical currently stars Dee Roscioli as Elphaba, Erin Mackey as Glinda, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Kevin Kern as Fiyero, Alex Brightman as Boq, Michelle Federer as Nessarose and Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond.

Based on Gregory Maguire's novel, which turned every Oz myth inside out, Wicked explores the early life of the witches of Oz: Glinda and Elphaba. The two main characters meet at Shiz, a school where both hope to take up sorcery. Glinda is madly popular and Elphaba is, well, green. By a misunderstanding, they wind up roommates and, after an initial period of mutual loathing, begin to learn something about each other. Their life paths continue to intersect through a shared love, entry into the Emerald City and interaction with the Wizard himself. Eventually, their choices and convictions take them on widely different journeys.

Wicked features a score by Schwartz, a book by Holzman, direction by Joe Mantello and musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The creative team also includes 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.

For more information visit wickedthemusical.com.