The 2003 Broadway musical about the witches of Oz before Dorothy arrived, becoming one of the most commercially successful shows in history with “Defying Gravity” as its anthem of female empowerment and choosing yourself over conformity.
The Untold Story
“Wicked” opened October 30, 2003, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel reimagining “The Wizard of Oz” from the Wicked Witch’s perspective. Idina Menzel’s Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth’s Glinda became iconic performances, with their female friendship at the show’s emotional core.
“Defying Gravity” - Elphaba’s act-one climax where she rejects society’s expectations and literally flies away - became Broadway’s most famous power ballad since “Phantom.” The song’s themes of marginalization, refusing to conform, and choosing authenticity resonated with LGBTQ+ audiences, making “Wicked” a queer cultural touchstone despite not explicitly featuring queer characters (though Elphie/Glinda subtext inspired extensive fanfiction).
The show earned mixed reviews at opening but became a commercial juggernaut, grossing over $1.6 billion on Broadway by 2023. Its audience was predominantly young women and girls - rare for Broadway - who saw the show dozens of times.
“Wicked” pioneered the “Wicked witch” Broadway formula: take a villain, explain their backstory, reveal systemic injustice made them who they are. This narrative became template for “Maleficent,” “Cruella,” and villain rehabilitation culture.
The long-awaited 2024 film adaptation re-ignited the hashtag with a new generation.
Source
https://www.wickedthemusical.com/ https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/31/movies/theater-review-there-s-trouble-in-emerald-city.html