Wicked’s success came 15 years ago in the year 2003, thrilling theater-goers with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a story based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The novel was a creative interpretation of the classic Frank L.Baum tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. And of course, who could forget the musical inspired by Baum’s novel, 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. With such a solid foundation for a springboard, it’s no wonder that Wicked, the prequel to the original Oz story, was hugely successful and continues to be so.
The ‘Wicked’ 15th Anniversary Special on NBC: ‘Wicked’ the Musical Is Still Going Strong
If it wasn’t obvious enough that Wicked is still an impactful Broadway musical, the Halloween special on NBC is a telling indication. The special premieres on Monday, October 29 at 10 p.m. Don’t miss A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years of Wicked if you’d like to join in the anniversary celebration. Who will host the special? The two original stars of the Broadway hit, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Can it get any better? The show will also be host to performances by Chenoweth, Menzel, and other stars.
What Do Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel Have to Say About ‘Wicked’ 15 Years Later?
The two Broadway actresses are not at all surprised at Wicked’s success, even after so much time has passed. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel sat down for an interview with E! News recently to discuss the success of Wicked. “The themes are love and friendship and forgiveness and that’s what we look for in life,” Chenoweth said of the musical. “Sometimes it’s hardest to have forgiveness and love and all those themes with people you love the most, and I think that’s what Wicked does so well.”
Menzel gave her own thoughts on Wicked, stating, “It’s always been a powerful piece about two female characters at the center, at the heart of it, which was always really great and unique to begin with, which is even more relevant today. Even more important.”
Read the original article from E! News
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15 Years Later and ‘Wicked’ the Musical Is Still Going Strong. Featured Photo Credit: NBC
