Background of "Wicked"

About "Wicked"

Context

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• The music in Wicked was written by Stephen Schwartz. The musical was based on Elphaba, known to generations as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard Of Oz.
• Wicked's first performance was in San Francisco in 2003. After its success it moved to Broadway and then to the West End. ​​​​​​​
• The score of Wicked is heavily thematic, bearing, in some senses, more resemblance to a film score than a traditional musical score.
• The musical is filled with leitmotifs to represent characters and themes.

Synopsis

• 
• Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda, who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.
• Elphaba is feared by the Wizard of Oz, a corrupt dictator, for her magical powers and iconic green skin. He turns the people of Oz against her, forcing her into hiding, only to eventually be revealed by Dorothy.

Songs in "Wicked":

• Act One:
• No One Mourns the Wicked
• Dear Old Shiz
• The Wizard and I
• What is this Feeling?
• Something Bad
• Dancing Through Life
• Popular
• I'm Not That Girl
• One Short Day
• A Sentimental Man
• Defying Gravity
• Act Two:
• Thank Goodness
• Wonderful
• I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)
• As Long As You're Mine
• No Good Deed
• March of the Witch Hunters
• For Good
• Finale