Wicked
One of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters is landing in Wellington for the very first time in 2023
The producers of the smash-hit season of Les Misérables are excited to announce that one of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters ever, Wicked – the untold true story of the witches of Oz, is landing its New Zealand premiere season at Wellington's St James Theatre in 2023.
Wicked tells the story of what happened in the Land of Oz but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is intelligent, fiery, misunderstood, and possesses an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships – until the world decides to call one “good”, and the other one “wicked”.
With a thrilling score that includes the hits "Defying Gravity", "Popular", and "For Good", Wicked has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade” and Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.”
After a fabulous season of Les Misérables, we are thrilled to be bringing Wicked to the St James. We look forward to celebrating the magic of the 'other Oz' story with you all
Capital Theatre Trust chairperson Sandy Brewer
Capital Theatre Trust and G&T Productions are excited to produce the Wellington premiere of the beloved musical. Celebrating its 20th year in 2023, Wicked is the winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. Wicked has been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world, and has so far been translated into six languages. Having broken box office records around the world, the show has been seen by 60 million people worldwide.
Featuring a spectacular set and costumes, the Wellington production will be directed by Grant Meese, who helmed the sold-out seasons of Les Misérables in Auckland in 2019 and Wellington in 2022. Grant says he is delighted to be able to bring such an iconic musical to the capital: “You have waited such a long time to see this production. The story is full of heart and filled with magic. I know you will love it.”
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, in turn, based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adaptation starring Judy Garland.