ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked retold Oz from the Witch's perspective; composer Stephen Schwartz and book writer Winnie Holzman adapted it for Broadway with Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda.
What happened
Wicked opened on Broadway on October 30, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre after a San Francisco tryout, with flying monkeys, emerald city sets, and the act-one duet 'Popular'.
Why it still matters
Defying Gravity became an audition staple and TikTok sensation decades later; Wicked's twin narrative of friendship and propaganda outgrossed The Lion King in some seasons, with a 2024 film adaptation splitting Hollywood box office records.
Background
Defying Gravity became a audition staple.