196 Fun Facts About Wicked

Which box-office record did Wicked (2024) break in its debut weekend?

Wicked's November 2024 debut was the largest opening for a film based on a Broadway musical, more than tripling Into the Woods' $31 million record from 2014.

Who designed the original scenic/set design for the Broadway production of Wicked?

Eugene Lee designed the scenic design for the original Broadway production and won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design. His steampunk-inspired set, featuring a giant mechanical dragon above the stage and a massive map of Oz, became iconic.

In what month and year did the London West End production of Wicked open?

The West End production opened on September 27, 2006, three years after Broadway, with the original Broadway Elphaba reprising her role for the London launch.

What is the title of the 2005 second book in The Wicked Years novel series?

The 2005 sequel follows Liir, Elphaba's son, and is dedicated to the cast of the Broadway musical. The series continued with A Lion Among Men (2008) and Out of Oz (2011).

In what city did Wicked have its pre-Broadway tryout run before opening on Broadway?

Wicked's pre-Broadway tryout ran in San Francisco from May 28 to June 29, 2003, before the show opened on Broadway that October after heavy retooling that replaced several songs.

Which song from the 1972 musical Pippin was written by the composer who later wrote Wicked?

Pippin sings 'Corner of the Sky' while searching for his purpose in life. Its composer had already written Godspell and later wrote songs for Disney's Pocahontas and Enchanted before Wicked.

In the original novel, Elphaba's mother Melena is married to which traveling minister?

Frexspar the Godly raises Elphaba as his own, though her mother's affair means her true parentage is one of the story's central secrets. He dotes on Nessarose instead.

In which city did the German-language Wicked: Die Hexen von Oz open in November 2007?

The Stuttgart staging at the Palladium Theater later moved to Oberhausen, and a new German production opened at Hamburg's Neue Flora in 2021.

What is the Grimmerie in Wicked?

The Grimmerie is a spell book written in a language the people of Oz cannot read; Elphaba's ability to read it is what draws the Wizard's attention to her.

Who originally played Madame Morrible on Broadway in the first cast of Wicked?

Carole Shelley originated the role of Madame Morrible on Broadway. The British-American actress portrayed the manipulative headmistress and press secretary with a blend of charm and menace.

Which solo does Elphaba sing after Madame Morrible agrees to tutor her privately in sorcery?

'The Wizard and I' is Elphaba's first big Act One solo, sung right after Madame Morrible promises to tutor her; she dreams the Wizard will make her accepted and special.

Who plays Madame Morrible in the 2024 Wicked movie?

Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible in the 2024 Wicked film. The Oscar-winning actress (Everything Everywhere All at Once) brought gravitas and menace to the role of the manipulative headmistress.

The 2024 Wicked movie covers roughly which portion of the stage musical?

The 2024 film covers only the first act, ending with the Act One finale, and the story concludes in a second film released in November 2025.

Who designed the original Broadway costumes for Wicked, including Elphaba's iconic black dress and hat?

Susan Hilferty designed the costumes for the original Broadway production and won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. Her designs, including Elphaba's ragged black dress and pointed hat, became iconic images of the show.

Who directed the original Broadway production of Wicked?

Joe Mantello directed the original Broadway production, and his staging of the Act One finale has been replicated in productions worldwide.

Which commercially available makeup product colors Elphaba's skin in the Broadway production?

Elphaba's green skin on Broadway is MAC Chromacake in the shade Landscape Green, a water-activated cake makeup applied fresh before every performance.

Which number opens the musical, with the citizens of Oz celebrating the death of a witch?

'No One Mourns the Wicked' opens the show with Ozians celebrating the Witch's death; Glinda arrives mid-celebration and launches the flashback that makes up the rest of the show.

In which year was the novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' first published?

The novel was first published in 1995 by ReganBooks, a HarperCollins imprint, and is far darker and more political than the musical it inspired.

Who choreographed the original Broadway production of Wicked?

Wayne Cilento choreographed the original Broadway production of Wicked. His choreography blended contemporary dance with theatrical storytelling, particularly in numbers like "Dancing Through Life" and "One Short Day."

Which actress was the first to take over the role of Elphaba on Broadway from the original star?

Shoshana Bean, already the standby, went on when the original Elphaba cracked a rib falling through a trap door on January 8, 2005, and took the role full-time three days later.

Who plays the Wizard in the 2024 Wicked movie?

Jeff Goldblum entered final talks for the Wizard in October 2022, joining a supporting cast that also includes Peter Dinklage and Bowen Yang.

In the Wicked musical, which character does Boq eventually become?

Boq, a Munchkin student hopelessly in love with Glinda, ends up as the Tin Man: after Nessarose's botched spell, Elphaba has no way to save his life except by turning him to tin.

What song does Elphaba sing when she decides to embrace being labeled wicked and fight back?

"No Good Deed" is Elphaba's furious Act Two solo where she decides that trying to do good only causes suffering, so she might as well embrace the "wicked" label. It's one of the most vocally demanding songs in the show.

Who wrote the book (script) for the Wicked musical?

Winnie Holzman wrote the musical's book, adapting the 1995 novel for the stage, and later co-wrote the screenplays for the two-part film adaptation.

In Wicked, what does the Wizard use to maintain power over Oz?

The Wizard has no real magical powers. He maintains control through fear, propaganda, and deception — including spreading lies about Animals being dangerous and branding Elphaba as "wicked" to keep the citizens compliant.

Which ballad does Elphaba sing after freeing the lion cub, lamenting Fiyero's choice?

'I'm Not That Girl' is Elphaba's quiet Act One ballad after she and Fiyero free the lion cub; Glinda later sings a reprise when Fiyero leaves her for Elphaba.

What happens to Fiyero at the end of Wicked?

Elphaba's spell to save Fiyero from the Wizard's guards turns him into the Scarecrow, and the pair leave Oz together after she fakes her own melting.

From ten nominations at the 2004 Tony Awards, how many did Wicked win?

From ten nominations, Wicked won Best Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design, but lost Best Musical in one of the ceremony's famous upsets.

Which musical famously beat Wicked for Best Musical at the 2004 Tony Awards?

Avenue Q won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical over Wicked in one of the biggest upsets in Tony history. Despite Wicked's massive commercial success, the intimate puppet comedy won the top prize.

Who plays Fiyero in the 2024 Wicked movie?

Jonathan Bailey, known as Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's Bridgerton, was cast as Fiyero in late 2022; he had earlier won a 2019 Olivier Award for Company.

What is the name of the school that Elphaba and Glinda attend in Wicked?

Elphaba and Glinda meet as reluctant roommates at Shiz University, a prestigious institution in the Land of Oz. Their initial rivalry at the school eventually transforms into an unlikely friendship.

Who directed the 2024 Wicked movie?

Chu, who had made Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, was hired after a long delay; Erivo and Grande were cast in 2021 for the 2024 release.

Who wrote the novel that the musical Wicked is based on?

Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West reimagined Oz from the Wicked Witch's point of view and opened his four-book Wicked Years series.

What is the duet that Elphaba and Glinda sing about their mutual dislike when they first meet?

'What Is This Feeling?' is the comic duet in which the new roommates discover their instant, mutual 'loathing', with the student body chiming in.

Who wrote the music and lyrics for the Wicked musical?

Stephen Schwartz wrote both the music and lyrics for Wicked. Schwartz was already known for composing Godspell and Pippin, as well as writing songs for Disney films like Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

What position does Fiyero hold at the start of Act Two of the musical?

Fiyero uses his post as Captain of the Wizard's Guard to search for Elphaba, and is engaged to Glinda without quite meaning to be. He later helps Elphaba escape and leaves with her.

At which Broadway theatre did the original production of Wicked open?

Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003 and has played its entire Broadway run there; with about 1,900 seats the Gershwin is Broadway's largest house.

Which Wicked duet, with the lyric 'Because I knew you, I have been changed', is Elphaba and Glinda's tearful final farewell?

The line everyone quotes finishes 'changed for good': For Good is the duet where Elphaba and Glinda embrace for the last time, each admitting the other changed her.

What is Elphaba's relationship to Nessarose in Wicked?

Nessarose is Elphaba's younger sister and their father's favorite. She later becomes governor of Munchkinland and, in the wider Oz story, the witch crushed by Dorothy's house.

Which character in Wicked is a talking goat professor who loses his ability to speak?

Dr. Dillamond is the school's last Animal professor and teaches history. His dismissal, and later his caged, speechless state, are what turn Elphaba against the Wizard.

What year did Wicked first open on Broadway?

Wicked opened on Broadway on October 30, 2003 to mixed reviews, five months after its San Francisco tryout, and went on to become one of Broadway's longest-running shows.

Who plays Elphaba in the 2024 Wicked movie?

Every note was sung live on set: Cynthia Erivo, cast in November 2021, plays Elphaba in both Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025).

Who plays Glinda in the 2024 Wicked movie?

She auditioned like everyone else: Ariana Grande plays Glinda in Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025), credited under her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera.

In which song does Glinda try to make Elphaba more socially acceptable?

In "Popular," Glinda takes it upon herself to give Elphaba a makeover, teaching her social skills and beauty tips in one of the musical's most comedic and beloved numbers.

Who played the Wizard in the original Broadway cast of Wicked?

Joel Grey, the Cabaret Oscar winner, originated the Wizard on Broadway in October 2003; George Hearn and Ben Vereen were among his later replacements.

Which famous song from Wicked features Elphaba flying on a broomstick at the end of Act One?

"Defying Gravity" is the iconic Act One finale where Elphaba rises above the stage on a broomstick, declaring her independence from the Wizard. It is widely considered one of the most powerful moments in modern musical theatre.

Who originally played Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked?

Idina Menzel won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as Elphaba, then reprised the role for the London opening.

Who originally played Glinda on Broadway in Wicked?

The part was written with her in mind, yet the Tony went to her co-star: Kristin Chenoweth originated Glinda and lost the 2004 Best Actress award to Idina Menzel.

Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, retells the backstory of the witches from which classic 1900 children's story?

Wicked begins before Dorothy ever arrives, reimagining the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz by way of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel.

In Wicked, what is Glinda's original name before she changes it?

Dr. Dillamond could never say it right, so on the way to the Emerald City Galinda drops the 'Ga' and becomes Glinda in his honor.

What is the full subtitle of the stage musical Wicked?

'Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz' is the stage show's full billing; the novel's own subtitle is the much longer 'The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'.

Who originated the role of Fiyero in the original Broadway cast of Wicked?

Butz played Fiyero on Broadway; the role in the London original went to Adam Garcia.

How many Drama Desk Awards did the original Broadway production of Wicked win?

The show's seven Drama Desk wins outnumbered its three Tonys, and its cast album added a Grammy.

In which year did Wicked pass $1 billion in total Broadway revenue?

Wicked crossed $1 billion in Broadway grosses in March 2016, becoming only the third show to do so after The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King.

Which show did Wicked overtake in 2017 to become Broadway's second-highest-grossing musical?

Wicked's cumulative Broadway gross passed The Phantom of the Opera's in 2017, leaving only The Lion King ahead of it at the time.

What Broadway record did the production set in the final days of 2024?

The film's release fueled a record week on Broadway, the first ever to top $5 million for a single show.

In what year did Stephen Schwartz persuade Gregory Maguire to release stage rights to Wicked?

Schwartz learned of the novel in 1996 and by 1998 had persuaded Maguire, who had already sold the film rights to Universal, and producer Marc Platt to back a stage version.

Who read the role of Elphaba in Wicked's developmental workshops before Idina Menzel was cast?

Block later led the first national tour and eventually played Elphaba on Broadway as a replacement.

Whose original Oz book illustrations inspired Eugene Lee's set design for Wicked?

Denslow illustrated Baum's 1900 novel; Lee also used Maguire's idea of the story told through a giant clock.

How did costume designer Susan Hilferty describe the style of Wicked's 200-plus costumes?

Hilferty called her look 'twisted Edwardian': period silhouettes skewed with asymmetry and odd proportions, across more than 200 costumes for the original production.

Which song replaced Fiyero's original introduction number 'Which Way is the Party?' after the tryout?

'Dancing Through Life' replaced 'Which Way's the Party?' as Fiyero's entrance number during the rewrites that followed the San Francisco tryout.

What is the name of the Wizard's new press secretary announced in the Emerald City scene of Wicked?

Morrible's move from Shiz headmistress to the Wizard's spin doctor sets up her villainy in Act Two.

What does Nessarose accidentally do to Boq while trying to cast a love spell in Wicked?

Elphaba can only save Boq by making him a tin man who no longer needs a heart to live.

At which castle does Elphaba hide and cast the spell to save Fiyero in Wicked?

Kiamo Ko is the Vinkus stronghold where the musical's climax with Dorothy and the bucket of water plays out.

What object left after Elphaba 'melts' lets Glinda deduce the Wizard is Elphaba's father?

The Wizard recognizes the elixir as his own, revealing he had the affair with Elphaba's mother.

Which Golden Girls star was a Broadway replacement Morrible in Wicked?

McClanahan is one of a long line of Morribles that also includes Carol Kane, Miriam Margolyes and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Which recurring melodic phrase in Wicked hides the first seven notes of 'Over the Rainbow'?

The 'Unlimited' theme, heard in 'The Wizard and I' and 'Defying Gravity', opens with the first seven notes of 'Over the Rainbow'; Schwartz disguised them with a new rhythm and harmony.

From which earlier project did Schwartz borrow the chord progression that became Elphaba's theme?

Schwartz first wrote the progression in 1971 while musical director of the rock opera The Survival of St. Joan, and finally found a home for it in Wicked.

Which key is 'Defying Gravity' primarily written in?

'Defying Gravity' is published in D-flat major, the key of its soaring 'It's time to try defying gravity' refrain.

On what date was the original Broadway cast recording of Wicked released?

Decca Broadway released the original cast recording on December 16, 2003, seven weeks after the October 30 opening; it omits a few stage numbers and two reprises.

Which stage number was left off the original 2003 Broadway cast recording?

'The Wicked Witch of the East', Nessarose and Elphaba's dialogue-heavy Act Two number, was left off the 2003 album and was finally recorded for the Wicked: For Good soundtrack.

Which Grammy category did the Wicked original cast recording win in 2005?

The original cast album won Best Musical Show Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards; it was certified platinum in 2006 and later double platinum.

Which cut song, later replaced by 'The Wizard and I', appears on the fifth-anniversary Wicked album?

Stephanie J. Block sang the demo with Schwartz at the piano for the 2008 bonus disc.

Which Queen guitarist played on Kerry Ellis's 'I'm Not That Girl' for the anniversary album?

May championed Ellis's solo career after she became the first British actress to play Elphaba.

Which country's cast album was the first non-replica Wicked production to get a recording?

The Polish production at Warsaw's ROMA theatre opened in April 2025 with Schwartz and Holzman in the audience.

Who played the Wizard in Wicked's San Francisco tryout before Joel Grey took over on Broadway?

Morse, of How to Succeed fame, was replaced by Grey when the show moved east.

Which actress reopened Wicked on Broadway as Elphaba in September 2021 after the COVID shutdown?

Lindsay Pearce, a Glee alum, reopened the show as Elphaba on September 14, 2021, with Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda and the original Elphaba and Glinda speaking before the curtain.

In which city did Wicked's first North American tour open in 2005?

The first national tour, nicknamed the 'Emerald City Tour', opened in Toronto in March 2005 and ran for about a decade.

What was the second North American touring production, launched in 2009, nicknamed?

The Munchkinland Tour, the second national tour, opened in Fort Myers, Florida, in March 2009, running alongside the older Emerald City Tour.

Which Saturday Night Live alum played Elphaba in Wicked's Chicago sit-down production in 2005?

Gasteyer led the Chicago cast that opened at the Oriental Theatre and later played Elphaba on Broadway too.

Who played Glinda opposite Idina Menzel in the original London production of Wicked?

Helen Dallimore, an Australian actress, was London's first Glinda; the 2006 original also featured Nigel Planer as the Wizard and Miriam Margolyes as Morrible.

Which Mexican pop star became the youngest ever Elphaba at 18 in the 2013 Spanish-language Wicked?

Danna Paola was 18 when the Mexico City production opened in October 2013, making her the youngest Elphaba; she later dubbed Elphaba in Latin American Spanish for the 2024 film.

Who was the first actress to play Elphaba in two different languages?

Verkaik played the role in German in Stuttgart and then in Dutch in The Hague, before Broadway and the West End.

Which Australian TV legend took over as the Wizard after Rob Guest died during the Melbourne run?

Guest died of a stroke months into the 2008 season; Newton stepped into the role.

Which theme park hosted a condensed 30-minute Wicked from 2006 to 2011?

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka staged a 30-minute English-language Wicked from 2006 to 2011, condensing Act One and dropping most of the supporting characters.

Where did the world's first performance of Wicked after the COVID-19 shutdown take place in 2021?

The Korean-language production opened at Seoul's Blue Square in February 2021, seven months before Broadway and the West End returned in September.

In the 2025 Austrian production of Wicked, what was the character Boq renamed?

The Baden staging also renamed Madame Morrible as 'Madame Akaber'.

Which Middle Eastern city hosted Wicked's first-ever performance in that region in December 2025?

The remounted Brazilian production toured on to Bahrain, Dubai and Mumbai, marking Wicked's first visits to the Middle East and India.

How many Tony Award nominations did the original Broadway production of Wicked receive?

Wicked earned ten 2004 Tony nominations, including both Menzel and Chenoweth for Best Actress in a Musical, which Menzel won.

Which magazine named Wicked the Best Musical of the Decade?

Entertainment Weekly named Wicked the best musical of the 2000s in its end-of-decade rankings published in 2009.

How much did the original Broadway production of Wicked cost to capitalize?

Wicked was capitalized at $14 million and recouped that investment by December 2004, little more than a year after opening.

Which musical's record did Wicked break in January 2006 for Broadway's highest weekly gross?

Wicked's $1.61 million week ending January 1, 2006 beat the record set by Mel Brooks's The Producers; it went on to break its own mark repeatedly.

Which long-running show did Wicked pass in April 2023 to become Broadway's fourth-longest run?

Wicked passed Cats' 7,485 performances in April 2023, its 20th anniversary year, leaving only The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and The Lion King ahead of it.

What is the name of the backstage tour created by original cast member Sean McCourt?

Behind the Emerald Curtain, devised by original cast members Sean McCourt and Anthony Galde, is a 90-minute backstage tour of props, masks and costumes that ends with a cast Q&A.

Which character sings 'Wonderful' to win Elphaba over in Act Two?

'Wonderful' is the Wizard's Act Two soft-shoe pitch to Elphaba, in which he argues that he became 'wonderful' simply because the people of Oz wanted him to be.

Which network aired the 15th-anniversary special A Very Wicked Halloween in 2018?

NBC aired A Very Wicked Halloween on October 29, 2018; taped at the Marquis Theatre, it was hosted by Menzel and Chenoweth and featured a future film Glinda, Ariana Grande.

Which broadcaster carried the 2021 special Wicked in Concert featuring Cynthia Erivo?

Wicked in Concert aired on PBS as a Great Performances special in August 2021, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande hosting three years before they starred in the film.

Which Disney villain gets the Wicked treatment in the StarKid parody musical Twisted?

Twisted premiered in Chicago in 2013 and retells Aladdin from the villain's point of view.

Which director was attached to the Wicked film before Jon M. Chu took over in 2021?

Daldry left in 2020 over scheduling conflicts after years of delays.

Wicked (2024) was the first musical to win Best Film from the National Board of Review since which film?

Wicked was named Best Film of 2024 by the National Board of Review; the last musical to take that prize had been Moulin Rouge! in 2001.

Which two Academy Awards did Wicked (2024) win?

Wicked won Production Design and Costume Design at the 97th Academy Awards in March 2025; costume designer Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win his category.

In which Glee episode do Rachel and Kurt compete by singing 'Defying Gravity'?

The plot came from Chris Colfer's real high school, where he was denied the song because it was seen as a female solo.

Which Disney song, sung by Idina Menzel, has often been compared to 'Defying Gravity'?

The Frozen anthem shares a belting climax and defiant theme with Elphaba's Act One closer.

Who co-wrote the Wicked (2024) screenplay with Winnie Holzman?

Dana Fox, whose credits include Cruella and The Lost City, shares the screenplay credit with Winnie Holzman on both Wicked films.

Who voiced Dr. Dillamond in the 2024 Wicked film?

Peter Dinklage voices Dr. Dillamond, the Goat history professor, a voice role for the computer-animated character in both Wicked films.

Who plays Boq in the 2024 Wicked film?

Slater, a Tony nominee for SpongeBob SquarePants, met Ariana Grande on the Wicked set.

Which character does SNL's Bowen Yang play in the Wicked films?

Pfannee was female in the novel and stage show but was made male for the films.

Who plays Nessarose in the Wicked films?

Bode, a wheelchair user making her feature debut, praised how accessible the set was.

How many times did Ariana Grande audition for the role of Glinda?

Grande first read for Elphaba by mistake and spent months retraining her voice for Glinda's soprano lines.

Which Act Two opener has the Ozians celebrating Glinda's engagement to Fiyero?

'Thank Goodness' opens Act Two with Ozians celebrating Glinda's engagement to Fiyero, while Glinda sings the conflicted 'I couldn't be happier' refrain.

Which two pop stars were reportedly considered for Elphaba and Fiyero by the film's first director?

The Daldry version never got made; Chu's casting of Erivo and Bailey came years later.

Which pop star, along with his brother Joe, was among those Bailey beat for Fiyero?

Reports named Cooper Koch, Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas among the contenders for the role.

Where were the Wicked films primarily shot?

Both films were shot back to back at Sky Studios Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, starting in December 2022, with a pause for the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

How many real tulips were planted around the Munchkinland set for the Wicked films?

The production planted nine million real tulips for the Munchkinland set, part of Chu's push for huge practical sets rather than green screens.

Which 1998 films did Jon M. Chu cite as thematic influences on how the Wicked films portray Oz?

Chu said both films informed the idea of a generation waking up to truths they were taught differently.

Which visual effects houses handled the 2,200 effects shots in Wicked (2024)?

Industrial Light & Magic, under supervisor Pablo Helman, and Framestore delivered the film's roughly 2,200 visual effects shots.

How large was the orchestra used for the Wicked (2024) soundtrack, up from 23 stage musicians?

Jeff Atmajian expanded William David Brohn's original orchestrations for the London Symphony Orchestra sessions.

Who composed the Wicked (2024) film score alongside Stephen Schwartz?

John Powell, the How to Train Your Dragon composer, wrote the film's score with Stephen Schwartz, weaving Schwartz's stage melodies into new orchestral cues.

Whose castle interior inspired the Wizard's palace in the 2024 Wicked film?

Production designer Nathan Crowley drew on the expressionist Berlin theatre for the Wizard's lair.

Whose classical piece inspired the score extension after Elphaba's battle cry in the film?

The nod to Also sprach Zarathustra, famous from 2001: A Space Odyssey, closes the first film.

Which new headmistress character was created for the Wicked film, taking Morrible's old role?

With Coddle as headmistress, Morrible became Shiz's Dean of Sorcery in the film.

What is the name of Elphaba's childhood nanny introduced in the Wicked films?

Dulcibear, a Bear voiced by Sharon D. Clarke, is the nanny who raises young Elphaba in the film's childhood flashback.

Which new instructor replaces Dr. Dillamond in the film's classroom scene?

Nikidik demonstrates the cage built to stop Animals learning to speak, sparking Elphaba's poppy-dust rebellion.

In the 2024 film, how does Elphaba first try to flee the Emerald City before taking the broom?

The balloon burns up, forcing her up to a palace attic where she repeats the levitation spell on a broom.

What line does composer Stephen Schwartz deliver in his 2024 film cameo as a guard?

Book writer Winnie Holzman also cameos, shouting that the Wizard 'can read' the Grimmerie.

What are Galinda's parents nicknamed by her in the 2024 Wicked film?

Galinda calls her doting parents 'Popsicle and Momsie' as they deliver her to Shiz in the film, a flourish added for the screen.

Which former West End Elphaba plays Galinda's mother in the Wicked films?

Fearn's cameo is one of several Easter eggs for stage fans in the Emerald City and Shiz scenes.

What is the name of the show-within-a-show performed by Menzel and Chenoweth's characters in the film?

'Wiz-O-Mania' is the Emerald City Players' pageant that Menzel and Chenoweth's characters perform during 'One Short Day', retelling how the Wizard came to Oz and found the Grimmerie.

Which made-up 'Ozian' word appears in the Wicked script alongside 'braverism' and 'hideoteous'?

'Confusifying' is one of Glinda's invented Ozian words, alongside 'braverism' and 'hideoteous'; the vocabulary carried over from the stage script into both films.

Which airborne method did paparazzi use to photograph the Munchkinland set in Ivinghoe, England?

Grande said the shoot felt private 'until all of a sudden the Daily Mail was hang gliding over our set'.

Which website was mistakenly printed on Mattel's Wicked doll packaging in 2024?

The packaging printed the address of an adult film studio's website instead of the film's own site; Mattel apologized, told parents to discard the boxes, and a South Carolina mother sued.

How much did Wicked (2024) take at the domestic box office on opening weekend?

It topped $162.9 million worldwide in its debut, beating Into the Woods and Les Misérables for musical adaptations.

Which film's Guinness World Record did Wicked (2024) break to become the top-grossing musical adaptation?

Wicked passed Mamma Mia!'s roughly $610 million worldwide gross in late December 2024, taking the Guinness-recognised title of highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation.

What was the worldwide box-office total of Wicked (2024)?

Wicked finished with about $758.8 million worldwide, the fifth-highest total of 2024, behind Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Moana 2 and Despicable Me 4.

Which Disney movie did Wicked lose its second weekend to at the domestic box office?

Moana 2 opened to about $139 million over Thanksgiving weekend 2024, pushing Wicked to second place even though its 29% drop was tiny for a blockbuster.

Copying 2023's Barbenheimer, what portmanteau was coined for Wicked and Gladiator II opening the same November 2024 weekend?

Barbie and Oppenheimer had shared July 21, 2023, and Glicked was the hoped-for sequel to that craze when Wicked and Gladiator II arrived together in November 2024.

Where did Wicked (2024) hold its world premiere on November 3, 2024?

The world premiere was held at Sydney's State Theatre on November 3, 2024, before the 'Journey Through Oz' tour moved through Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York and London.

Which streaming service began carrying Wicked (2024) on March 21, 2025?

Wicked arrived on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service, on March 21, 2025, four months after its theatrical release.

Which Grammy did Erivo and Grande win for their 'Defying Gravity'?

The win came at the 68th Grammy Awards, where the soundtrack was also nominated twice.

Which phrase from a viral 2024 Wicked press interview became a meme?

Journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Erivo and Grande viewers were 'holding space' for the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity'.

Which country pulled Wicked from some theatres in 2024, citing 'public ethics'?

The film continued to play in other cinemas in the country despite the partial withdrawal.

Which company staged the first Japanese-language Wicked in Tokyo in 2007?

Shiki Theatre Company opened its Japanese-language Wicked at Tokyo's Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in June 2007, the show's first production in Japanese.

Where did Wicked: For Good hold its world premiere on November 4, 2025?

Brazil got the first look, followed by premieres in Paris, London, Singapore and New York.

What was the production budget of Wicked: For Good?

The sequel grossed about $540 million, second only to the first film among Oz movies.

Which two songs were written specifically for Wicked: For Good?

Stephen Schwartz wrote 'No Place Like Home' for Elphaba and 'The Girl in the Bubble' for Glinda specifically for Wicked: For Good; neither exists in the stage show.

What is Fiyero's title at the start of Wicked: For Good?

The Gale Force is the film's name for the Wizard's guard that Fiyero commands.

In Wicked: For Good, what ability do Nessarose's enchanted shoes give her?

The change from the stage version was made to remove the number's ableist implications.

What is the name of the flying monkey who reveals the imprisoned Animals in Wicked: For Good?

Chistery regains speech by the finale and hands Glinda the green elixir bottle.

Which character reveals to the Animals that Elphaba is behind the flying monkey spies?

The Lion, once the cub Elphaba freed, blames her for taking him from the only home he knew.

How long did the eleven-piece Tin Man prosthetic take to apply to Boq's actor?

The look paid homage to Jack Haley's Tin Man from the 1939 film.

What eye color change marks Fiyero's transformation into the Scarecrow in Wicked: For Good?

Unlike Ray Bolger's Scarecrow, the design kept much of Jonathan Bailey's own likeness.

How large was the orchestra for the Wicked: For Good soundtrack?

That was up from 80 on the first film and 23 in the stage pit.

What disaster destroyed producer Greg Wells's home studio during Wicked: For Good's music production?

Recording of the live orchestra continued later in 2025 at AIR Studios in London.

What working title did the 2025 sequel carry before 'For Good' was announced?

The sequel was announced and marketed as Wicked: Part Two until December 2024, when Universal retitled it Wicked: For Good after the show's farewell duet.

What was Wicked: For Good's domestic opening weekend gross?

It beat its predecessor for the biggest opening ever for a Broadway adaptation.

Which 2025 film beat Wicked: For Good for the year's biggest opening weekend?

Wicked: For Good ranked second for 2025 openings behind the video-game adaptation.

Which sequel knocked Wicked: For Good to second place in its second weekend?

Wicked: For Good had earlier moved its date to avoid competing with the Disney sequel.

What Oscar record did Wicked: For Good set at the 98th Academy Awards?

After the first film's ten nominations, the sequel received none despite being shortlisted in eight categories.

Where was Wicked: One Wonderful Night filmed in September 2025?

Only the 'For Good' quartet with Menzel and Chenoweth was recorded separately at the Gershwin.

How many viewers watched Wicked: One Wonderful Night on its first NBC airing?

It was NBC's second-highest-rated special of 2025 behind the SNL 50th anniversary show.

Whose answer became the first verse of 'For Good', according to Stephen Schwartz?

Schwartz asked his daughter Jessica what she would say to her best friend if she never saw her again, and her answer became the first verse of 'For Good'.

Which 2010 space shuttle mission was woken up with 'Defying Gravity'?

On STS-131 in April 2010, mission control woke the Discovery crew with 'Defying Gravity' in honour of astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a former teacher on her first flight.

Which film's plot did Stephen Schwartz compare 'Popular' to?

He wrote the song imagining a blonde homecoming-queen cheerleader type and gave it a Beatles-tinged bubblegum sound.

Why does Glinda yodel on the word 'popular' in her Wicked number?

Schwartz wrote the number with Chenoweth's voice and Oklahoma roots in mind.

Which New York politician did Chenoweth roast with a rewritten 'Popular' on Jay Leno in 2013?

On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in July 2013, Chenoweth rewrote 'Popular' to mock Anthony Weiner's sexting scandal during his New York mayoral run.

How did Gregory Maguire derive the name Elphaba?

L-F-B sounded out gives Elphaba; the character was otherwise unnamed in Baum's books.

In Maguire's novel, what physical trait distinguishes Nessarose from her stage counterpart?

The musical changed her disability to using a wheelchair.

Which 1993 crime partly inspired Maguire's thinking about evil while writing Wicked?

Living in London during the 1993 murder of James Bulger, a toddler killed by two ten-year-olds, Maguire found himself asking whether evil is inborn or made.

In the novel Wicked, what is the name of Elphaba's son by Fiyero?

Liir becomes the protagonist of the sequel Son of a Witch; the musical cut his birth entirely.

How does Elphaba's father Frexspar's wife Melena die in Maguire's Wicked?

Melena's third child, Shell, later becomes Emperor of Oz in the sequels.

What is the name of the all-female college at Shiz that Elphaba attends in the novel?

Madame Morrible is headmistress of Crage Hall in Maguire's version.

What name does Maguire give the Lion in A Lion Among Men?

Brrr is the Cowardly Lion's name in A Lion Among Men (2008), the third Wicked Years novel, which pairs his story with that of the oracle Yackle.

Who is the protagonist of Maguire's fourth Wicked Years novel, Out of Oz?

Rain, the green-skinned daughter of Liir and Candle, is the protagonist of Out of Oz (2011), the fourth and final Wicked Years novel.

What is the new land explored in Maguire's Another Day trilogy that follows The Wicked Years?

The Brides of Maracoor (2021) opened the trilogy following Rain's adventures beyond Oz.

What is the title of Maguire's 2025 prequel about Elphaba's early years?

Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, published in March 2025, follows Elphaba from birth to her arrival at Shiz.

Which actress won a bidding war in the 1990s to produce and star in a film of Maguire's novel?

Universal bought the novel in the mid-1990s for Demi Moore's production company, with Moore attached to produce and star; the film stalled before Schwartz pitched a stage musical instead.

How many copies had Maguire's Wicked sold by the time the musical opened in 2003?

The book was a word-of-mouth success and later spent 26 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2005.

In which New York city was Wicked author Gregory Maguire born and raised?

Maguire's Catholic schooling in Albany shaped the nuns he later saw as models for his witches.

Which musical was Stephen Schwartz's first major hit, in 1971?

Godspell opened Off-Broadway in May 1971 and made Schwartz's name at 23; its Toronto production gave Paul Shaffer his first musical-director job.

For which DreamWorks film did Schwartz win an Oscar for the song 'When You Believe'?

Schwartz also won two Oscars for Disney's Pocahontas with Alan Menken.

Which TV series did Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman create?

Holzman also wrote for Thirtysomething and Once and Again before her Broadway debut with Wicked.

What honor did Cynthia Erivo receive in the 2026 New Year Honours?

Erivo has won a Tony, Grammy and Emmy and lacks only the Oscar for an EGOT.

For which Broadway role did Cynthia Erivo win her Tony Award before playing Elphaba?

The 2015 revival also earned her a Grammy and a Daytime Emmy.

What did Erivo become at the Golden Globes with her Wicked: For Good nomination?

Her nominations came for playing Elphaba in both halves of the adaptation.

What title did People magazine give Jonathan Bailey in 2025?

The Fiyero actor also starred in Jurassic World Rebirth the same year.

Which West End role at age eight was among Jonathan Bailey's first, decades before Fiyero?

Bailey decided to act at five after his grandmother took him to see Oliver!

For which stage role did the film's Boq actor earn a Tony nomination?

He also won a Drama Desk Award for the 2017 Broadway musical.

What distinction did Idina Menzel earn by joining the London production in 2006?

Menzel's reported £30,000-a-week salary made her the highest-paid actress in West End history; her limited engagement ran until December 30, 2006, when Kerry Ellis took over.

What is the title of Kristin Chenoweth's 2009 memoir?

A Little Bit Wicked, Chenoweth's 2009 memoir, covers her Oklahoma childhood and her Glinda years; she had left the show in July 2004 to join The West Wing.

For which musical did Kristin Chenoweth win her Tony Award, before Wicked?

She won Best Featured Actress in 1999 as Sally Brown; her Glinda earned a nomination but not the prize.

Which Jon M. Chu film was among the first major-studio releases with a majority Asian-descent cast?

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) was the first major Hollywood studio film in 25 years with a majority Asian cast; Chu had earlier directed two Justin Bieber concert films.

What restaurant does Jon M. Chu's family own in California?

Chef Chu's, the Los Altos restaurant founded by Chu's father Lawrence in 1970, is where the director grew up as the youngest of five children.

What role does Baum's Scarecrow take on when the Wizard leaves Oz in a balloon?

Baum's Scarecrow, whom Fiyero becomes in the musical, was named ruler by the departing Wizard.

At which San Francisco venue did Wicked hold its 2003 out-of-town tryout before Broadway?

It opened there on June 10, 2003, with Stephanie J. Block serving as Idina Menzel's understudy.

Who played Elphaba in the open-ended Los Angeles production at the Pantages from 2007?

Eden Espinosa opened the Pantages sit-down in February 2007 with Megan Hilty as Glinda and Carol Kane as Morrible; the run closed in January 2009.

Its 7,407th performance in November 2025 made Wicked which longest-running West End show?

The London production had paused in March 2020 for the pandemic and reopened in September 2021 for its 15th anniversary.