The ongoing 20th anniversary celebrations of the international hit musical Wicked continue with a weekend of festivities and appearances that began October 27 with a musical performance on ABC's Good Morning America.
October 29 marks the return of the Wicked Day Block Party, which is held in the breezeway outside of the Gershwin Theatre and is free and open to the public. The celebration, which begins at 9:30 AM and continues until noon, features photo ops, music from DJ Mike Borowski, and activations with many of the production's 20th anniversary partners, including Hershey’s, Shake Shack, Catch ‘N Cream, TodayTix, the New York City Parks Department, Broadway Cares, Audience Rewards, and Scenery Bags.
READ: All the Women Who Have Played Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway
The October 29 matinee and evening shows are special fan events, dubbed “Pink” and “Green” performances, respectively, that include either a Pink Performance Wicked Day Playbill or a Green Performance Wicked Day Playbill. Tickets to both performances also include a gift bag, exclusive pink or green merchandise, a commemorative button, and a card signed by either McKenzie Kurtz or Alyssa Fox.
The 20th anniversary performance for Wicked alums and fans will be held October 30 at 6:30 PM at the Gershwin; to mark the occasion, the Empire State Building will be lit in green.
Photos: 9 Wicked Secrets of the Gershwin Theatre
The festivities will conclude October 31 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts with a free panel discussion about the creation of the global blockbuster. Panelists will include Wicked composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, librettist Winnie Holtzman, and producer David Stone.
Wicked's Broadway cast currently features Fox as Elphaba, Kurtz as Glinda, John Dossett as The Wizard, Michele Pawk as Madame Morrible, Jordan Litz as Fiyero, Jake Pedersen as Boq, Kimber Elayne Sprawl as Nessarose, and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond.
READ: Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz Starred in Frozen Together, Now They've Reunited in Wicked
Wicked began previews on Broadway October 8, 2003, with an
official opening October 30. The original cast included Tony winners
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as, respectively, the green-faced,
misunderstood Elphaba and the curly-locked Glinda. It is now the
fourth-longest running production in Broadway history.
READ: 11 Elphabas Reflect on Playing Broadway's Not-So-Wicked Witch
Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
The Joe Mantello-helmed production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. Casting is by the Telsey Office.
Wicked won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Lee).
The musical, which reopened on Broadway September 14, 2021, following the pandemic shutdown, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.
Check out photos of the current Broadway company below:
Alyssa Fox and company of Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz and Alyssa Fox in Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz and Alyssa Fox in Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz and Alyssa Fox in Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz, Alyssa Fox, and company of Wicked
Company of Wicked
Kimber Elayne Sprawl and Jake Pedersen in Wicked
Jordan Litz and Alyssa Fox in Wicked
Alyssa Fox and company of Wicked
Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz in Wicked
Michele Pawk and John Dossett in Wicked
Jordan Litz, McKenzie Kurtz, and company of Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz, Alyssa Fox, and company of Wicked
McKenzie Kurtz and company of Wicked
