From Criticized to Celebrated: The Unlikely Rise of “Wicked” to Global Phenomenon
Nobody’s shocked that “Wicked: For Good” is poised to be Queen of the Box Office this weekend. It’s the blockbuster sequel to a best picture Oscar nominee that grossed more than $700 million worldwide. Success was so obvious that the Munchkins wouldn’t even bother to come out, come out and sing a happy song about it.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in “Wicked: For Good.” ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection
A Humble Beginning
But, 22 years since Elphaba first defied gravity onstage, what many forget is that “Wicked” the musical didn’t start off as a surefire juggernaut that was destined to gross $6 billion. Its yellow brick road was full of hazards from the very start. Back in 2003, during the “Wizard of Oz” riff’s tryout in San Francisco, Calif., the musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman was ripped by critics.
“Ding, dong, the witch’s prognosis is uncertain at this stage of ‘Wicked’,” sniped Variety, then the most important out-of-town review. “The problem lies less in the production… than with a mediocre book, trite lyrics and largely generic music.”
Overcoming Adversity
At the time, The Post’s Michael Riedel reported that out west, Schwartz and director Joe Mantello were at such a boiling point, the two stopped speaking to each other. You can imagine the fights. “If you only had a heart!” “If you only had a brain!”
“Wicked,” starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, was not a critical favorite when it opened in 2003. AP
Producer David Stone chalked up the theatrical fisticuffs to “natural creative tension.” Schwartz, by the way, appears to have natural creative tension with a lot of his collaborators. He infamously butted heads with Bob Fosse during “Pippin,” and, I’m told, has with others since then.
A Global Phenomenon
Despite losing the Tony Award to “Avenue Q,” the show has been running for 22 years. FilmMagic By September, the $14 million production had built a so-so $3 million advance in New York, and opened on Broadway to yet more critical shrugs.
Today, “Wicked” is the fourth longest-running Broadway musical of all time after something called “The Lion King,” and has productions all over the globe. Never underestimate the strength of “Oz.”
“Wicked: For Good” is estimated to open to $228 million globally, which would be the highest opener for a Broadway musical film adaptation ever. See? No one mourns the “Wicked.”
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Image Source: nypost.com
