If you purchase Wicked tickets, you're probably in for a bit of déjà vu. You'll swear you know the story, but it'll all seem new to you for some reason. The characters will be familiar, but the plot will be original. Regardless, millions of thespians around the world have lined up to see this play, and the story is an adaptation from a timeless film classic.

About the Plot

Wicked is an expansion of the story made famous in the film “The Wizard of Oz” from 1939. It explores the possibility that the infamous Wicked Witch of the West was a misunderstood character, and the play itself is set in a time before Dorothy arrives from Kansas to help conquer the evil character that appears in the film.

It seems that, according to the writers of the musical, the Wicked Witch of the West has actually been victimized by events out of her control. She was named Elphaba at birth, and she was born illegitimately to her mother and a traveling salesman. The salesman sells a green drinking potion that her mother drinks, and this results in Elphaba having the green skin everyone knows from the movie.

Elphaba's father rejects her because of her skin color, and he insists that her mother chew milk flowers while pregnant with their next child. As a result, Elphaba's younger sister, Nessarose, is born with crippled legs and needs attention. Naturally, her father sees this as Elphaba's fault.

The two grow up together and are sent to the university, but their father makes it clear that the only reason Elphaba is going is to help her sister. Once there, Elphaba is paired with Galinda, the “good” witch from the film, and although the two do not get along at first, they eventually form a bit of a friendship. As they study together, it is revealed that Elphaba possesses incredible powers, and she is seen as a prodigy.

This makes Galinda jealous, and the two friends distance themselves from each other. At this point, Wicked tickets begin to have a familiar feel, as the “plot” that uncovers the true nature of the Wizard of Oz is revealed.

It seems that the Wizard of Oz wants to remove the power of communication from the kingdom's animals, and he tests Elphaba a bit to measure her ability and her loyalty. Galinda catches wind of Elphaba's favor with the wizard, and jealousy sets in. She charms her way into the powerful inner circle of Oz, and rumors of Elphaba's “wickedness” begin to swirl. Soon, the entire kingdom is told of her penchant for evil, and Elphaba is banished to solitude.

Of course, the ending contains many surprises, but we don't want to spoil it for you. You really need to see this play for yourself, as it “ties in” all the stories that surround the classic movie.

Success

Wicked was and is one of the most successful plays of all time. It began to run in October of 2003, and grossed more than $50 million in its first year on stage. The show has also won three Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, an Eddy Award and a Grammy Award, among others.

If you want to see a play with drama, humor, sorrow, tragedy and intricate and exciting plot twists, Wicked tickets are the way to go.