See the musical Wicked on Broadway

Based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked is a musical that revisits the world of Oz. First performed on Broadway in 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre, the show got an immediate and continuing success. It is now one of the most performed and profitable musicals on Broadway! 😀

I truly believe this is a great idea for an activity to help you really enjoy the atmosphere of Broadway, especially if you don't yet know what to do in New York! Here's all the info you need to know about this must-see Broadway musical 😊

Synopsis of the musical Wicked

The story of the musical Wicked: The untold Story of the Witches of Oz is very much based on that of The Wizard of Oz. Many of the book's characters are in the show, but the story begins long before Dorothy Gale’s arrival.

The main heroines are two young witches studying at the University of Shiz: Glinda, a popular, bright and confident blonde girl, and Elphaba, an emerald green student who is introverted and misunderstood, but possesses immense talent! Although everything seems to oppose them, the two apprentice witches will become great friends – until they fall in love with the same Prince Charming... This tormented and animated tale offers a retelling of Frank Baum's original novel, and lets the audience discover the origins of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

What makes this comedy so successful is not only its storytelling – which blends magic, intrigue and sentiment – but also its memorable songs and music, its beautiful costumes and sets that bring the land of Oz to life, and its spectacular staging 🤩

Wicked has won numerous awards, including three Tony Awards (Best Actress, Best Set and Best Costume Design) and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album 🙂

Where to buy tickets for the musical Wicked?

To get a ticket to see this Broadway musical at the Gershwin Theatre, the most convenient and safest method is to book online – and well in advance if possible!

Indeed, though this show plays 6 days a week on Broadway it is so popular that it sells out most of the time. If you wait too long or decide to buy your tickets once in Broadway, you will probably have a hard time getting a ticket – and even if miraculously some seats are still available, you will most likely have to settle for the least popular or most expensive ones!

So if you don't want to leave anything to chance and be very sure that you will get to attend this iconic show during your stay in New York, I really recommend going ahead and buying your ticket online 👍 The best way to do that is to go to Hello Tickets, a website where you can buy your tickets for Wicked on Broadway at the best price 😄

How much for a ticket to see Wicked in Broadway?

Ticket prices to see Wicked are quite variable depending on the location in the Gershwin Theatre. First price tickets can be found around £88, while tickets for the best seats cost around £220.

There are no age discounts. Students may get a discount, but only if they buy their ticket at the box office – which does not guarantee a seat!

How to choose the best seat at the Gershwin Theatre?

The Gershwin Theatre is one of the largest and most prestigious theatres on Broadway. It is very well designed, giving all patrons a good view of the stage and great acoustics 😃 Even better, the seats are particularly comfortable!

Not all seats are equal, however. The Orchestra Zone is the best located, and therefore also the most expensive. But the three Front and Rear Mezzanine Zones (center, lateral right and lateral left) are also very good, and their tickets are more affordable, depending on the distance from the stage (between £117 and £185). Seats in the Mezzanine Center Zone are probably the best value for money with tickets priced at around £164.

Which audience for the musical Wicked?

Wicked is a family musical and can be enjoyed by children from 8 years old and up (under 5 years old are not accepted). The show’s enchanting world will appeal to the whole family 😊

The dialogues are entirely in English and some subtleties will escape non-English speakers, but the story remains quite simple to follow thanks to the staging. As such, having a good understanding of the language of Shakespeare is not necessarily necessary to fully enjoy this show!

Broadway's Wicked performance schedules

Show times may vary, but they are generally scheduled during all but one day of the week. Most often, this day off for the artists is Saturday or Monday.

Shows usually start at 7pm. On some days (most often Wednesday and Friday) there is also a second performance in the early afternoon at 2pm. There are also occasional performances that start at 3pm and 8pm.

The performance of Wicked lasts approximately  2 hours 45 minutes, with 2 hours 30 minutes of performance time and a 15 minute interval. It is best to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the show to ensure that you can get to your seats without disturbing anyone else 😁 Please note that once the show has started, latecomers will not be allowed in!

How to get to the Gerswhin Theatre?

The Gershwin Theatre is located in the heart of Manhattan, between Broadway and 8th Avenue – about 5 minutes walk from Times Square. The exact address is:

George Gershwin Theatre
222 West 51st Street

To get there, you can take the A, C, E, 1 and 2 lines of the New York metro, and get off at the 50th Street station, which is just around the corner from the theatre 🙂

That's it for this article on the Broadway musical Wicked. I hope you now have all the info you need to check out this fabulous show on your next trip to New York 😉 If you want to learn more about other Broadway shows, you can also check out my article on the romantic musical Moulin Rouge! – another show must-see 😄

And if you're currently planning your trip to New York, feel free to read my articles on when to go to New York and where to sleep in New York 😊