Theater News

Wicked Becomes 10th-Longest-Running Show in Broadway History

The musical has been defying gravity since 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre.

Rachel Tucker stars as Elphaba in the long-running Broadway production of Wicked.
Rachel Tucker stars as Elphaba in the long-running Broadway production of Wicked.
(© Joan Marcus)

The long-running musical Wicked has hit another Broadway milestone. As of today's 2pm matinee, the show will play its 5,124th performance at the Gershwin Theatre, surpassing Rent to become the 10th-longest-running production in Broadway history.

The musical has amassed nearly $4 billion in global sales and has been seen by over 49 million people worldwide. It has been performed in over 100 cities and 14 countries around the world. The original production opened on October 31, 2003, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth leading the company.

Based on the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is set in the land of Oz and tells the story of young girls Glinda and Elphaba, who grow up to become Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. It features hit songs like "Popular," "For Good," and "Defying Gravity."

Wicked features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The current company is led by Carrie St. Louis and Rachel Tucker as Glinda and Elphaba, with two-time Tony winner Judy Kaye as Madame Morrible, Peter Scolari as the Wizard, Dawn Cantwell as Nessarose, Jonah Platt as Fiyero, Michael Genet as Dr. Dillamond, and Zachary Noah Piser as Boq.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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