Setting the timelines of Wicked before and after the events in the film was a masterstroke and opens up the storylines substantially. We discover that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Sheridan Adams didn’t start out so wicked and that Glinda the Good (Courtney Monsma) wasn’t always so good. Even the Great Oz is given more stick as being the fraud he is.

This Australian production of Wicked is immense. Eugene Lee’s set design is spectacular and the musical elements are impressive. In every scene, there are multiple elements to focus on and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre was fully alive with song and dance. The athleticism of the cast members was also onl display, with a special mention going to the actors playing the flying monkeys.

There is a palpable energy that only the live theatre can summon up and Wicked uses this power to the point of overload. There is an intensity that will translate well to audience members of all ages. This musical supplies an optimum opportunity to introduce the little ones to the joy and adventure that can take place in the arena of live theatre.
Rob Hudson

Wicked is now playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until November 24, 2024 – get your tickets now!
www.wickedthemusical.com.au

WICKED is one of the most successful and popular musicals in the world, and has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide. Winner of over 100 major awards including the Grammy Award, the Olivier Award, six Helpmann Awards, three Tony Awards® and six Drama Desk Awards, WICKED is “A Complete Triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think” (USA Today).

WICKED is currently playing at the Regent Theatre Melbourne after six months of rapturous praise from critics and audiences at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. The Sydney Morning Herald said WICKED is “Ingenious and beautiful: WICKED dazzles” while Australian Stage called it “Triumphant, a dazzling, spectacular production”. Limelight praised the “Razzle-dazzle spectacle, uplifting girl-power” and the Australian Financial Review the “Exquisite comic timing, impressive, magical”.

The stellar Australian cast is led by Queenslander Courtney Monsma as Glinda, the bubbly popular girl who becomes “Glinda the Good”, and in her debut in a lead role, Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, the girl born with emerald-green skin who grows up to become the “Wicked Witch of the West”. Robyn Nevin plays the role of Madame Morrible, Todd McKenney is the Wizard, Brisbane’s own Liam Head plays Fiyero, Adam Murphy is Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay plays Nessarose, Kurtis Papadinis is Boq, and Zoe Coppinger is the Elphaba Standby.

The talented group of performers comprising the WICKED ensemble and swings are Christian Ambesi, Conor Bann-Murray, Brittany Carter, Olivia Castagna, Eli Cooper, Matt Cranleigh, Joseph Donovan, Sage Douglas, Bayley John Edmends, Todd Jacobsson, Rohan Khanna, Andrew Kroenert, Elisha Zion Lee, Jordan Malone, Emily Monsma, Matilda Moran, Jackson Reedman, Amelia Sanzo, Edward Smith, Ksenia Teliatnikova, Lucas Van Rhijn, Jessica Vellucci, Mietta White and Jun Woodfield.

WICKED Australia Co-producer John Frost said, “I’m thrilled we’re able to bring WICKED to Brisbane’s wonderful Lyric Theatre where two past seasons totally sold out. WICKED is one of the most lavish musical productions to have ever played in Australia, the full Broadway experience. With the lavish sets and opulent costumes, it’s a feast for the eye and the ear.

“The new Australian cast is exceptional and has been embraced by WICKED fans. If you have never seen WICKED, come and see it for the first time and be spellbound. If you have seen it before, I know you’ll want to come back and be enthralled all over again.”

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other young women meet in the land of Oz. One born with emerald-green skin is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. The other is bubbly, blonde, ambitious and exceptionally popular. They become rivals, then friends…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”

The musical has played in 16 countries around the world including Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and has been translated into six languages. WICKED is now the 4th longest running show in Broadway history.

The novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, published in 1995, has sold 5.5 million copies, with 5 million of those sold since 2003 when the musical opened. Buoyed by the musical’s success, the novel has appeared on bestseller lists for close to two decades since its initial publication.

“A magical Broadway musical with BRAINS, HEART and COURAGE” – Time Magazine
“WICKED’s production values are exceptional. A POWERFUL PIECE OF THEATRE” – The Australian
“A SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT with deep emotions and a serious message” – The Tokyo
“If every musical had the brains, heart and courage of WICKED, Broadway really would be a magical place” – Time Magazine
“WICKED is splendiferous as ever! The show works because it explores the complexity of moral choices and the prices we have to pay for making them. It’s a reminder of how musicals can support complex stories when you have a book writer of the quality of Winnie Holzman, great songs by Stephen Schwartz and a rich, visually splendiferous production, as directed by Joe Mantello. And, of course, the green girl and the blonde girl, as they refer to each other, are everyperson figures. We’re all either one or the other.” – Chicago Tribune

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento with original direction by Joe Mantello. WICKED is produced in Australia by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Experience the unforgettable, award-winning musical WICKED in Brisbane this year. Waitlist now to be first in line to buy tickets at Wickedthemusical.com.au

Wicked Brisbane Season
Lyric Theatre, QPAC
From September
www.wickedthemusical.com.au