STAGE TUBE: WICKED's 'Wizard' PJ Benjamin Talks Importance of Acceptance

On Wednesday, October 30th, the blockbuster musical Wicked will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on Broadway, a milestone achieved by only ten other Broadway productions in history. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book byWinnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Below, Broadway's Wonderful Wizard of Oz, PJ Benjamin, shares what the show really means to him. As Wicked celebrate 10 years on Broadway, its message of acceptance has never been more powerful!

Winner of over 50 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

On Broadway, Wicked currently stars Lindsay Mendez as Elphaba, Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Tom McGowan as The Wizard, Derek Klena as Fiyero, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond, and Michael Wartella as Boq.

Need more Broadway Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...