Has Wicked Been Updated Over the Years?

[samtaro111]

So I first saw Wicked back in like 2007 or 2008. I recently saw it on Monday, July 15th, 2019 (Truly an amazing show). Since I was young when I first saw it, I barely remembered any of the staging.

I feel like back in 2007/2008, the flying looked clunkier. When I saw it this past Monday, the flying looked great and the way they did the lighting to help hide the black cape was very well done. I also could not recall if there were projections in the opening back in 2007/2008 like how there are now.

I know they redid the theater itself a few years back, but has Wicked updated its staging/lighting/etc... at all since opening?

I know shows do not usually change after opening, but it has been running for 15 years now.

[emo_geek]

Yes they did. Others can comment on the exact timing but they added in the projections a few (maybe more now) years ago. "They" also added some new jokes/dialogue.

[magictodo123]

I think it's possible that some elements may have changed, but if it had been a while since your last visit, maybe you were just focused on other things and didn't notice the things you're asking about?

 

All I know for sure is that the script has not changed. Jessica Vosk addressed this at some point during her run as Elphaba. 

[Justin D]

yes the opening projection is perhaps the biggest change, the thing about projection on the fabric at the end of act 1, that i believe has always been there, but you can't always see it clearly.

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

SINCE OPENING (not sure if it's been since you saw it as I don't know when the changes happened EXACTLY) there have been two BIG changes. One not many people seem to mention often.

The opening scene has already been mentioned. Previously the ensemble had a big pointed hate prop/set piece they danced with then it was melted and sucked down into the stage. That was replaced with the projection and new lighting. 

The second big change is the introduction of Fiyero/his first meeting with Elphaba. As I am sure people are more familiar with how it is now. The pair first meet before Dancing Through Life at his first appearance on the stage and they share some heated words before she leaves and then he meet Glinda. For at least the first year or two, this was not the case. Elphaba was not in the scene at all and it was Glinda who meets him first. Due to this, you did't even see Elphaba and Fiyero interact with one another until the end of the ballroom scene when Glinda kinda introduces them (staging only, no dialogue) while the ensemble is singing the last chorus of the number. They were not even seen speak to one another for the first time until the classroom scene after Popular.

[carolinaguy]

They did actually make a very few script changes for the London production, which were then inserted in the Broadway production. The line about seeing green and thinking it meant go during Fiyero's entrance was one of the new bits.

[degrassifan]

I know there was a short reprise of "The Wizard and I" after "I'm Not that Girl," but the reprise has since been shortened even more in recent productions.

Also, during One Short Day, an extra lyric line of "Emerald City" is now sung in the beginning of the song. I know this came from London, and I noticed this when I saw the recent tour at the Pantages last year. Not sure if it's this way in the Broadway production. 

[615theatreguy]

The ending of "Wonderful" was redone as well after the London production opened. Originally, it had slightly different dialogue and the Wizard and Elphaba had a dance. Now the song ends by Elphaba interrupting the Wizard before the original dance break. 

The projections and lighting have certainly been updated. Originally, the end of Defying Gravity ended with green lights. Now it's mostly purple. I believe that change was made for the 1st National Tour. 

[Engineer Thuy]

Not sure of the timing, but they made a slight change in choreography in One Short Day right after Wizomania Everyone runs to the front of the stage and do a couple of poses.

Also on tour, a couple of the female ensemble now flies during the classroom scene right after popular.

[Elfuhbuh]

During "Wonderful," Elphaba and the Wizard used to waltz around the stage before Elphaba abruptly ended the dance and demanded that the Flying Monkeys be set free. It's been a few years since I've seen the show, but I remember the last couple times I saw it both on tour and on Broadway, the Wizard went to dance with Elphaba, but Elphaba pulled back immediately without going through with the dance at all.

[Luminaire2]

They also added the cape attachment, slow rise, with drums in London then added to Broadway.

[Loopin’theloop]

Elfuhbuh said: "During "Wonderful," Elphaba and the Wizard used to waltz around the stage before Elphaba abruptly ended the dance and demanded that the Flying Monkeys be set free. It's been a few years since I've seen the show, but I remember the last couple times I saw it both on tour and on Broadway, the Wizard went to dance with Elphaba, but Elphaba pulled back immediately without going through with the dance at all. "

It was a polka dear

[NOWaWarning]

Glinda’s costumes went through some changes when they mounted the tour and all the other productions followed suit. Didn’t they also recently add/change one of the Morrible costumes giving her a green version of her first costume?

[7thbighero]

NOWaWarning said: "Glinda’s costumes went through some changes when they mounted the tour and all the other productions followed suit. Didn’t they also recently add/change one of the Morrible costumes giving her a green version of her first costume?"

Yes, she wears that now at the end of act one, instead of the lime green gown

[IdinaBellFoster]

I miss the dance break after “Wonderful”. I believe it was removed after Ben Vereen’s run as the Wizard.

[Elfuhbuh]

Loopin’theloop said: "Elfuhbuh said: "During "Wonderful," Elphaba and the Wizard used to waltz around the stage before Elphaba abruptly ended the dance and demanded that the Flying Monkeys be set free. It's been a few years since I've seen the show, but I remember the last couple times I saw it both on tour and on Broadway, the Wizard went to dance with Elphaba, but Elphaba pulled back immediately without going through with the dance at all. "

It was a polka dear "

My bad! Again, it's been years since I saw the show with that dance in there, so I just have a vague memory of them twirling around the stage, lol.

[uncageg]

615theatreguy said: "The ending of "Wonderful" was redone as well after the London production opened. Originally, it had slightly different dialogue and the Wizard and Elphaba had a dance. Now the song ends by Elphaba interrupting the Wizard before the original dance break.

The projections and lighting have certainly been updated. Originally, the end of Defying Gravity ended with green lights. Now it's mostly purple. I believe that change was made for the 1st National Tour."

 

Ok, so I am not crazy. Saw the Broadway production 4 months after it opened and then twice on tour and thought both times on tour something was different. I prefer the original lighting.

 

[Tag]

Elphaba's mother and the young wizard, re-appear at the end of the show ("have another drink of green elixer".  They only used to do so in the opening/prologue.

[Fosse76]

Tag said: "Elphaba's mother and the young wizard, re-appear at the end of the show ("have another drink of green elixer". They only used to do so in the opening/prologue."

That's definitely one of the better changes.

[VotePeron]

These changes remind me of what recently happened with Cursed Child - they updated a lot of little elements of the show for Australia (a handful of new lighting/sound cues, re-choreographing of all the movement sequences, some new lines here and there), and have since been implemented on Broadway and London, and I'm sure for SF. I think the changes are mostly for the better, and help clarify some things for a wider audience (the Wand Dance has a very clear through-line now revolving around Albus that was only hinted in the original). 

I love that shows update in order to give the most clear production possible, and to allow continuity. Great for all involved.

[spikethebunny]

“Dancing Through Life” went through some choreography changes, too. They added the stuff with the ensemble reading and closing and throwing away their books.
I had won an auction where I got to go backstage prior to the show and watch them paint Elphaba green, and I happened to choose the day they were all learning the new DTL choreo, and got to watch them learn it, then see it performed for the first time in the show that night, which was pretty much one of the highlights of my life.