After 21 years of waiting, the first movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical finally left the stage and hit the big screen. The film “Wicked: Part 1” (2024) covered the first act of the stage play, offering those who had never seen the untold story of the famous witches a chance to dive into the magical land of Oz.
Following the outstanding success of the first movie, ticket sales for the stage production increased. As a result, the second movie, “Wicked: For Good,” which covers the play’s second act, is set to be released later this year, revealing what happened to Elphaba and Glinda after they went their separate ways.
Although the musical adaptation brought many benefits to the stage play, it also introduced some challenges. On her TikTok account, actress Mary Kate Morrisey, who played the Wicked Witch of the West on Broadway, shared in a video that some fans were leaving the stage play after Act 1 to avoid spoilers for the second movie.
This trend suggested that “Wicked: Part 1” might be a turning point in the musical theater industry. While it brought benefits, it also raised concerns about how audiences viewed stage productions.
When asked whether “Wicked: Part 1” might have negative effects on the musical theater industry, Alyia Beaupain, junior theatre major, shared her perspective.
“If ‘Wicked’ establishes an expectation for the general public of always receiving screen-adapted versions of their favorite musicals, I think there is a genuine risk of musical theater falling into the ‘Disney trap’ of merely adapting old classics,” Beaupain said. “Instead of generating new ideas, the actual live theater portion of the industry may suffer as a result.”
Despite the challenges the musical theater industry might face, the benefits and impact of the first movie on social media were undeniable.
When asked how the film affected the industry, Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre arts, shared his thoughts.
“When the musical was first produced, it turned rising stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel into icons. With a widespread release in theaters and on streaming services featuring established stars like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, ‘Wicked: Part 1’ brings the musical to people who may have been fans of those actors but were not necessarily theatergoers,” Bortot said. “It introduces the original production to a new generation.”
Even with the challenges and changes the musical theater industry faced, it was undeniable that “Wicked: Part 1” opened the door for people unfamiliar with stage productions. When asked whether more people might start attending live musicals, Bethany Hooper, junior psychology major with a minor in theatre, shared her perspective.
“This movie is drawing in many people who may not have considered seeing a show live. If they love the film, they may look into the stage version or learn more about musical theater in general,” Hooper said. “It’s a great introduction for people who are not very familiar with theater to become interested in it.”
Undoubtedly, “Wicked: Part 1” united the best of both worlds: the magnitude of cinema and the raw emotion of theater. It brought both audiences together, deepened their connection to the story and paved the way for more Broadway productions to make it to the big screen. This milestone in cinema strengthened the long-term relationship between Hollywood and Broadway.
