Fun Facts about Wicked!
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
Now that my all-time favourite movie Wicked is finally out in theatres and streaming, I thought it’s the perfect time to share some fun and fascinating facts that could add a little sparkle to your next stand-up!
Wicked is a reimagining of the classic Wizard of Oz story, focusing on the untold backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her unlikely friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch. Set in the magical land of Oz, the musical explores themes of power, identity, and societal expectations, showing how Elphaba, who is initially seen as "wicked" for her green skin and defiance of authority, is misunderstood and oppressed. As Elphaba and Glinda navigate love, betrayal, and personal growth, Wicked challenges the conventional notions of good vs. evil, revealing how perception, prejudice, and the quest for justice shape the characters’ destinies.
Wicked contains over 200 easter eggs that pay homage to its extensive source material: the L Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz novels, the 1939 classic movie, Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked, and the 20-year old stage musical Wicked
Here are just a few hints to get you started:
Warning: This post contains spoilers about both parts of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz.
1) Somewhere Over the Rainbow is referenced numerous times throughout the movie - how many did you pick up?
2) Many hints and references to the The Wicked Witch allergy to water
3) The ruby slippers (which were silver in the original Wizard of Oz book) makes quite a few cameos. Did you know the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz sold for $32.5 million at an auction in December 2024.
4) The origin stories of Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Line are foreshadowed – look out for obvious hints to what becomes of Fiyero and Boq.
5) See how many of the original Elphabas, Glindas and Fiyeros from the original stage plays from across the globe you can spot, plus some cool cameos from the writer and composers of Wicked.
6) Did you spot the many homages to Miss Gulch (The alter ego of the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz).
7) The magical poppies from the Wizard of Oz features throughout Wicked in various forms.
8) How many references can you spot of the Wizard’s real name: Oscar Biggs and his home town Omaha?
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