15 year ago, the third installment in Gregory Maguire's Wicked saga, A Lion Among Men, was released. So, for this year's Wicked Day celebrations, we will be looking at 15 notable aspects that make this book unique and collaborative to Ozian lore. First up, let us take a look at the book trailer (see above) and how the author, Gregory Maguire, explains the book. If you have not had a chance to read it, this book is available in physical copy, e-book, and audiobook. It is a truly good story about how the Cowardly Lion fits into the Wicked-verse. In the first Wicked book, we are introduced to a baby cub in Dr. Dillamond's life sciences classroom. After Dr. Dillamond had been killed, the classes continued as if nothing had happened. His class was assigned a new teacher, Dr. Nikidik, who brought in a baby lion cub to experiment on and named him Brrr because he shivered. This lion cub was later discovered to be the Cowardly Lion and that name stuck with him throughout his life. Elphaba helped the cup escape and released him into the Gillikin Forest. In the third book, the Cowardly Lion discusses his life with Yackle and what he remembers about his life. Additionally, Elphaba's pet cat, Grimalkin, a.k.a. "Malky", has become attached to the Cowardly Lion, who has renamed the invisible, glass-like cat, "Shadowpuppet". Speaking of the Gillikin Forest, this book is the first mention of this fascinating and exciting forest. There is so much that happens here from Brrr meeting a soldier named Jemmsy to the forgetful Northern bears to the Ozmists, the ghosts of Oz. The journey that the lion has in this wooded area of Northern Oz brings light the growth and development of our trembling protagonist. Above you can see a map of Gillikin Forest and its relation to the town of Shiz. Another element to note is how many editions came out and that would be 53. Check out more editions here. There are also some notable reviews about the book that were released from various sources including this one here by MuggleNet, a HP-themed website who does book reviews outside of the magical world of HP. Well, that will end this week's celebrations of this third Wicked book. Come back next week when we discover more notable and fascinating elements that are introduced in this book.
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In recent years, Wicked has seen an influx of production values for Wicked Day celebrations. For the 15th anniversary, NBC put on a televised production of various musical celebrities including original Broadway actresses Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith called "A Very Wicked Halloween". In addition to that performance, Stephen Schwartz's book from 2008, Defying Gravity got another release 10 years later for this anniversary year as well as the first year that Wicked took to Instagram to celebrate online with current actors who portray Galinda or Elphaba behind-the-scenes at the Gershwin or other celebratory events. Wicked Day 2019 saw the founding of the official Wicked: The Musical Facebook group, The Ozians. Here fans could check out various posts, videos, and exclusives that were only available to members of the group. The group is still active today, so find them online. In addition to that, Wicked: The Musical took to Instagram again to celebrate their "sweet 16" with Riley Costello, who plays Boq in the current production with more behind-the-scenes exclusives. 2020 saw a terrible tragedy sweep the world: a pandemic of global proportions. COVID-19 closed down business after business including theatre spaces. This year saw everyone go online more than usual and Wicked was no different. There was a special message from Oz that showed the importance of voting, two new web series called Flying Free and Flying Lessons, and more. Below you can see the first episode of Flying Lessons, a behind-the-scenes look at how Elphaba flies on stage during the performance. As a side note, 2020 was also the year that the first Wicked book was released in a 25th anniversary edition. A year later, we were still dealing with the daily losses from the pandemic; however we tried to remain resilient just as Elphaba does. Wicked Day 2021 saw a PBS special very similar to the 15th anniversary special, where celebrities sang various songs from the musical to inspire change for the better. The special is still available online through the PBS website or the app, wherever you can watch it. It might even be available to check out from the library. Be sure to check that out. The theme of Wicked Day 2022 this year is the "Citizens of Oz" and they asked the fans any questions that they would like to ask the staff, cast, and others involved with Wicked. They have already started releasing videos on their Instagram page so feel free to check that out. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of Wicked: The Musical. What do you think they will be doing next year? Let me know in the comments. Well, that will do it for this year. I sure hope you have enjoyed the milestone celebration of Wicked: The Musical this year. Next year, we will be back for another Wicked celebration as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of A Lion Among Men, the third book in the Wicked saga. Have a happy Wicked Day!
Welcome back, fellow Ozians! We are jumping this week into "growing" years of Wicked: The Musical, the 10th to the 14th anniversaries. These are these years when Wicked really started gaining a following. Beginning on Wicked Day 2013, fans celebrated the 10th anniversary of the musical on Broadway. Festivities included such events as behind-the-scenes video tours from various cast members like Lindsay Mendez, who was playing Elphaba around this anniversary. There was a 10th anniversary deluxe CD that released (album sampler above) on top of multiple Youtube celebrations, more "out and about" performances in Bryant Park, a special curtain call, and a new trailer for the musical in the UK. It was just an amazing year for Wicked. But, I would like to hear from you! What was your favorite part of the 10th anniversary? Let me know the in the comments below as there was a lot that happened this year! How does one follow up after a Wicked Day like that? Well, big surprise, there was a huge release that year and for Wicked Day 2014, fans saw the release of a new match three game that unfolded the story of Wicked as you progressed through the Land of Oz. It was produced by 505 games and released on Facebook. It was such a fun game for Wicked fans alike to enjoy while engaging with the musical! Check out the trailer below! (It should be noted that the game has been discontinued since its release in 2014). In addition to the game, this year saw the Quilt Competition where fans entered their designs for display at the Gershwin Theatre. Since the play opened, fans could purchase memorabilia from The OzDust Boutique, a Wicked: The Musical themed store located at the Gershwin Theatre. Wicked Day 2015 saw the opening of the online OzDust Boutique where fans could purchase anything and everything that was sold in house. It still releases some fun merchandise every year along with released merchandise on Wicked Day. So, get your some wonderful collectibles by shopping at the online OzDust Boutique (now called Wicked: The Musical Store). Moving into Wicked Day 2016, and a celebration of the 5th anniversary of the fourth book in the Wicked saga, celebrities and notable performers from the musical began a YouTube series called "Out of Oz". These musical sessions took place in a studio outside of the musical, hence "out of Oz", and were revamped versions of the songs heard in the musical. It released a bunch in 2016 and has been releasing them on and off over the past 6 years. Check it out for yourself and click the picture below. Also, check out the Facebook page for more videos from 2016 like the different Elphabas performing. For Wicked Day 2017, fans jumped onto Facebook for the first every livestream event from Wicked: the Musical! There have been events on Facebook before but never to the extent that they did this year! It was a full on experience. Check it out by clicking the picture below or searching for Wicked Day 2017 on the Facebook page. In addition to this livestream event, a Wicked Day 2017 t-shirt was released and various other pieces on the online store. Well, that will cover the years when Wicked: The Musical began making a bigger and more swankified name for itself. Let me know which part of these years have been fun for you in the comments below. Up next, we will be concluding our Wicked festivities for this year as reflect on Wicked's recent years and what to we might expect for the 20th anniversary and beyond.
Welcome back to another week exploring the many milestones of Wicked: The Musical as we gracefully sail through each year and discuss the many activities, merchandise, and notable components that were introduced each Wicked Day. In Wicked's younger years, the fifth to ninth anniversary celebrations, we saw new CD and book releases, branching out moments, and lots and lots of fun interactive activities. So, let's get going. Wicked Day 2008 was the fifth anniversary and a milestone marker that brought about a fifth anniversary CD compilation with special features and a biography by Stephen Schwartz, the composer behind the music of Wicked: the Musical. Both of which you can still get online or at a local library. Also, 2008 was the year that Wicked: The Musical opened in Melbourne, Australia as well as Broadway.com documented some fun Wicked Day 2008 festivities like The Yellow Brick Road benefit. Check that out below! Wicked Day 2009 saw the release of an incredibly fun book, Wicked, the Musical: A Pop-up Compendium of Splendiferous Delight and Thrillifying Intrigue. It was a wonderful book with some awesome touches like a pair of Emerald City glasses you could wear for yourself. Of course, various products from the UK and Australia were also have their own annual celebrations as well! Wicked's seventh anniversary for Wicked Day 2010 saw the creation of the Youtube channel, Wicked the Musical, where weekly videos were uploaded to celebrate Wicked Day! Click the image below to be taken to the Youtube page. Additionally, 2010 saw the start of Wicked branching "out and about" with performances of various songs from the play at various parks around NYC with current actors. The 2010 musical list is available on their Facebook page under the playlist, "Out and About with Wicked", to experience. Wicked Day 2011 saw more "out and about" performances across various locations like a zoos and parks. Additionally, there was a fan contest for fans to vote for their favorite song from the musical. When the song was revealed at an after-hours event, it included many of the current and past performers from the musical. Check it out for yourself! Wicked Day 2012 saw the release of YouTube series, Behind the Emerald Curtain. This series gave viewers behind the scenes exclusives about costuming, instrumentation, choreography, and more. The videos range from 3 to 6 minutes and consist of about 20 videos. Check it out for yourself on the Wicked: The Musical channel under Behind the Emerald Curtain playlist. The first video in the series is below! Well, that will conclude our reflection of Wicked's elementary years. What has been your favorite moment so far? Let me know in the comments below.
Up next: The Teenage Years of Wicked! Hello and welcome back to another year of Wicked celebrations! This year, our 3rd annual celebration, will be a little different. Normally, we focus on the books, but as we look forward to the 20th anniversary next year of Wicked: The Musical, I would like to look back at how far we have come. Each week, we will reflect on what happened at different milestones since its opening year in 2003 by highlighting notable merchandise and celebratory activities that have been released over the years. So, let's get started! Wicked: The Musical, based on the first book in Gregory Maguire's Wicked saga, opened in San Francisco on May 28, 2003 as a pre-show performance. Months later, on October 30, 2003, a date that has been noted as "Wicked Day", was opening day on Broadway in NYC. When it hit Broadway, it became a phenomenal sensation. So, what actually happened on opening night (a.k.a. Wicked Day 2003)? Well, above, you can watch coverage from opening night of the musical on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in New York from The Broadway Beat as they interview the original Elphaba actress, Idina Menzel. A year later in 2004, Wicked: the Musical was featured in a PBS special "Broadway the American Musical". You can see that video below, which is the segment about Wicked, so enjoy as if you are celebrating Wicked Day 2004. Of course, when you went to see the play, you could purchase an official program, but on Wicked Day 2005, fans saw the release of Wicked: The Grimmerie. A clear reference to Elphaba's grimmerie, this behind-the-scenes book showcased every little detail and fun aspect about the play from looking at the outfits of students at Shiz University to the script of the play. It was a wonderful piece of merchandise that fans can still purchase to this day. Also, in 2005, Wicked began its first National Tour across the US. It is still going on today and you can out where its playing currently at www.wickedthemusical.com Wicked's 3rd anniversary saw a couple events happening. First, the soundtrack of the musical was first released on CD while fans of Wicked hit the streets to celebrate with costume contests, face-painting, games, and music (most likely from the musical). Check out photos here from Broadway.com from the festivities and below is the cover of the original musical soundtrack. Over across the country, in LA, the man behind the musical, Stephen Schwartz was jamming it up at Universal City Walk for a Wicked Day celebration. Also, Wicked began growing by starting performances in the UK this year as well. Wicked Day 2007 saw another year of celebratory festivities like the previous year; however, one thing that was a definite highlight this year was that Wicked made it into another documentary called ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway. Below you can see the first part of the Wicked section within this documentary. Check out both parts on Youtube. It is definitely an enjoyable watch! Well, that will close off Wicked's opening years. Next time, we will explore Wicked's younger years from Wicked Day 2008 to Wicked Day 2012 identifying different notable pieces that were released in celebration of the musical.
As we close out our Wicked and Out of Oz celebrations this year, I leave you with a fun playlist that was inspired by the title of the book, Out of Oz, and nothing more. Even though Rain or Iskinaary do not make an appearance in this playlist, I do enjoy listening to any variation from the Wicked soundtrack, as it shows how you can definitely be inspired by your own craft and invention. So, please enjoy the Out of Oz playlist from Wicked: the Musical, where singers perform songs from the musical in a recording studio and outside of Oz, where the original songs take place. For this week's post, we are discussing one of the more obscure and fascinating characters to me, Iskinaary. In Son of a Witch, we are introduced to this verbose and hilariously vain grey goose. He chooses to stick by Liir's side and goes back with him to the Apple Press Farm, which resides in the Vinkus region of Oz. Iskinaary is self-identified as Liir's "familiar" and sees himself as very intelligent. He remerges in Out of Oz as Rain's protector. He is also a member of the Conference of the Birds, an organization of birds that watches all the events unfold in Oz from the skies. I personally was fascinated with this character because he just helped himself to help others. It is like he wanted to be liked but had to force himself into other's company just to be acknowledged. What did you think about this character? Let me know in the comments below.
For this Wicked Day (or Weekend) post, we highlight Elphaba's witches viewing globe. Rain found this globe at Kiamo Ko and it reacted to her causing her to always see visions, in which she had to interpret. What do you think about this amazing witches globe? Let me know in the comments below. I think this would be great if it was replicated and made for our world.
As we roll in the final days of spooky season while celebrating the 10th anniversary of Out of Oz, what better way to celebrate both then with an appearance of Jack Pumpkinhead. Actually more of a reference to him within a rousing bit of poetry by Mr. Boss, one of Rain's quest companions within the Wicked saga. Let's check it out! So, if Jack eats pumpkin bread, is he a cannibal? I will let you answer that. Of course, Jack Pumpkinhead may not make an appearance in this book, but he sure does make an appearance in another of Maguire's books within the Wicked saga called Tales Told in Oz. In this book, Jack Pumpkinhead is given an origin story in the short story, "Four Improbable Handshakes". Be sure to check out that story and the others. I found the book through my library system instead of paying for it. I enjoyed the Quadling poetry. It was enjoyable to read.
In the fourth book, Out of Oz, we are given the chronology of events throughout the Wicked books. Check it out below. Some fascinating tidbits that I picked up looking at this are facts like Elphaba (or the Wicked Witch) was supposed to be thirty-eight when she was "killed" and her son only 14 years old when this happened?! What must that have been like for him? (HINT: that can be answered in Book 2).
Also, Liir (Elphaba's "son") was twenty-four when his daughter was born and Rain is around 7 or 8 when the fourth book begins. So, what happened in all that time from birth to book beginning? That can be answered in Book 4. It is truly fascinating to me as it gives a timeline for when these characters experienced these major life events. What did you learn from this chronology of events after reading it? Let me know in the comments below. |