Balancing iconic familiarity with a contemporary lens, this story of voice, identity, and power feels more urgent than ever
Wicked: The Musical is the fourth-longest running Broadway show in history
When Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Wicked premiered nearly 22 years ago, it changed the landscape of musical theatre. So when Broadway Entertainment Group (BEG) began looking for its next major production after The Phantom of the Opera, it felt like a natural progression. A few years ago, James Bilios, executive director at BEG, approached the rights holders of Wicked. “We said, ‘Look, it’s a little tired on Broadway.’ We wanted to give it a real lift and bring it forward 25 years,” he says.
“We put together a team for a new interpretation, and while the music and script remain untouched, the reinvention lies in the world-building: It’s costumes, the makeup, scenography, direction, sets, and lighting. Nearly 200 people are involved in the process,” says Bilios. However, for him, spectacle alone isn’t enough. “I’m old enough now to say if I do something, it’s got to be meaningful, not just la-di-da Broadway entertainment. Beneath the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba, there’s something more urgent at play, a quiet subversiveness, a silencing of voices, the shadow of control, and the fear of difference. Elphaba’s story holds all of that,” he adds.
For Director John Stefaniuk, the real challenge was to balance familiarity with reinvention. “Wicked carries decades of cultural memory from The Wizard of Oz to the Gregory Maguire novel to the Broadway juggernaut. A lot of people feel invested in these characters. So I had to strike a balance between what is familiar and breathing new life into it, and not being afraid to tell it through a new kaleidoscope of colour and wonder. Different generations have connected the show to different struggles: from wartime oppression to civil rights movements to LGBTQIA+ identity,” says Stefaniuk.
For Michael Kholwadia, who plays Bok in Wicked, the journey to Mumbai is as personal as it is professional. Born in London, with Gujarati roots on his mother’s side, this will be his first time in India. “Bok starts with so much love and optimism. But over time, because of what happens to him, he forgets that he has a heart. It’s something many can relate to,” he reflects on his character’s emotional arc.
When: March 12 to 29
Where: The Grand Theatre, NMACC, BKC
Cost of tickets: Rs 2000 onwards
Book on: www.nmacc.com
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
