The green whirlwind that has swept the world finally lands in Korea! The musical 'Wicked' (produced by S&Co), described as a “massive blockbuster musical on Broadway” (New York Times), has confirmed performances in three cities: Seoul, Busan, and Daegu this year. This will be the original Korean performance after 13 years since its premiere in Korea, with the Seoul show running from July 12 to October 26 at the Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall, the Busan show opening in November at the Dream Theater, and the Daegu show set to open in January 2026 at the Keimyung Art Center.
Since its Broadway premiere in 2003, 'Wicked' has remained the most successful work for 22 years, enjoying unending popularity. It is described as a 'blockbuster musical' due to its strong box office performance and cultural impact. Over 70 million people have seen it in 16 countries, generating $6 billion in revenue, and it currently ranks as the second highest-grossing show in Broadway history. In April 2023, it achieved the fourth longest-running musical with its 7486th performance. In the last week of December 2024, it recorded a box office of $5,037,392 (approximately 7.22 billion won), becoming the first show in Broadway history to surpass the $5 million mark. In the West End, it set a record for the highest weekly box office of £1,701,637 in the first week of January 2025, and the record-breaking continues. It has won over 100 awards from prestigious ceremonies worldwide, including three Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Award, the Laurence Olivier Award, and the Grammy Award, and the album composed and written by Stephen Schwartz has been certified 'Triple Platinum', making it a rare work that has achieved both artistic and commercial success, and is considered the best hit content of the century.
The explosive popularity of 'Wicked', which started as a musical, is now referred to as a 'Broadway sensation'. The film adaptation of the same name, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, grossed over $700 million, setting the record for the highest worldwide box office for a musical film adaptation, and attracted 2.2 million viewers in Korea. The novel by Gregory Maguire, published in 1995, which served as the basis for the musical, has sold over 6 million copies, with 5.5 million sold after the musical's premiere in 2003, and it reclaimed the number one spot on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2024. Amidst the 'Wicked craze' sweeping major cities around the world, it is finally possible to experience it live in Korea.
The 'Wicked' tour, produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere in 2023, will perform in Korea after stops in Australia and Singapore in March. The original Korean performance, which took place in 2012 at Blue Square, was a great success, breaking records for paid occupancy, audience numbers, and revenue. Since then, three Korean productions, including long runs in Daegu and Busan, have all been successful, surpassing a cumulative audience of 900,000 in just four seasons, creating significant records that have driven the growth of the domestic musical industry. The '8 to 80 rule' of 'Wicked', which satisfies audiences from ages 8 to 80, continues in Korea, generating new musical audiences among youth, middle-aged, and male viewers, enjoying widespread popularity. The reason why 'Wicked', a rare performance that can be viewed in its original language after 13 years and a large-scale project connecting performances in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, is drawing attention for the new history it will write.
The musical 'Wicked' offers an unforgettable emotional experience with Stephen Schwartz's beautiful music, breathtaking iconic scenes, and captivating characters Elphaba and Glinda, along with a delightful yet profound message about friendship, growth, and understanding differences. The original production will be presented as it is, with lyrics and music by the renowned Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, direction by Joe Mantello, and musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The stage designer, Eugene Lee, a three-time Tony Award winner, and costume designer, Susan Hilferty, who has won both Tony and Drama Desk Awards, are also involved.
