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Gershwin Theatre, Theater District, Manhattan

Wicked

Stephen Schwartz's Oz prequel has held the 1,900-seat Gershwin since 2003 and Defying Gravity still stops the room at the act break.

Wikimedia Commons image; CC BY 3.0; attribution: Photo: Andreas Praefcke; source page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gershwin_Theatre_NYC.jpg

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BroadwayMusicalFamily-friendly

The Gershwin is the biggest house on Broadway and Wicked uses every inch of it, from the clockwork dragon over the proscenium to the moment Elphaba rises on a hidden lift at the end of the first act. Two feature films have brought a whole new audience to a show that has been selling out the same theatre for over two decades. If you are bringing family who want one unambiguous, everybody-knows-it Broadway night, this is the safest bet in town.

What to expect

Two and a half hours of large-scale spectacle: Eugene Lee's steampunk Oz, Susan Hilferty's costumes, and a company big enough to fill a stage the size of the Gershwin's. Expect the audience to erupt for Defying Gravity and Popular, and a merchandise queue at both intervals.

Good to know

  • The Gershwin is on West 51st Street; the 1 train to 50th Street or the C and E to 50th Street are closest.
  • It is the largest Broadway theatre, so front mezzanine often beats rear orchestra for sightlines.
  • Kids from about eight upwards handle it well; under-fives are not admitted.
  • A digital lottery offers a limited block of discounted seats for each performance.
  • The lobby gift shop and bathroom queues are long, so arrive early rather than at the bell.

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Common questions

Do I need to have seen the Wizard of Oz or the films?

No. The musical explains its own version of Oz from the first scene. Knowing the 1939 film adds a layer of jokes but is not required.

Is it the same as the movies?

The films adapt the same stage musical, split across two parts, but the theatre version is a single evening with staging, flying effects and a live orchestra you cannot get on screen.

What age is it suitable for?

Broadly eight and up. There are some frightening images and the plot deals with prejudice and betrayal, but it is one of the more family-friendly big musicals running.

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