The musical Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, focuses on the strong female friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and the Good Witch of the North (Glinda), despite the novel centering more on political turmoil and Elphaba’s relationship with Fiyero. Kristin Chenoweth, who portrayed Glinda in the original cast alongside Idina Menzel as Elphaba, believes the show’s success is due to the bond between the two female characters, despite the show’s initially rocky start. The two actresses felt blessed to be part of something that has left a lasting mark on the world of musical theater.
Wicked had a three-month preview run in San Francisco before its Broadway premiere in 2003. Despite some initial problems, Chenoweth felt confident in the show’s success after the first night in front of an audience. The show went on to win three Tony Awards in 2004 and has become one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. A movie adaptation of Wicked is set to be released in two parts, with Part 1 starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. Chenoweth encouraged Grande to bring her own spin to the character for the film.
Chenoweth is preparing to debut her new musical, The Queen of Versailles, written by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, in July at the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston. The Tony Award winner also opened up about her struggles with chronic migraines, which led her to try Botox treatment. She credits Botox with changing her life, as it helped with her migraines and allowed her to continue her career as an actor. Neurologist Dr. Hope O’Brien highlighted the stigma around chronic migraine, where women often stay silent about their condition due to fear of being seen as weak. It is estimated that 4 million Americans suffer from chronic migraine.
Chenoweth and Menzel’s portrayal of Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked solidified the importance of the friendship between the two female characters in the show. Despite the initial focus on other aspects of the story in the novel, the musical’s emphasis on the bond between Glinda and Elphaba resonated with audiences and became a defining feature of the production. As Wicked prepares for a movie adaptation, Chenoweth has offered support to Grande in interpreting the character of Glinda in her own unique way for the films. The success of Wicked speaks to the enduring appeal of strong female friendships in storytelling and the impact they can have on audiences.
