Upcoming Wicked dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Wicked on stage: the story and the people behind it
Wicked is the stage musical that retells The Wizard of Oz from the witches' side: Elphaba, the green-skinned outsider who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the popular classmate who becomes Glinda the Good. It has played on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre on West 51st Street since October 30, 2003, and it tours North America with a full-scale company. Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics, Winnie Holzman wrote the book, and the source is Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Joe Mantello directed and Wayne Cilento choreographed. The show tried out at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in June 2003, then opened on Broadway with Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda. The score's best-known songs include "The Wizard and I," "Popular," "Defying Gravity" and "For Good."
Wicked opened to mixed reviews and won 3 of its 10 Tony nominations, including Best Actress for Menzel and the scenic and costume design awards. Audiences, not critics, built its reputation. It passed one billion in Broadway grosses in 2016, and it now ranks behind only The Lion King among the highest-grossing musicals in Broadway history.
The films, and how they changed demand for the stage show
The two-part film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, introduced the story to a new audience: Wicked (November 2024), with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and Wicked: For Good (November 2025). The films follow the stage show's two acts, so the first film ends roughly where the stage intermission falls.
The stage show is the original, not a version of the films. It runs about the length of a single film and tells the whole story in one evening. The films also lifted demand for the stage production: in the final week of 2024, shortly after the first film opened, the Broadway company became the first show to gross more than five million in a single week. Expect holiday-season demand to stay strong while the films remain fresh.
Where Wicked plays: Broadway, the tour and abroad
- Broadway: Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
- North American tour: the show has toured almost continuously since 2005. The first company ran from 2005 to 2015, and a second company launched in 2009, paused in March 2020 and resumed in August 2021. The official site posts current cities.
- London: Apollo Victoria Theatre, open since September 2006 and among the longest-running shows in West End history.
The Gershwin occupies the second floor of the Paramount Plaza office tower, reached by escalators from the street-level lobby. The upstairs lobby also houses the American Theater Hall of Fame, a wall of names worth a few minutes before the show. Allow extra time for the escalators at peak arrival.
Runtime, age guidance and what to expect
Wicked runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. The production recommends it for ages 8 and up, children under 5 are not admitted, and every guest needs a ticket regardless of age. Booster seats are available for smaller children.
The 8-and-up guidance reflects length and a few darker, louder moments rather than adult content, and the show is a common first Broadway outing for families. Children who have seen the films usually follow the story easily. Plan restroom breaks around the single intermission, because the lines at a theater this size build quickly.
As of 2026, the production holds late arrivals seated in the orchestra in the lobby until about 20 minutes into the show. Check the current policy on the official Wicked FAQ before you go.
Best seats for Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre
The Gershwin is Broadway's largest theater, with about 1,933 seats on two levels: an orchestra of roughly 1,300 seats and a mezzanine of about 600. Because the orchestra is so deep, the distance between the best and worst orchestra seats is greater here than in most Broadway houses.
Middle orchestra and front mezzanine
A large mechanical dragon sits above the stage frame, and several big moments, including the Act One finale, use the full height of the stage. Middle center orchestra and the front of the center mezzanine show all of it. For a first visit, the first few rows of center mezzanine are arguably the best seats in the house: the full stage picture, the dragon at eye level and a clear view of "Defying Gravity."
Very close and very far
The first rows of the orchestra feel intimate but force you to look up past the stage lip, and the dragon disappears overhead. Deep rear orchestra rows sit under the mezzanine overhang, which can cut off the top of the stage at the exact moment the show plays highest. The rear mezzanine sees the full stage but is far enough away that facial expressions fade.
Value picks
- Side orchestra, middle rows: usually cheaper than center with only slight angle loss.
- Rear orchestra, before the overhang: stadium-style rows give children a clearer view over adults.
- Middle mezzanine center: full-stage view for a family budget.
When Wicked is hardest to get
Wicked draws heavily on families and visitors, so its demand curve follows school calendars more closely than most adult-oriented shows.
- Peak weeks: Thanksgiving, Christmas through New Year's, Presidents' Day week, spring break and July.
- Strong: Saturday matinees and evenings, and Sunday matinees year-round.
- Easiest: Tuesday through Thursday evenings in January, February, September and early November.
The production runs a digital lottery that opens the day before each eligible performance and a limited day-of rush at the Gershwin box office, which may include partial-view seats. For a specific date, especially a holiday matinee, buying weeks ahead gives you more choice of center seats. GoodSeats orders include guaranteed entry.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Wicked on Broadway?
2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
What age is Wicked appropriate for?
The production recommends ages 8 and up. Children under 5 are not permitted, and everyone needs a ticket.
Is the Wicked stage show the same as the movies?
The films adapt the stage musical, and the stage show tells the whole story in one evening. The two films split it into two parts that roughly follow the stage show's two acts.
Where is the best place to sit for Wicked?
Middle center orchestra and the front of the center mezzanine show the full stage and the dragon above it. Very front rows and deep rear orchestra rows under the overhang see less of the top of the stage.
Which theater is Wicked in?
The Gershwin Theatre at 222 West 51st Street, Broadway's largest theater, where Wicked has played since 2003.