Kristin Chenoweth Discusses 'Wicked' Adaptation Emphasizing Female Friendship (Interview)

Kristin Chenoweth Reminisces on Wicked Early Days

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The musical Wicked is famous for its portrayal of a strong female friendship. However, original star Kristin Chenoweth revealed that the story almost took a different direction.

According to Chenoweth, 55, the true love story in the show is between the two female leads. She explained that the focus is on their bond, which was not the initial intention of the creators. Chenoweth expressed gratitude for being part of a production that has made a significant impact in the world of musical theater.

Wicked is a story based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, which serves as a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. It explains the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and the Good Witch of the North (Glinda).

The musical adaptation of Wicked focuses on the friendship between the two women, while the novel delves more into the political turmoil in the fictional land of Oz and Elphaba's relationship with Fiyero, a prince and former classmate. In the musical, Fiyero becomes a love interest for both Elphaba and Glinda, leading to tension in their friendship.

Chenoweth and Menzel, who were 52 at the time, played Glinda and Elphaba in the original cast of Wicked. Before its Broadway debut in 2003, the show had a three-month preview run in San Francisco.

“I noticed some issues with the show at the start, but when the audience showed up on the very first night, I turned to Idina after the show and said, ‘It doesn’t matter what the critics think. We have a hit because the audience has spoken,’” she told Us. “We did make some improvements, the show kept getting better and better, as is customary during an out-of-town tryout. But I was confident that it would be successful because it resonated with people.”

Kristin Chenoweth Reminisces on Wicked Early Days

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel of “Wicked” perform on stage during the 2004 Tony Awards Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Wicked, which won three Tony Awards in 2004, has become one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. The first part of the musical's two-part movie adaptation is set to be released on November 27. The movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.

Kristin Chenoweth, who has known Grande since the pop star was 10 years old, revealed that she encouraged Grande to put her own spin on the character for the films. Chenoweth told Grande, "Do you. Do your Glinda. I did mine. Now it's your turn." She hopes that this advice gave Grande the freedom to make the character her own.

Chenoweth is getting ready to premiere her new musical The Queen of Versailles in July at the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston. The show is written by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz. In a recent interview with Us, the Tony Award winner opened up about her battle with chronic migraines. She shared a story about experiencing a severe migraine on stage at 25 and having to spend "three days" in a hotel room to recover.

Kristin Chenoweth Reminisces on Wicked Early Days

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Kristin Chenoweth, McKenzie Kurtz, Alyssa Fox and Idina Menzel at the “Wicked on Broadway 20th Anniversary Celebration”

I was fortunate enough to have my doctor suggest trying Botox for my migraines. At first, I hesitated because I'm an actor and I wanted to be able to move my face. But my doctor assured me that Botox was not for cosmetic purposes in this case. I had a choice to make - either retire from acting or trust my doctor and lean back on that table for the treatment. And I'm so glad I chose the latter, as Botox has truly transformed my life.

Neurologist Dr. Hope O'Brien, who is the founder and CEO of the Headache Center of Hope, highlighted the stigma surrounding migraines, especially for women. Many women suffer in silence because they fear being seen as weak or vulnerable. This leads to delays in diagnosis, with many women living for years with chronic migraines without proper treatment. In fact, chronic migraine affects around 4 million Americans in the U.S.

With reporting by Aileen Bergin

Editor's P/S:

The article sheds light on the enduring legacy of "Wicked," a Broadway musical that has captivated audiences with its portrayal of a powerful female friendship. Kristin Chenoweth, who played Glinda in the original cast, reveals that the focus on this bond was not the initial intention, but it ultimately became the heart of the show. The musical's success has not only resonated with audiences but has also inspired a film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Beyond the discussion of "Wicked," the article addresses the important issue of chronic migraines. Chenoweth shares her personal experience with the condition and the transformative benefits she has found with Botox treatment. Her story highlights the stigma surrounding migraines, particularly for women, and the need for increased awareness and access to effective treatment options.