A green whirlwind that has swept across the globe finally lands in South Korea.
The musical 'Wicked' (produced by S&Co) has confirmed performances this year in three cities: Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. This is the original performance in Korea in 13 years since its premiere in the country. The Seoul performance will take place from July 12 to October 26 at the Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall, the Busan performance will open in November at the Dream Theater, and the Daegu performance is scheduled to open in January 2026 at the Keimyung Arts Center.
'Wicked' is described as a 'blockbuster musical' due to its strong popularity and cultural impact. It has been viewed by over 70 million people in 16 countries and has generated $6 billion in revenue, ranking second in Broadway's all-time box office and achieving the fourth longest-running musical with 7,486 performances as of April 2023.
The explosive popularity of 'Wicked,' which began as a musical, is now referred to as a "Broadway sensation." In particular, last year's film of the same name, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, achieved over $700 million at the box office, setting the record for the highest worldwide box office for a stage musical adaptation, while also attracting 2.2 million viewers domestically.
As the 'Wicked craze' rages in major cities around the world, it has finally become possible to experience it live in South Korea. The 'Wicked' tour, produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere in 2023, will perform in South Korea after Singapore in March, following Australia. It is expected to be a large project with performances in three cities: Seoul, Busan, and Daegu.
Meanwhile, the musical 'Wicked' features the exquisite music of Stephen Schwartz, unforgettable spectacular scenes, and enchanting characters Elphaba and Glinda, all intertwined with an uplifting yet profound message about friendship, growth, and understanding differences that will provide an unforgettable emotional experience for a lifetime.
The renowned composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman contributed to the production, with Joe Mantello directing and Wayne Cilento staging the original production.
Eugene Lee, a three-time Tony Award-winning set designer, and Susan Hilferty, a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-winning costume designer, participated in the production.
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