And as far as Wicked being more culturally significant, theater fans all over the world have gone to see Chicago, The Producers, etc- but only Wicked has ascended into pop culture out of all those. Um...Chicago ascended to pop culture when its signature choreography started appearing in television, commercials and film. And it's not just theatre fans that have kept Chicago going on Broadway for 13 years and the West End for 12, not to mention the countless international productions and tours. The film adaptation was a huge hit and won the Oscar for Best Picture. How has Chicago NOT ascended into pop culture? The original production was left in the shadow by A Chorus Line in 1975, but the revival turned a cult favorite of musical theatre fans into an internationally acclaimed production that has been enjoying worldwide success for over a decade already and led to the first musical film to earn a Best Picture Oscar in over 30 years.
Wicked is the biggest runaway Broadway hit since Rent and Chicago, but I have seen no evidence that it has somehow led musical theatre into the realms of pop culture more far reaching than the likes of Chicago or even Rent, which started a cult phenomenon the likes Broadway had never before seen. But I am curious to know how Wicked has specifically surpassed every other musical in terms of pop culture other than its two main characters, which had been established previously in the Baum books, the film and then again by Gregory Maguire.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
