Why are teenage girls obsessed with WICKED?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:35pm

Flipping through the incredible volume of WICKED posts on this site, they seem to mostly be from High School/College kids.

The show isn't that big with my gay friends or my theatre friends in their 20s, so what is the draw for the young'uns? It's like ANNIE all over again.
Updated On: 4/20/05 at 05:35 PM

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:40pm

Identification with the 'outsider' girl who overcomes the odds and is the heroine.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:40pm

Uh-oh

[MissElphie]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:41pm

I'm a Wicked obsessed college girl. You are right. There are a lot of us. I'm not quite sure why. For me personally it is because the show makes me feel like a kid again. I also love that it is very woman-oriented. I can relate to the characters and their struggles, despite the fantasy elements. I'm still not sure how to pinpoint exactly why, but the show just does something to me. It's hard to explain...

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:44pm

I'm a 20-year-old Wicked freak and proud of it! :) For me personally, it not technically the best show I've ever seen. It has its weaknesses. But it touches me more deeply than any show I've ever seen. I guess that's what it is.
Updated On: 4/20/05 at 05:44 PM

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:50pm

It's all about identifying with the unpopular..much like the Christina Aguilera song 'Beautiful" it was most popular with girls who couldn't find prom dates cause it made them feel beautiul no matter what they say. Same with Wicked, Elphie could defy gravity even thou she wasn't as cute, popular, etc etc

[ikmbway]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:52pm

I am a teen girl obsessed with it although i've wickeded my self out and dont listen to it as much but after i get bored of rent for a bit Wicked will come back. I am still in love with it and it started my love for theater! I love the music and the people who were in it. I also saw it in previews so it was cool. It just inspired me to do a lot.

[BeautifullyTragic]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:53pm

Are you asking this in earnest? Because I think I may offer some insight into this, if it hasn't been heard before. If this was just a post to poke fun at "teenfangirls", I'm sorry I answered truthfully.

I am a teenage girl. I'm 16 years old. Rent was my first Broadway show, Wicked was my second. Since I have made a conscience effort to educate myself in all aspects of Broadway. I ackowledge that Wicked is not a wonderful show, and this does not bother me. And hopefully by putting this information before my post, those who do think of "teenfangirls" as being young and ignorant, will not judge my book by its cover.

As far as Wicked goes, I think it offers something...different. In a society that demands perfection and beauty, Wicked, as elementary as it seems, displays a different message. Elphaba is this not conventionally pretty, misunderstood, naive girl who is shunned and made fun of by her peers. A lot of people can identify with that, in and out of high school. Elphaba is also a smart, fiery, person who is truely a good individual and is so idealistic. She becomes this person that girls such as myself come to identify with. And not only that, but she finds someone who understands her and loves her unconditionally. And although this concept can appeal to everyone, I think it especially appeals to your so-called "teenfangirls" such as myself, who are experiencing all of these events growing up, and finally, for once see a person who is different, and who is truely beautiful, and ends up happy, and has found a way to not listen to society telling her that she isn't a cookie cutter cutout of the perfect girl, and therefore is insignificant.

Just an opinion, of course.

Oh, and I did have a date to prom.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:55pm

No I am asking this in all sincerity. And thank you for your great post Tragic.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:56pm

Identifying with Elphaba is a major part of it, but I think there are other sides: the fact that the shallow popular pretty girl overcomes her stereotype and ends up a good, caring person, a lot of girls probably wish for that. The whole idea of Defying Gravity, for me, is just about so much more about Elphaba. It's not even that special to me becuase she's not pretty, she's defying gravity, she's gonna attempt and never give up something that seems impossible, and than can motivate anyone. Recently, I had to do something I was very afraid of, and I actually found that I was singing Defying Gravity in my head. And I dunno, for me it's more about identifying, I just love the message of the show, and the performances and the songs and the effects and yeah.

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:02pm

There's a green girl inside all of us.....

And I think Defying Gravity is a wonderful song! I love the idea that Elphaba has been lied to so long that she no longer believes anything, not even the "Law" of Gravity. A wonderful idea brought to the stage.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:06pm

Ugh. There are HUNDREDS of these threads! Wicked bashing, Wicked loving, "What does Idina eat for breakfast?" "How do they do that?" "What's KC's and Idina's relationship like?" "OMG WICKED!".
Michael Bennett- I know you were simply posing a question. But to be perfectly honest- NO one can give a true answer. I myself am a fan and don't even know why. It is my ultimate guilty pleasure yet I know it isn't the best show around. It's one of the greatest mysteries of life, like why Keanu Reeves keeps getting work. Wicked is going to be one of those shows where you don't know whether it's reputation will become more respected as the years go on or it will be the target of numerous, tasteless and annoying jokes like with Cats. It'll either withstand the test of time or will wither within ten years after it closes. Who knows? All I know is, I like it because the songs are catchy (despite some childish lyrics) amazing techincal aspects and can bring real powerhouse performances.

[ozdustgirl2]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:16pm

I am a fan of WICKED but it was not the first show I had ever seen and it did not draw me to the theater because I loved the theater long before it. I saw my first show when I was in second grade. I am in college and saw WICKED when I was a senior in high school last year. I am glad you are asking this question in all seriousness.

I felt an attraction to this show because of Elphaba. I had not seen the Wizard of Oz prior to seeing WICKED and was not looking forward to seeing the show, but when I got to that theater all of my memories of the theater came flooding back. I was one of the few people in my class to have been to the theater before and I take it very seriously.

There are problems with the show but to me it lets everyone know that no matter who you are you can do good and make of your life what you want to. Elphaba tried hard to fit in and make her dreams come true but that doesnt always happen. I am the same way. I had friends in school but none that I hung out with all the time. I am a farm girl and I would rather be out working the land and with my animals then out with my friends drinking.

I felt after seeing the show that it was alright that I was this way because I was doing my good deed, although it sometimes backfires on me its what I want to do.

I also think the WICKED touches the hearts of teenage and college aged girls because everyone has their rough times and there times when they are just awkward and seeing a character on the stage that is from a show they have grown up with gives them hope that one day they will find themselves and make something good from their lives.

so thats all i have to say if you want anything else please PM me.

~Katie

[Aigoo]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:19pm

I'm 14, and I wouldn't say I fall under the "teenboopyohemgee" stereotype, but when my friend brought in the Wicked CD to an art class, I feel in love with musical theatre. It's been about a month and a half since she brought in the CD, and I've been trying my best to get myself up to speed on classic musicals and contemporary musicals. You could also say that Wicked inspired me to explore singing, as well. [But just because I like Wicked, doesn't mean I'm in LOOOVEEE with Idina. She's good, but there are others. Some fans aren't willing to see past that.]

And in answer to your question, why are teenage girls obsessed with Wicked, it may be because of the style of music it's in. It's a more poppish/rock genre with some catchy things in between. The tunes that are woven through the show are different from what you hear on the radio nowadays and some teenagers are willing to accept that, and eventually, become obsessed.

[DefyingPopular]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:24pm

I'm in my 20's and I love it...

I'm not going to post my whole story here about it cause it's irrelevant, however I think that maybe a lot of people relate to it and also because it's based on 'The Wizard Of Oz' which to my group of friends and *using the term lightly* generation that I grew up in/with, that was THE movie to see. I mean, how many people in their 20's haven't seen it? Sure, it wasn't my favorite movie... and I was terrified of it, but I mean... it's still considered to be a 'classic'.

As for relating to Wicked, everyone knows someone who is 'Elphaba'. I'm sure a lot of people feel as though they ARE Elphaba at certain points in their life. It's a play that everyone can relate too... When I first saw it, I was totally into Glinda, and a lot of her actions were close to mine. Not quite as much as the popularity, but i'm a lot more bubbly and 'ditzy' if you will then Elphaba's contained self. However upon seeing it a few times, I began to love Elphie's journey a lot more than Glinda's 'shallowness'.

I find that Wicked makes people feel at home and hopefully enables them to be somewhat comfortable in their own skin and realize others out there have similiar problems. if that makes any sense?

[Chlydomnestra]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:35pm

Well, I agree that there will never be a suitable answer for this question. I don't refer to myself as obsessed, but I do love the show. Obsession only comes into play when discussing the broad category of Oz, which has and continues to be a love of mine since I was probably 5 or so. I'm now 27. The only dolls I ever owned were Oz dolls, and I got them when I was like 9 and they were my major Christmas gift. Anyway, getting back to the topic, I like the musical because it puts a new spin on a very old story and as far as popularity...that speaks for itself I think. Wicked is one of the few musicals to ever come about that has had a fan base for over one hundred years. People have loved Oz for a very long time, and a great majority of those people are women. How many other musicals have been brought to life, having had exposure even before the initial novel was written. I realize that some may argue that it's not the same as Wizard of Oz, but let's be real...Glinda...Witch of the West, both well known fictional characters.
Again, I cannot answer why the boom with teen girls, or women in general, but the musical itself is I believe a phenomenon because it is familiar.
Personally, it's not my tops on musicals...spot reserved for Rent, but it's at least in the top 5.
Rent, West Side Story, Avenue Q, Wicked, Annie Get Your Gun.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:37pm

I think it's because it's very pop-music oriented and it originally starred to women whom they like......

[Thenardier]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:41pm

I like it because Idina is hot, JLT is pretty, and Saycon is as well

[babygiraffeboots]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:42pm

It's very relatable. It's like asking why 8 year old love annie. The outcast thing is a big part of it, Elphaba is the struggling teenager who just can't seem to fit in. The fairytale aspect also let's it become more of an escape, you're in a different world. I'm not a teenybopper but I am a teenager who loves the show because of the comfort and strength it has given me, similar to the way RENT has affected me.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 6:43pm

I think a lot of girls identify with "Wicked" for the same reasons they identify with Eponine: They're both sort of outsiders and the boy they like likes someone else. At least, that was how *I* felt during my Eponine phase. Everyone goes through at least a short period of feeling like this, and anyone who says otherwise is lying.

"Wicked is going to be one of those shows where you don't know whether it's reputation will become more respected as the years go on or it will be the target of numerous, tasteless and annoying jokes like with Cats."

I think that will depend on how long it runs. The CATS jokes really started to pick up steam the longer it ran.

Also, the "Wicked" fans who have posted in this thread are the #1 reason why I am trying my hardest not to group all "Wicked" fans together. The fans that drive me nuts are the ones who build shrines to Idina outside the theater and pray to her (!) and all that. As a matter of fact, fans of anyone or anything who do that stuff bother me. It's creepy...

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 7:12pm

I think a lot of its popularity can be boiled down to:

1) (Almost) Every girl has seen the Wizard of Oz and wanted to be Dorothy. When you make the Witch the awkward underdog, it makes them take notice. The geeky ones relate to Elphaba, and everyone wishes they were like Galinda in high school. (Including KC's boobs.)

2) You have two attractive and young-looking female leads.

3) They're singing pop songs.


The harder question is given these three factors and the type of pop culture products being advertised to the same demographic, how could teenage girls not be obsessed with Wicked??

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 7:17pm

I think Type_A_Tiff said everything perfectly. At my school, I can think of about 100 girls who live for Wicked and for Idina Menzel. I saw the show once with Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. It's not terrible by any stretch, but I can think of about fifty different shows off the top of my head that are better that haven't been half as successful as Wicked.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 7:29pm

I think it's great that so many young girls are getting interested in musicals because of this one show. All the arguments about identifying with the characters are mere justicications. PHANTOM Phans tried to do the same thing

What does concern me is that they save up their money and go see WICKED, then save up their $ and go see it again to the exclusion of all other shows, and that's not good.

It would be fine if it were all in one ongoing WICKED thread, but there are far too many of them popping up.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 7:31pm

Exactly, frontrowcentre. And it's not so much the volume of threads that are aggravating, but the redundancy and stupidity of a lot of them. (Did we really need two threads on Idina's lip gloss??)

[Dummy]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 7:47pm

I've not seen Wicked, but I read the book several years ago & enjoyed it very much. What I remember most, however, was the political thrust of the story. Has that been lost in the musical version? I was hoping to find in this thread that the show was inspiring a growing interest in political activism among young women, but most posters seem focused on the relationship between popular girl and unpopular girl.

Did this production not stir anything up in young people about our current political climate?
Updated On: 4/20/05 at 07:47 PM