You’ll Never Guess Which Sunny Destination Inspired This Massive Broadway Hit

The famous musical Wicked has an interesting past you should know about

You probably know “Wicked” as the mega-hit musical that gave us “Defying Gravity,” but did you know the idea for Broadway phenomenon came during snorkeling trip in Maui? Swipe to find out more.

A Free Trip That Changed Broadway Forever

In December 1996, Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz was invited to Hawaii by his friend, singer/songwriter John Bucchino.

Schwartz said yes, thinking he’d relax in the sun for a week. Instead, he stumbled onto the idea for Wicked—one of the most iconic musicals of all time.

Post-Snorkeling Inspiration

During a snorkeling trip off Maui, on literally the last day of vacation, another friend, folksinger Holly Near, mentioned reading a fascinating book.

That book? “The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire. The book was all about our favorite green Witch’s side of the story.

The “Lightbulb Moment” Happened in the Middle of Paradise

Schwartz has described the moment as a mental “ding,” like creative bells going off in his head. He had long been captivated by retelling familiar stories from a whole new point of view, and Maguire’s book was exactly that.

Sometimes life-changing moments happen when you’re just trying to get a tan, especially when you’re in Hawaii.

He Went From Fish-Spotting to Plot-Spotting

The irony? Schwartz wasn’t working or even thinking about work in Hawaii—he was floating in some of the most beautiful waters in the world.

Schwartz Didn’t Waste a Second Post-Vacation

Most people come back from Hawaii with a tan and a few souvenirs. Schwartz came back with urgency. As soon as he returned to LA, he called his lawyer to check if the rights to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked were still available.

Let the green girl go (on stage)

Unfortunately, Universal had already had the property at that time and planned to turn it into a live-action film.

Schwartz made a passionate appeal to Universal’s Marc Platt to make it a stage musical instead. We all know how that turned out. Wicked good.

The Wicked Musical Says Aloha to Honolulu

Decades later, the show had its Honolulu run at the Blaisdell Concert Hall . Nine local musicians joined the orchestra, blending island talent with one of Broadway’s biggest productions.

Elphaba, Glinda, And a Star from Kailua

The Honolulu shows featured Broadway powerhouses Mamie Parris as Elphaba and Alli Mauzey as Glinda, with Liz McCartney as Madame Morrible and PJ Benjamin as the Wizard.

Fiero, the dreamy prince who steals Elphaba’s heart, was played by Kailua native Cliffton Hall.

Mahalo, Stephen Schwartz and Hawaii

What started on a snorkeling boat in Maui continues to defy gravity. In 2024, the Wicked movie recorded one of the highest debuts in cinematic history for a Broadway adaptation.

So the next time you’re looking for inspiration, you may want to hop on a plane to Hawaii instead. You might just get that big idea that changes everything for good.