The Latest Breaking News from Stephen Schwartz

With its real tulips, real singing and real BFFs Ariande Grande and Cynthia Erivo front and centre, this musical is as authentic and credible as fantasy gets

“I just kind of mustered up the courage to say ‘you know, respectfully, I think maybe she does not have that in her’”

The much-anticipated first part of the blockbuster musical adaptation has bewitched audiences worldwide, but there are dark times ahead in the sequel

Chart star Ariana Grande refused to make one of her 'Wicked' songs more 'hip-hop' because she didn't want to be seen as a pop singer playing a character.

Green-witch market! A Liberty’s collab! Jeff Goldblum on a piano! London is rolling out the green carpet for the adaptation of the stage hit

Your biggest questions answered

The journey from successful stage musical to big-screen adaptation is rarely truly successful. From director Joshua Logan’s use of coloured filters in the 1950s adaptation of South Pacific (which looks as if something is wrong) to Tom Hooper’s recent mega-mess movie of Cats, there are so many pitfalls to avoid.

As director Jon M Chu’s first instalment of the mega-musical adaptation Wicked arrives in cinemas, a new audience of fans is connecting with Stephen Schwartz’s memorable score. Featuring hits including Popular, The Wizard and I and For Good, the musical is particularly loved for its celebration of female characters in…

3/5 This story of self-acceptance and female empowerment is visually ravishing but with part one an hour longer than The Wizard of Oz even the superfans may wish they’d get a move on