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Interview with ‘Wicked’ librettist Winnie Holzman, Part 1

By Michael Barnes | Friday, July 24, 2009, 11:45 AM

Winnie Holzman wrote the book (libretto) for “Wicked.” A screenwriter whose credits include scripts for “My So-Called Life” (which she created), “The Wonder Years” and “thirtysomething,” she teamed with composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (“Pippin,” “Godspell”) for the transformation of Gregory Maguire’s thickly layered novel — a reimagining of the Oz story — into a stage musical.

Out & About: It’s been six years since “Wicked” bewitched Broadway. It’s still a sensation. Why do you think?

Winnie Holzman: The people who create something are not always the ones to say. I think there are a lot of different elements, not just one thing. Part of it has to with its story about two young women, about standing up for the truth, standing up for what is right, standing up to the powers that be. Also the fact that it takes its characters from “The Wizard of Oz,” a great American story. It’s beloved, part of our heritage. It’s a privilege to work with these characters and see them in a new light.

Is there a special appeal to a particular audience? Young women? Gay men?

It can appeal to young women and gay men. But you don’t do the kind of business worldwide that we’ve done, if it’s just for a certain audience. It has a broader appeal, for people of a lot different ages and backgrounds. My family was privileged to see the show in Tokyo, in Japanese, all the songs, all the lines, from beginning to end. That tells you something about having a broad appeal. The Japanese are not really familiar with the books or the movie. And yet our show really has an audience there. You know, I have to tell you it drives me wild when I’m asked about ‘who is the audience?’ As if, if you are not a teenager or gay man, you are probably not going to get it. People should walk into a theater and see what happens. Not go in with too many preconceptions.