Upcoming Wicked dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Wicked seat that wins
For a first visit to Wicked, aim for the first few rows of the center mezzanine at the Gershwin Theatre. From there you see the whole stage, the mechanical dragon above the proscenium (the frame around the stage) sits at eye level, and the Act One finale, "Defying Gravity," plays out in full. Middle center orchestra is the other top choice. The show has played this West 51st Street house since October 30, 2003.
No Broadway theater holds more people than the Gershwin, at roughly 1,933 seats, and its orchestra runs unusually deep. The result: a great seat and a mediocre one sit farther apart here than almost anywhere else on Broadway.
- Top pick: front center mezzanine.
- Close behind: middle center orchestra.
- Watch out for: the very first rows and the deep rear orchestra under the overhang.
Orchestra and mezzanine at Broadway's largest house
Seating is split between a ground-level orchestra (about 1,300 seats) and a single mezzanine (about 600). The whole theater is one floor up inside Paramount Plaza, so you ride escalators from the lobby on 51st Street.
Orchestra
Middle center rows take in the stage from floor to fly space, and Wicked uses every foot of that height. Down in the first rows, you crane your neck over the edge of the stage and the dragon vanishes above you. In the deepest rows, the mezzanine overhead clips the upper stage, often at the exact moment the action rises.
Mezzanine
Center mezzanine, first few rows, is the most complete view in the building. Farther back, you still see everything, but expressions fade with distance.
Family-budget seats that still work
- Side orchestra, middle rows: usually less expensive than center, with only a slight angle.
- Rear orchestra just in front of the overhang: the stadium-style slope helps children see over adults.
- Middle center mezzanine: the full stage picture at a lower cost than the front rows.
The theater offers booster seats for small children, which makes the mezzanine more workable for families than its distance suggests.
Age rules, running time and late arrivals
Expect a 2-hour-45-minute evening that includes a single 15-minute break. The producers suggest age 8 or older, turn away children under 5, and require a ticket for every guest.
The age guidance reflects the length and a few loud or darker moments, not adult content, and many families choose it as a child's first Broadway show. Kids who know the films follow the plot easily. With only one intermission in a house this size, restroom lines form fast, so plan ahead.
As of 2026, orchestra ticket holders who arrive late may be held outside the auditorium for roughly the first 20 minutes. Confirm the current rules on the production's FAQ page before you go, and leave a cushion for the escalator crowd just before curtain.
School breaks, the films and the lottery
Families and visitors make up much of the audience, so school calendars shape demand.
- Busiest: Thanksgiving week, the late-December holidays, the week of Presidents' Day, spring break and the month of July.
- Steady: all weekend performances except Sunday evening, all year.
- Most choice: midweek evenings in the quieter months: January, February, September and the first half of November.
The two films directed by Jon M. Chu, the first released in November 2024 with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the second, Wicked: For Good, a year later, pushed fresh audiences toward the stage show. The week after Christmas 2024, the Gershwin production set a Broadway record as the first show to take in over five million dollars in seven days. Holiday demand is likely to stay high while the films remain current.
For flexible buyers, there is a digital lottery (entries open the day before each eligible show) and a small in-person rush at the box office on performance day, which can include partial-view locations. For a set date, especially a holiday matinee, buy weeks ahead. Reserved Seat orders include guaranteed entry.
Elphaba, Glinda and two decades of Oz
Wicked retells The Wizard of Oz through its witches. Elphaba, born green and shunned for it, is the girl who will be called the Wicked Witch. Glinda, her well-liked classmate, ends up as Glinda the Good. The songs are by Stephen Schwartz and the script by Winnie Holzman, adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel. Joe Mantello staged it, with dances by Wayne Cilento.
After a June 2003 tryout at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, it came to New York starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Critics were divided, and the show took home 3 Tonys from 10 nominations: a leading-actress win for Menzel, plus scenic and costume design. Word of mouth did the rest. Its Broadway box office crossed one billion dollars that year, 2016, and it now trails only The Lion King among Broadway's top-grossing musicals. The best-known numbers are "Popular," "The Wizard and I" and "For Good."
The films came from the musical, not the reverse. On stage, you get the entire story in a single night; the movies divide it at about the point where the intermission falls.
Beyond Broadway
Touring has been close to continuous since 2005: one North American company ran 2005 through 2015, and another, launched in 2009, stopped for the pandemic in March 2020 before returning in August 2021. London's production has played the Apollo Victoria Theatre since September 2006. Before curtain, look for the American Theater Hall of Fame names lining the Gershwin's upstairs lobby. Visitors often combine it with Hamilton, Hadestown, MJ the Musical or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you see the dragon best in Wicked?
From the front of the center mezzanine, where the dragon above the stage sits near eye level. Middle center orchestra also sees it well; the first orchestra rows look up past it.
Are rear orchestra seats good for Wicked?
The last rows are covered by the mezzanine above, which hides the upper stage when the action climbs. Rows just in front of the overhang are a better value.
Can a 5-year-old see Wicked?
No. The minimum age is 5, and the producers suggest 8 or older. Every guest needs a ticket, and booster seats are available.
How long is Wicked on stage?
Plan on 2 hours 45 minutes, with a single 15-minute break included.
Does Wicked have a lottery?
Yes. A digital lottery opens the day before eligible performances, and a limited in-person rush runs at the box office on show day, sometimes for partial-view seats.