The Broadway musical Wicked was created by composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book writer Winnie Holzman, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Core creators

  • Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Wicked , building on a career that already included major shows like Godspell and Pippin.
  • Winnie Holzman wrote the book (script) for the musical, shaping the story and dialogue and winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.
  • The stage show is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which reimagines the world of Oz from the Wicked Witch’s perspective.

Quick context

  • Wicked premiered on Broadway in 2003 and quickly became one of the most successful modern musicals, powered by Schwartz’s score and Holzman’s book.
  • Maguire’s novel had already built a strong following, and the musical’s creative team transformed its darker, complex narrative into a large-scale, character-driven stage story.

TL;DR: Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel.