Make a day out of ‘Wicked’ in New York City

From exploring Gershwin Theatre history to defying gravity just like Elphaba does, these activities are a great way to spend one short day Wicked-style.

Erin CavotoSeptember 28, 2023, 04:00

For anyone planning on paying a visit to the Emerald City by seeing Wicked on Broadway, there are tons of ways to turn your entire day into an epic adventure Elphaba herself would approve of. There are many different activities to plan a Wicked-themed day in New York City, from learning more about the Gershwin, the theatre where the musical plays (in fact, the 20th anniversary is October 30, 2023), to spending time with another famous green woman.

We’ve selected a few wickedly exciting activities you can take part in across the city, with ideas for Ozians of all ages. Then, make sure you buy your tickets to see Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre, and experience the story of The Wizard of Oz like never before.

Get Wicked tickets now.

Museum of Broadway

Any theatre lover will enjoy a few hours at the Museum of Broadway, which features tons of costumes, set pieces, and props on display from famous performances. You'll also discover fascinating information about the history of the Great White Way and all the people it takes to put on a Broadway show.

Wicked fans in particular will love the five-foot scale model of the Gershwin, which shows off just how many people it takes to make the magic happen on stage and what the venue looks like behind the scenes.

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Behind the Emerald Curtain

If you’ve ever wondered how Elphaba goes green every night or flies through the air, you’ll want to go on the Behind the Emerald Curtain tour. Cast members lead this 90-minute special behind-the-scenes tour through the Wicked museum, which includes special costumes, set pieces, props, scale models and more.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the experience, however, is that guests get to enjoy a candid Q&A with some cast members to ask their burning questions about being in Wicked and life as a Broadway performer. Tours operate on select dates only.

Enchantments

Are you more intrigued by the witchy side of Wicked? Pay a visit to Enchantments, the oldest occult store in New York City. Located in the East Village, this store has tons of goodies for anyone trying to get into the magical spirit, with tarot cards, incense, cauldrons, and customized candles tailored toward whatever you hope to manifest. You can also get yourself a talisman to wear to the show and make sure any energy coming toward you is anything but wicked!

The Statue of Liberty

Spend the day with another famous woman who is green from head to toe: the Statue of Liberty. A trip to this beloved monument (which is actually made of copper!) starts with a ferry ride to Liberty Island. Once there, you can visit the museum to learn more about Lady Liberty or climb up to her crown for an amazing view of the city’s skyline (but you’ll have to book tickets in advance). With Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Round Trip Ferry tickets, you can also go over to Ellis Island and visit the National Museum of Immigration afterwards.

If you don't want to go out to the island, New York Theatre Guide has tickets to multiple boat cruises that let you get a picturesque view of the statue while you sail by and enjoying onboard drinks and treats. Take a daytime or evening harbor cruise on a historic clipper ship, or go on a 60-minute sightseeing cruise if you're on a time crunch.

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Trapeze class

One of the most jaw-dropping moments in Wicked is when Elphaba takes flight. If you want to get a taste of what it feels like to soar through the air, you can take a flying trapeze class. The Trapeze School of New York at Hudson River Park, for example, teaches you how to hang by your knees, fly through the air, and do a “catch” (when someone on another trapeze bar catches you) all in your first class.

You can also try other gravity-defying activities, like trampoline classes and aerial hoop classes (also known as Lyra). It’s certainly a thrilling way to prepare for Wicked!

Wicked

No Wicked day would be complete without seeing the iconic musical itself. Learn the history of Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, long before Dorothy arrives in Oz. Despite being roommates at Shiz University, they're bitter enemies and polar opposites until they ultimately settle their differences and become fierce friends.

Their union is tested, however, when Elphaba falls from the Wizard's good graces, while Glinda is torn between supporting her or tarnishing her image among the people of Oz. Wicked a story of the power of female friendship, standing up for what’s right, and finding strength in what makes you different.