Is Wicked The Musical Queer? The Untold LGBTQ+ Story Behind Elphaba & Glinda
Welcome back to Let's Be Perfectly Queer Podcast, your go to LGBTQ+ Australian podcast for all things queer.
In this episode, we ask the ultimate question: is Wicked The Musical actually queer?
With the release of the new Wicked movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, we unpack the queer subtext, LGBTQ+ themes, and history behind one of the world’s most beloved musicals.
From The Wizard of Oz’s hidden queer roots to Gregory Maguire’s original novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, we explore how this story became a metaphor for otherness, identity, and queer love.
We talk about:
✨ The queer subtext between Elphaba and Glinda, were they more than friends?
🌈 The LGBTQ+ symbolism behind The Wizard of Oz and “Friends of Dorothy”
💬 How author Gregory Maguire’s own identity shaped the story
🎭 Why Wicked still resonates with queer audiences two decades later
💚 How art, theatre, and representation can create belonging for LGBTQIA+ people
So whether you cried during “For Good,” grew up loving Wicked, or just want to understand why queer fans feel so connected to Oz, this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen in and learn about the queer subtext behind Wicked The Musical ... and until next time, stay perfectly queer!
Archie & Katie 🌈
Do YOU think Wicked is queer?
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Much love
Archie & Katie 🌈