#wickedversary

15 years ago, on July 14, 2004 I became an Idina fan. It’s incredible to even think it’s been that long. It feels like it was long and short at the same time. i can’t say it’s been easy. There have been a lot of highs and lows.

I have been a fan of Idina for a long time, but I’m not her “#1 fan,” whatever that means. I don’t go to every show, concert, and event. I haven’t seen her Broadway shows and concerts multiple times, just once or twice. But I can say that I’m a devoted fan. And that has nothing to do with money or constantly posting about her on social media. The genuine fans keep it in rather than publicizing it every minute. And no, I am NOT a “Fanzel.” I crashed a few times because it became too much; i.e. after some of the craziness like the I Stand album, Christmas album, and idina. album releases. I always second-guessed (and still do) the way I felt about her and I shouldn’t have to. Just because I don’t like or support everything she does, doesn’t mean I don’t care about her as a person because I have and always will ever since the day I saw her in Wicked.

But there have been some GREAT moments that I’ll never forget. I’ve always cherished every time I’ve gotten the opportunity to see Idina live whether it was in Wicked, sitting front row at my first concert during the I Stand tour, the INCREDIBLE times I’ve had at World Tour 2015 and 2017, Tribeca Film Festival Talk, the first time I saw If/Then when I lost my shit after Idina said “hey, it’s me,” the second time I saw If/Then when I sobbed during “You Learn to Live Without” and met Idina at the stagedoor (STILL A BLUR BUT I WAS ON CLOUD 9), and seeing Skintight and meeting Idina again (also partially a blur). 

Then there were other times I saw her not live, but through the TV screen; HONORABLE MENTION TO BOTH WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE APPEARANCES, talk shows. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Oscars, Tonys, Billboard Awards, Glee, Beaches, Private Practice, the list goes on. Whenever I see Idina on TV I am always in complete shock even when I know it’s coming. And for some reason, it still feels new again.

DISCLAIMER: This photo is not from the day i saw Wicked. I actually don’t have any photos from that day. It was from when I saw Spelling Bee and randomly decided to pose in front of the poster bc the theater was right next door. (BUT WE CAN PRETEND IT IS)

My journey with Wicked began (almost) 15 years ago when I saw the show with the original cast on July 14, 2004. I was 11 years old and my parents took me to see it. I didn’t know anything about the show. My first exposure to it was when I saw a billboard on the highway and said, “I don’t want to see this show. It’s about the Wicked Witch of the West.” I was scared of her as a kid. My sister had seen Wicked a few months before and wouldn’t stop talking about how amazing it was, so it made me more excited to see it. I remember as the show was starting, I was CLUTCHING onto my seat because I thought Elphaba would fly out as part of her entrance. Instead, Idina Menzel (who I didn’t know.. YET) came running down center stage with a smile on her face. My stomach SANK. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FEELING. I STILL GET IT WHEN I SEE HER LIVE. 

Everything in that moment changed for me. Of course, I loved every single moment of the show. I thought about it CONSTANTLY even when it was over. I begged my mom to buy me the soundtrack and she did. My sister and I would act out the songs all the time (specifically, “What Is This Feeling” and “No Good Deed”). Wicked means so much to me because even though I loved broadway before, it was the first time I realized I truly loved theatre and that I was obsessed with a show in a deeper way than just surface level. It was the start of me growing up and recognizing my own interests. And of course, it began my Idina obsession and led me to a lot of my other interests. Although I have been interested in other shows and sometimes they overshadow my love for Wicked, Wicked was really the root of it all. I give this show so much credit for allowing me to become who I am today.