In a December 17 ceremony, Wicked‘s Elphaba costume, including the hat and broom, but not the buckets of green makeup, was inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The costume’s Tony Award-winning designer Susan Hilferty signed the deed of gift and cast members Donna Vivino (Hairspray) and Tiffany Haas sang a selection of show favorites to commemorate the occasion.
Hilferty’s costume was originally created for Mandy Gonzalez, who played Elphaba on Broadway from March 2010-January 2011. “Hilferty’s designs bring the story of the witches of Oz prior to Dorothy’s arrival, to life,” said Marc Pachter, acting director of the museum. “This donation…shows the enduring cultural contribution of Broadway hits to American life.”
Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is the story of two unlikely friends who grow up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
