A decade of Wicked

Today is the tenth anniversary of when Wicked first opened on Broadway. 2003.  There’s been a lot of reminiscing leading up to this anniversary, between the cast, creative team and of course, the fans.

And as much as I can’t believe that this magical, fantastic, amazing show has only been in my life for 3 years now; it’s even more amazing for me to think about where I was ten years ago. Because Wicked has brought so many amazing experiences and people into my life, and if I think back a decade, it’s amazing to think about the person I was then and how far I’ve come.

In 2003, I was thirteen. I was in eighth grade, and I actually had friends for once.  But I was still trying to put myself back together after the enormous and psychologically and emotionally scarring bullying I had experienced the year before. Sometimes I think I still am, even now.

I had the best English teacher that year, who I’m still in touch with now. Miss Webb inspired me, both as a person and as a future teacher; she opened my world to new books and movies (Sense and Sensibility, Goodnight Mr Tom, Chinese Cinderella just to name a few); and she encouraged my writing and actually cared about me outside of the classroom. Plus, she’s a fellow Harry Potter fan. At the end of the year, she gave me this beautiful notebook for my poems and things that I wrote, which I still have!

2003 was also the year that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released (the book). I was so crushed when Sirius died. I have never forgiven JK Rowling for that. The third movie was being filmed that year, and I still have an old magazine article about the filming of it (yes, I keep everything. I’m a terrible pack rat). I remember thinking about irony of Sirius’ first appearance (not counting the brief mention of him in book one) coming out in film just really a few months after his death in the book universe.

I’ve been mad and devastrated and upset when JK Rowling killed a lot of characters (Hedwig, Dobby, Remus and Tonks, Dumbledore, Fred), but I am still outraged over Sirius’ death.

In 2003, I was in love with Delta Goodrem (so that hasn’t changed, LOL). Her first album, Innocent Eyes, came out in March of that year, and I was not happy because my sister and I both wanted it, but my parents only bought it for my sister (who ironically, no longer likes Delta. Or says she doesn’t, but then steals my music!). And then in July, it was announced she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I still remember every moment of finding the news.

I was writing then, of course. I’ve been writing since I was 6. Not fanfiction, though. Or not exactly. I didn’t know fanfiction was a thing then, so I used to imagine the stories in my head (Harry/Hermione) and then write them down, but change all the names and other details, and of course, remove any ideas of magic. I was writing a novel when I was 13, which I did finish. It was the first big writing thing I’d ever finished, and I was super proud.

Of course, it was terrible.  And I’m not being modest. It was terrible. It was so full of drama, and just... I don’t think it really had a plot. I’m not even going to tell you the part of the plot that I remember, it was just that bad. It was called True Love, True Hate. I didn’t love the title, but it was more of a case where I really needed a title and that was the best of a bad bunch. I don’t have it anymore I don’t think, unless it one day turns up in one of the boxes floating around in storage somewhere.  But I’m pretty sure I kept it for a few years and then threw it out in a big clean up... possibly a big pre-move clean up.

Um... what else happened 10 years ago? There were bushfires in Canberra. Thankfully only 4 people died (according to Wikipedia). 2000 Australian soldiers went to Iraq. The Sydney Roosters lost the NRL Grand final to the Penrith Panthers 18-6 (not that I really care about Australian football, but when I did I supported the Roosters so I still want them to win).

And Slim Dusty died that year. He’s an Australian country singer, and my relation! Seriously, he was my great-grandmother’s cousin. I never met him, but it’s a cool family fact! (I’m also distantly related to Lady Godiva).

Actually, several famous people died that year. Bob Hope, one of the Bee Gees, Barry White (I actually hadn’t realised he was dead until just now!), June Carter Cash and then Johnny Cash a few months later (sorry, I find that super romantic. Like he just couldn’t live without her. If you watch Walk the Line, it’s even more romantic), Katharine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Mr Rogers (who I don’t think we actually got his show here in Australia, but everyone knows who he was!).

2003 was the first year my parents let me watch Friends (my parents used to be really conservative and wouldn’t let us watch anything fun). It was also the year I got to start watching Charmed.

And some of my favourite couples got married in 2003 (even if I had no idea who they were at the time). Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof. It’s a little sad looking through the list and seeing how many couples that are divorced now. Celebrities I love probably also had babies that year, but it’s 11.30 pm, and I can’t research anymore (I was going to write this earlier and write a special 10^th anniversary one-shot, but I had to do school stuff instead. Priorities, guys. Will you accept a belated anniversary one-shot?)

So that was 2003. A pre- Wicked world (until October 30, obviously).

I think, looking back to where I was in 2003... in some ways I’m so different, in some ways I’m not. I’m still in love with Delta and Harry Potter, but I have real friends now and I’m so much stronger. I’m not apologising anymore for loving the things I do and being so passionate about them. And my writing is like a million times better.

And even though I’ve only come to know it in the past 3 years, I know Wicked has played such a huge part in shaping who I am today. (resisting.... urge... to... quote... For Good). 

So, Happy 10^th Anniversary Wicked!!! Here’s to another 10 years!