by Grayling Holmes / photos compliments of Kelly Bagwe

Unless you’ve been in Oz and someone dropped a house on you, by now you’ve probably heard of a “little” film named ‘Wicked the Movie.’ It blew into theaters like a Kansas tornado the weekend before Thanksgiving and shattered all-time box-office earnings glass ceilings for any Broadway musical adaptation to date. Both movie and Broadway his are based on the adaptation of novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, by Gerry McGuire, set in the world of the classic, ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

Always a step ahead, local socialite Kelly Bagwe held a charity benefit a day ahead of the world-wide ‘Wicked’ premiere. Dubbed, “Are YOU A GOOD WITCH OR A BAD WITCH?”, guests arrived dressed to the nines, decked out in stunning pink or black and green. Fans thronged to St. Louis’ Chase Park Plaza Theater as either Galinda, as Glinda The Good Witch is called in much of the film, or as Elphaba, the soon-to-be Wicked Witch of the West. Pink taffeta flowed, green make-up and billowing black capes filled the theater.

On stage was Kelly and her cavalcade of statuesque beauties to warm up the audience prior to the much-anticipated debut of ‘Wicked the Movie.’ Armies of fans of the beloved Broadway musical have filled theaters for years, creating a cult following. And if you’ve watched a Facebook, Instagram, or Tik-Tok reel lately, you’ve no doubt seen the “cult” explode. Ardent followers are belting out the musical’s battle cry, Defying Gravity, made famous on Broadway by Idina Menzel. Actress and singer Cynthia Erivo has inspired millions whose lofty notes have reached across the globe. Kelly brought the magic home to St. Louis for us.

Dressed as Elphaba after she transformed into the Wicked Witch of the West, Kelly played the part well. Anyone who knows Kelly is aware that she is no wicked person. Yet she is, SPOILER ALERT, perfect for the role, because Elphaba is also not wicked. That role is cast upon her throughout the film. Both movie and film tell the backstory of Glinda and Elphaba before they assumed the roles of “good” and “evil.” Moviegoers can decide which was witch, pun intended.

Like the movie, $$ was made. Kelly and here gang donated the night’s proceeds to Gateway 180, a local shelter supporting women and children in need. The movie grossed 114 million in the U.S. on opening weekend and 50.2 million internationally, and the box-office take is set to rise even higher in the months to come. Thanks in part to Kelly and friends setting the Chase ablaze with Wicked-fan-fever at the St. Louis premiere, on flames of billowing white smoke, the film’s earning power may soar by broomstick into the stratosphere over the land of Oz and the entire earth.

About Gateway 180

Founded in 1977, Gateway180’s mission is to empower adults and families to become independent and permanently housed.

As the largest residential emergency shelter in the state of Missouri, Gateway180 keeps families together, accepting all members, including teenage boys and dads. Through case management and our supportive housing and empowerment programs, they move families to sustainable employment HOME and permanent housing.

In 2018, we served 997 clients, 54% of whom were children. Gateway180’s vision to end family homelessness in the St. Louis community is only possible with a wide network of partners and resources working together.

For more information or to donate go to gateway180.org.