Broadway Conductor Dan Micciche Leads 'Wicked' Into 21st Year

When Dan Micciche was 18 year old with dreams of tap dancing in a Broadway show, his mother took him to see "Wicked." Little did he know that the musical behemoth, which recently celebrated its 20th year on Broadway at still capacity business, would become such an important part of his life. But for the past ten years Micciche has been part of the "Wicked" organization, though not as an actor, but in the capacity of both performing in the orchestra and then as conductor, first on the road and now on Broadway.

As he explains in the following interview, Micciche went from being an on-demand Broadway performer, who appeared as Mary Sunshine in "Chicago" for some 2000 Broadway performances, to a becoming a musician in the pit when he decided to make a career move. This came after he directed some regional theater productions and connecting with some musical theater heavyweights, including composer/lyricist Adam Guettel ("The Light in the Piazza"). Guettel connected him with Stephen Schwartz, the composer/lyricist of "Wicked," which led to him joining the musical's national company as keyboard pianist. After two years, he became the road company's musical director, which led to him becoming musical director of the Broadway company, a position he has held since 2018.

Being a musical director of a Broadway musical entails much more than conducting the show, as Micciche explains. The busy Micciche spoke with EDGE about the wonder of "Wicked" and how he transitioned his career.

EDGE: Tell a bit about yourself.

Dan Micciche: I grew up in Connecticut and was living in New York City for the last 15 years before my husband and I moved back up to Connecticut after the world shut down back in March of 2020. Moving was truly a gift, especially because now I am commuting into the city six days a week, and it's amazing to now have those two separate lives. I went to school in Boston. I graduated from the Boston Conservatory with a degree in musical theater. After graduating I moved to New York and in 9 months I made my Broadway debut playing Mary Sunshine in "Chicago" the musical.

EDGE: How did you transition from actor to conductor

Dan Micciche: I transitioned my career around 2012. I started music directing regionally and assisting composers and other music directors because I wanted to start diving more into that part of my career and not be a performer anymore. I was very fortunate to start assisting Adam Guettel, who's an amazing composer and became friendly with Stephen Schwartz, and they were very influential in helping me make the change. Adam was the person who told me that I should be a music director for the rest of my life. At that point, I was trying to break into the business and even though I had performed on Broadway for many years, people only knew me as an actor, so I ended up turning down a lot of acting work. I had to become unemployed so people would know me in as a musician. In 2014, I joined the national company of "Wicked" as a keyboard pianist and then I was promoted to music director of that company in 2016 then in November of 2018, I took over as music director and conductor of the Broadway company of "Wicked".

EDGE: What is it like being a Broadway musical director?

Dan Micciche: A lot of people think that being a music director and conductor on Broadway is just conducting eight shows a week, which is only 10% of the job. My job is 90% managerial and maintaining the company. A normal day could look like rehearsals with new company members or existing company members. If I'm not in rehearsal or auditions, I might be coaching a client of mine or in a meeting regarding my event planning business to bring Broadway to your private event. For more information, visit my website. I probably see up to 10,000 people a year in auditions, because I need to hire for the Broadway company and the national tour. If I'm not in auditions, I'm in some kind of meeting with someone from the creative team about something about the show. Then around five o'clock I get a break, and then I come back to the theater and I either have notes for some of the cast members or cast musicians and then conduct the show. So, music directors, do a lot more than you can imagine.

EDGE: It's hard to believe that "Wicked" is celebrating 20 years on Broadway. What was your first introduction to it?

Dan Micciche: My mom took me to go see it in 2003 and we sat up in the mezzanine and it was just amazing. To this day, it's just as amazing. I've been with the company now between the tour and Broadway for 10 years and there are still nights that I'm like, this is just a phenomenal show. I'm very fortunate and grateful for my job for many reasons, but also that I get to do a show that's so phenomenal. To have a Broadway show with such a large orchestra still, it's very rare.

EDGE: Stephen Schwartz's music for this show is particularly revered – why is that?

Dan Micciche: I think Stephen's writing is so complex for many reasons. He has such an amazing vocabulary as a lyricist. You listen to a Stephen Schwartz song, and you know it, Schwartz. He has his own sound and temperature in writing. I think his material is so strong, especially in "Wicked," because he writes these massive songs – all of Elphaba's material. You look at the 'Wizard and I' it's a five-minute song, and the way that it's structured to get you to that point, and "I'll stand there with the Wizard," he has a way of just going through these peaks, and valleys that have to explode at that end of the song instead of the AABA format of a regular verse bridge verse. I think that's one of the main reasons for his writing, I mean, his time signatures always keep you on the edge, and his structure of writing is just very smart.

EDGE: What is your favorite song to conduct?

Dan Micciche: Yes, but it changes. It goes between these four; the opening, "The Wizard and I," the last part of "Thank Goodness," and "No Good Deed."

EDGE: "Wicked" is one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, what is it like to be a part of it?

EDGE: I never would've thought that when I saw it for the first time at 18 years old, I would be a part of it. At that point in my life, all I wanted to do was tap dance on Broadway. Up until 10 years ago when I became one of the pianists for the "Wicked" national tour, I never thought that it would take me to this point in my career. These jobs are so coveted, and they don't open up all the time. When it did present itself, I knew this was the perfect role for me. I always say that success happens when preparation meets opportunity, and this was exactly that type of moment.

"Wicked" has changed my life for many reasons, both personally and professionally. It's unlike any other job. When I speak to other music directors on Broadway, they're like, that's a lot. It's just this big show that never stops growing and that's a testament to our producers and management for keeping it at this level. After 20 years, there are not a lot of long-running shows, but this show is so maintained and beautifully kept and that's a reason why it's so successful.

EDGE: Why do you think "Wicked" has staying power?

Dan Micciche: I think it resonates with everyone. It has now become generational. When it came out, most of us were in high school and now we're bringing our children to see it. It relates to all of us adults and children. I love the message of the show – Just don't give up. People have asked me if the show has been rewritten. It's still the same script and there's still a lot of the stuff with The Wizard and a bunch of different other topics that are still current. I think that's the reason it's still timeless.

EDGE: What is your message for fans, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community?

Dan Micciche: To march to your own drum as loud as you can. The more you dive deep into that of yourself, of your Elphaba, the stronger you'll be and just stay the course.

For more on Dan Micciche, visit his website.