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Long before
Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with
emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is
beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked follows these two unlikely
friends and college roommates grow into very different women: The Wicked
Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
Based on
the Novel by Gregory Maguire, the music and lyrics are by Stephen
Schwartz (Godspell) with a Book by Winnie Holzman.
PERFORMANCE TIMES:
Evenings - Tuesday at 7pm | Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm
Matinees - Wednesday & Saturday at 2pm | Sunday at 3pm
RUNNING TIME:
2 hours & 30 minutes with one intermission of 15 minutes
REVIEWS:
"WICKED
works because it has something Broadway musicals, so addicted to
facetiousness and camp, have largely given up on: a story that adults
can take seriously. Adapted by Winnie Holzman from the 1995 novel by
Gregory Maguire, the musical reimagines a children's tale in grown-up
psychopolitical terms a lot more successfully than, say Stephen Sondheim
and James Lapine did for 'Into The Woods'. As the Wizard (Joel Grey)
puts it, "The best way to bring folks together is to give them a really
good enemy." Imagine: a family musical that might make the Bush
Administration squirm. Which isn't to say WICKED, under Joe Mantello's
assured direction, lacks funs. The show gets laughs by playing off
famous bits from the movie. It also provides a showcase for two fabulous
Broadway stars. Kristin Chenoweth, the Kewpie doll who won a Tony for
'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' is a perfect delight as Glinda. In
the tougher role of Elphaba, Idina Menzel is possibly even better, a mix
of vulnerability and feminist passion, with a rock voice to raise the
roof. With an awful lot of plot to establish, the show drags in spots.
But IF EVERY MUSICAL HAD A BRAIN, A HEART AND THE COURAGE OF WICKED,
BROADWAY REALLY WOULD BE A MAGICAL PLACE."
-
Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine
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"HOORAY!
BROADWAY'S GOT A BIG NEW MUSICAL THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO RUN FOR A DECADE
OR TWO! If it doesn't please you, you're too tough to please. It's funny
and touching and full of beans (not to mention child-friendly). Kristin
Chenoweth finally has a full-fledged star part that's worthy of her.
Broadway buffs have been waiting for her to land a bona fide star part
in a successful show. Well, this is it. She sings like a cherub and acts
like a damned good actress, and Stephen Schwartz has written her a
show-stopping comic turn. I can't imagine anyone in the world have done
a better job as Glinda. It's going to make her a star right this minute.
Idina Menzel nails her co-starring part with equal aplomb. Not only does
she look great in green, but she blends pathos and warmth in just the
right proportions. Joel Grey, bless him, is back on stage. Stephen
Schwartz has given us the most poignant new Broadway ballad to come
along in ages. Wayne Cilento has choreographed with dapper precision --
this show moves. You'll be enchanted by director Joe Mantello and set
designer Eugene Lee's miraculously elaborate-looking Kingdom of Oz. GO!"
-
Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
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Wicked Tickets

"WICKED IS
STEEPED IN TALENT!
As Glinda
the Good Witch, Kristin Chenoweth is giving jaw-dropping demonstrations
of the science of show-biz aeronautics. She proves that nothing can top
undiluted star power. It's amazing how she keeps metamorphosing before
your eyes and ears. Her voice shifting between operetta-ish trills and
Broadway brass, her posture melting between prom-queen vampiness and
martial arts moves, she evokes everyone from Jeanette MacDonald to
Cameron Diaz, from Mary Martin to Madonna. She turns one-liners into
something so startling that you have to laugh. Chenoweth is the real
thing, melding decades of performing traditions into something shiny and
new. Be very grateful that she has returned to the stage.
As the
Wicked Witch of the West, the talented Idina Menzel is a vocal
powerhouse and a commanding presence. She will no doubt dazzle
audiences.
Directed by
the understandably in-demand Joe Mantello, WICKED'S cast features
gold-standard veterans, Joel Grey and Carole Shelley, and bright rising
talents, Norbert Leo Butz and Christopher Fitzgerald. The top-flight
designers include Susan Hilferty (costumes), Kenneth Posner (lighting)
and Eugene Lee, whose sets are an ingeniously arranged technoscape of
wheels and cogs overseen by the wondrous metal dragon that rests atop
the proscenium.
There are
visual and verbal jokes aplenty in this recreation of Baum's enchanted
land where Glinda and Elphaba get to know each other long before a
little brat named Dorothy shows up. The contrast between the young
women, who wind up as reluctant roommates at sorcery school, is used to
examine a society that values surface over substance, the illusion of
doing good over the genuinely noble act. It goes without saying that you
don't have to squint to fine parallels with a certain contemporary
Western nation in which artful presidential photo ops win more votes
than legislative change."
-
Ben Brantley, The New York Times
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