Universal Pictures announced today that it’s hired Kimberly Peirce, the director behind Boys Don’t Cry and Stop-Loss, to direct Wicked Lovely, the adaptation of the first book in the best-selling young adult fantasy series by Melissa Marr. Universal Pictures is producing the film with Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Picture Show Productions.

The story centers on a female teenager named Aislinn who has followed a set of rules when dealing with dangerous faeries in her life. When she begins to have feelings for a boy, the faeries break the rules and up the stakes. Caroline Thompson (Corpse Bride) is adapting the novel for the big screen. The book debuted in 2007 and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for ll weeks. Marr followed it up with the companion novels Ink Exchange in 2008 and Fragile Eternity in 2009. The fourth book in the series Radiant Shadows will debut this year.

Wicked is all about backstory, taking familiar characters we think we know and making us — to paraphrase a tune from the show — see them with different eyes. The touring production that opened at Overture Center this week (September 22) is a triumphant start to the arts center’s Broadway season. Like The Lion King, Overture’s spring hit, Wicked proves that a show can be a commercial hit yet also visually and emotionally rich.

In the lead role of Elphaba, Vicki Noon excels as the green-skinned girl who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. At 25, she is a phenomenal talent. Though a powerhouse while singing, she doesn’t oversell her acting. Watching her, I could only conclude that having a voice like Noon’s come out of your body is a magical power of its own.

For Thursday’s performance, the other lead role — Glinda — was played with aplomb by understudy Lesley McKinnell, who showed no sign that she’s not Glinda every night of the week. While she, too, is a fine singer, I was more captivated by her goofy comic skills, particularly in the first act, when Elphaba and Glinda meet at students at mythical Shiz University.

Wicked proves that a show can be a commercial hit yet also visually and emotionally rich.

Find one of the lowest prices for Wicked Overture Center Tickets, Madison WI.

Broadway’s biggest blockbuster musical, “Wicked,” will make its West Michigan debut at Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium this December 01, 2010 playing through December 12, 2010.

Performances of ‘Wicked’ at Miller Auditorium
Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 2, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 12, at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Don’t miss Wicked’s Debut performances at Miller Auditorium – Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Buy your Wicked Kalamazoo MI Tickets now!