Call Lesley McKinnell a bubble: as Glinda the good witch, she floats right to the top.

McKinnell, filling in for principal Natalie Daradich, literally dazzles as one half of the witchly team that headlines “Wicked,” Stephen Schwartz’s hummable 2003 musical that alighted in Madison Wednesday night.

Glinda’s dress sparkles. Her tiara throws darts of light. Even McKinnell’s strong soprano is glittery yet grounded, never betraying that she doesn’t do this every night of the national tour.

Wicked, running through Oct. 10 in Overture Hall, is all-over shiny, from polished dance numbers to Eugene Lee’s spinning, glowing set. It’s slick, and a little cold.

Buy Wicked Overture Center Madison Tickets to the sparkling Cast in Madison WI.

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.

Watch the Video of the Wicked Set up in Overture Center Madison. The crew explains how story is compelling, everyone can identify with it.

‘Wicked’ sets up in Overture Center from The Badger Herald on Vimeo.

“Wicked” tells the story of Elphaba, the tragically green-skinned girl who grows up as a misunderstood outcast. As a young adult at Shiz University with her wheelchair-bound sister, Nessarose, Elphaba meets her match in Galinda, a perpetually perky, blonde, pink-donning nemesis. Although their relationship begins as a stubborn rivalry, it eventually gives way to a friendship put to the test by their former allies. Between Elphaba and Galinda, who would later re-christen herself as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, “Wicked” tells the tale of the true meaning of friendship, and what is worth risking to maintain it. It also teaches another valuable lesson.

“‘Wicked’ tells a really touching story about how to not be worried about how you’re perceived,” said Chris Peluso, who plays love interest Fiyero in the Madison show. “(It’s about) how to be okay with who you are, whoever you are.”

“Wicked” will be at the Overture Center for the Arts from Wednesday September 22 through October 10. Buy and Save $10 on Wicked Overture Center Madison Ticket Orders over $350! Code AFF$10

From Minneapolis, Wicked will move to Madison, Wisconsin. Madison Overture Center will present Wicked, a modern musical that tells the classic story of The Wizard of Oz in a completely new way. Currently Wicked playing at Orpheum Theatre-MN through September 19, 2010 and the show will run at Overture Hall, and will open on Wednesday, September 22 and run through October 10.

Wicked tells the story of two girls who meet in the land of Oz. Elphaba is an intelligent, independent outcast born with bright green skin, while Galinda is a motivated and popular beauty. While the two start off as enemies, they become close friends during their time at school together, but are eventually destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The musical traces the story of how their lives took such dramatic turns to reach such opposing ends.

Wicked is the winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards. The show features hit showtunes like “Defying Gravity” and “No One Mourns the Wicked.”

Wicked Madison Tickets Sale is in Full swing, Buy your tickets before they completely soldout.