Wicked musical is currently touring in Houston, TX Performing at Sarofim Hall Hobby Center (800 Bagby St, Houston, Texas 77002) through August 11, 2013.

Buy Wicked Houston Texas Tickets Online!

Wicked Shines When Glinda the Good Witch is on Stage – reviewed by D.L. Groover.

The set-up:
With all the aerial modes of transportation on display in Stephen Schwartz’s (and book writer Winnie Holtzman’s) megahit musical Wicked – winged monkeys, broomstick, tornado, fairground balloon, and bubble – you’d think this theatrical juggernaut from 2003, the fourth incarnation to visit Houston via Gexa on Broadway, would have learned how to fly.

The execution:
Based very loosely upon Gregory Maguire’s adult “prequel” to L. Frank Baum’s classic series of children’s books, this Broadway adaptation owes whatever magic it possesses to the long-ago, golden age wizards of MGM. Wicked’s creators should be on their knees in thanks, because without the cinematic references to characters, costume and set design, even lines of dialogue, this show would be nowhere.

The verdict:
The show, immensely popular and still selling out on Broadway as well as in every city it tours, is impervious to criticism. Ten years down the road, it has lost none of its power to beguile and will probably be around fifty years from now packing the house. This is family entertainment with a vengeance, and it’s heartening to see young ones in the audience so thrilled by live theater. But I think they marvel at the quantity, not the quality.

Read the complete review Via {Houston Press}

Last few chances left to see Wicked as the Tour will end in Houston Texas on August 11, 2013. Buy Wicked Sarofim Hall Hobby Center Tickets Online!

Wicked on Stage at New York City is a Standing Production. Wicked playing at Gershwin Theater, 222 West 51st Street, New York City, NY 10019 (Manhattan).

TripAdvisor posted all the Wicked Broadway reviews of their community – Almost 83% reviewed the musical as “Excellent”.

Below is the snapshot of TripAdvisor Reviews page:

Read total reviews at TripAdvisor.com

Wicked Musical currently touring in Costa Mesa CA for almost 4-week run through March 17, 2013. The Wizard of Oz has returned to the Segerstrom Center for the third time and reviewed by ANNE VALDESPINO – Here is the review:

Now a decade old, “Wicked” continues to set records for ticket sales and it still attracts an eclectic audience: little girls in ruby red dresses, punks with platinum hair, fresh-faced young women dragging their boyfriends, seniors and gay couples. Its soaring score, fantasy landscape, love story and a book packed with one-liners appeal to a wide demographic.

It’s no surprise that composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, with his love of challenging subjects, could craft a musical out of Gregory Maguire’s best-selling 1995 novel. “Wicked” bristles with great music, from its foreboding title track, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” to songs of young love awakening such as “I’m Not That Girl,” and plenty of anthemic ballads in between: “Defying Gravity” and “The Wizard and I.”

Schwartz is suddenly hot again – or perhaps he’s never gone cold. “Pippin” is poised for a spring Broadway revival, and “Wicked” is just more candy for his hard-core fans. The composer of “Godspell” and Disney musicals including “Enchanted,” “Pocahontas,” and “The Prince of Egypt,” Schwartz is a master of pulling on heartstrings.

“Wicked” is about the odd friendship of two girls, one blond and popular, the other a green witch with strange powers. Thrown together accidentally, they experience the typical phases of teen relationships: first dances, bonding over clothes and hairstyles, fighting over the cutest boy in the school. Add politics, sorcery, betrayal and murder to the mix.

Continually taunted for her green skin, Elphaba attends school only to care for her wheelchair-bound sister Nessarose, and meets her opposite, Glinda, the girl with the golden hair. At first they tangle, then become roomies and best friends. Handsome prince Fiyero tests their loyalties by first falling for Glinda and then taking up Elphaba’s political cause: her championing of animal rights, which lands her in deep trouble at school and with the Wizard. Meanwhile, Nessarose has her heart set on Boq, a Munchkin who only has eyes for Glinda.

Read the complete review {Via OCRegister.com}

Wicked musical will play through March 17, 2013 at Orange County Performing Arts Center – Segerstrom Hall. Buy Wicked Costa Mesa CA Tickets Online – SAVE $10 when you spend $350 or more, Use code AFF$10.

Wicked Musical currently Stops in San Francisco CA for almost 4-week run. Wicked will be performing at Orpheum Theater SF through February 17, 2013. Wicked musical play at Orpheum Theater reviewed by Robert Hurwitt – Here is the review:

Elphaba, the green girl, flies high and sings with beautifully modulated power as she becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in the touring production of “Wicked” that opened Thursday at the Orpheum Theatre. Glinda the Good matches her vocally and dazzles the audience with charm. And that may be the bigger story.

Understudy Cassie Okenka rose from the ensemble to don Glinda’s blond locks, pink frocks and sunnily self-absorbed personality when co-star Patti Murin was sidelined with the flu Thursday. From her glittering first notes through every step of an assured performance, Okenka more than gave the audience its money’s worth at the latest show in SHN’s season.

It was another nice turn in San Francisco’s long relationship with composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and librettist Winnie Holzman’s adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s dystopian “Oz” prequel. The show had its world premier here in 2003, before going on to become one of Broadway’s hottest tickets, and returned for a prolonged run in ’09.

It’s very much the same, well-oiled production as last time, staged with quick-paced clarity by Joe Mantello and inventively boisterous dance by Wayne Cilento. The great smoke-breathing mechanical dragon looms above the massive gears and clockworks of Eugene Lee’s Victorian steam-punk set. The cast creates sharp individual portraits in Susan Hilferty’s scruffy peasant, odd animal and glittering Emerald City costumes.

The heart of “Wicked” is the story of Elphaba and Glinda, accidental roommates and rivals in wizardry and romance at Shiz University. Dee Roscioli shines as the shy but assertive, sharp-tongued green girl, the eternal outsider blessed – and cursed – with magical powers she’s only learning to use.

Though she’s played Elphaba more often than anyone else, Roscioli keeps the role fresh and immediate, whether navigating her uneasy growing closeness with Glinda or confronting the villainies of Kim Zimmer’s outrageously formidable Madame Morrible and the vaudevillian con-man Wizard of Kevin McMahon (also filling in for an ailing regular).

Read the complete review {Via SFGate.com}

Wicked musical will play through February 17, 2013 at Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St., S.F. Buy Wicked San Francisco CA Tickets Online – SAVE $10 when you spend $350 or more, Use code AFF$10.

Wicked Musical is currently performing at Fabulous Fox Theatre-St. Louis, MO. Based on the novel by Gregory Macguire, “Wicked” is the back story of “The Wizard of Oz.” Harry Hamm reviewed the musical at stlouis.cbslocal.com. Here is the review:

From every production value you can imagine, and some you probably couldn’t until you see the show, “Wicked” is a masterwork of staging and creativity. It is the kind of production that challenges itself on every level and succeeds brilliantly. Casting is always a strong point of this production and in this visit, it is exceptional as well. Christine Dwyer as Elphaba carries the role with a wonderful voice and strident, authentic strength of character.

Jeanna de Waal as Glinda is sweet, funny and full of feeling when it is needed. The performance chemistry between she and Dwyer is genuinely winning.

Supporting and ensemble casts member are all outstanding, especially Jay Russell as Dr. Dillamond, Billy Harrigan as Fiyero and Paul Kreppel as The Wizard.

“Wicked” is a musical that is moving, amusing, exciting, funny and heartfelt. Subtexts abound. There are so many elements that can relate to almost any audience member about instances in their own stories that in many ways “Wicked” becomes a reaffirmation of life. And by the way, the 14 piece orchestra, under the baton of Valerie Gebert, and including 9 local musicians, makes the music soar. “Wicked” will be on stage at The Fabulous Fox Theatre through January 6.

Read the complete review {Via stlouis.cbslocal.com}

Wicked will be at Fox Theatre through January 6, 2013. Buy Wicked Saint Louis MO Tickets Online at discounted prices – SAVE $10 when you spend $350+, Use code AFF$10.

Wicked second national tour is currently in Baltimore, MD for the second time for a month long run from October 03 to November 04, 2012. Wicked first visited Baltimore in 2007.

Here is the review of the Wicked musical by Tim Smith at BaltimoreSun.com:

Equal parts nostalgia and hipness, satire and sentiment, one-liners and philosophy, the hit musical “Wicked” remains a potent brew. Bewitching, even.

This tale-spin about life in Oz, before that rude girl from Kansas crashed the place, is neither quite as profound as its most ardent champions would aver, nor quite as empty as its detractors have charged. But the work’s component parts certainly come together snappily in ways that create entertainment writ large.

The plot, adapted by Winnie Holzman from the Gregory Maguire novel, presents a back-story for the peculiarly green woman we last saw in a puddle — the Wicked Witch of the West, who tried so darn hard for the return of those jeweled slippers in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.”

Various details we accept as gospel from that movie get some interesting twists (better to … forget what you remember Margaret Hamilton’s iconic witch doing to the Scarecrow). And, like in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” characters are apt to shift between good to evil without warning.

Oz, it turns out, is not entirely Eden-like. The Wizard happily tells his people lies, because “they were lies they wanted to hear.” Prejudice, intolerance, suspicion of the “other,” power-hunger, fast-flying rumor — it’s all happening in or around this emerald-tinted world.

Some of these issues, especially a campaign against talking animals (a chilling classroom scene is fully Third Reich-redolent), could use more depth. But the fast-moving, if opera-length, show stays primarily focused on the emotional journey of the supposedly wicked witch, Elphaba, how and why she moved toward the dark side.

One of the tricky things about “Wicked” is how to keep the Glinda character from tilting the musical her way; she spreads glitter from the get-go and could go on to steal any scene.

The touring production boasts terrific balance and chemistry between the two leads — Christine Dwyer’s sensitive, wry Elphaba and Jeanna de Waal’s iridescent Glinda. Both are nuanced actresses who manage to tap into something genuine about the characters. Their unlikely friendship, the bond that changes both women “for good,” resonates strongly here.

Dwyer doesn’t just nail the glum, glib side of Elphaba, but unleashes the eager little girl beneath. Even in her most theatrical moments, she doesn’t lose a touch of humanness.

Would that Stephen Schwartz’s score contained a few more items of that cleverness. A lot of the songs are in generic pop mode, spinning their wheels over well-worn harmonic paths and failing to generate a really strong melodic hook.

The supporting cast does uniformly persuasive work. Paul Kreppel makes a disarming Wizard, Gina Ferrall a colorful Madame Morrible. Billy Harrigan Tighe has the fresh, all-Ozian looks and smooth swagger for Fiyero, the man who lights a spark under Elphaba and Glinda.

Read the complete review {Via BaltimoreSun.com}

Wicked musical performances at Hippodrome Theatre will continue through Sunday November 04, 2012. Buy Wicked Baltimore MD Tickets Online at discounted prices, Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more by using code AFF$10.

Wicked Broadway musical tour is currently performing in Montreal Canada from August 01 to August 26, 2012. Here is the Wicked musical review by Anne Sutherland, The Gazette.

The strength of the musical Wicked lies in the two leads, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. For all the sumptuous costumes, fancy sets, dry ice, flying monkeys and production numbers, it all boils down to whether these two dames can belt it out.

To state the obvious, the two leads are wicked good.

Wicked, the touring version that just touched down at Place des Arts for almost the entire month of August, is blessed with the gifted pipes of Jeanna de Waal as the saintly sweet Glinda and the superb Christine Dwyer as the flawed but ultimately redeemed Elphaba, the witch of the title.

It’s the story that purports to tell the tale of what happened before Dorothy and her house landed on the Witch of the East in the classic children’s book and 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.

Based on a series of books by Gregory Maguire, the musical backstory of the friendship of these two divergent characters has been a juggernaut on Broadway, London’s West End and broken all sorts of attendance and box office records since its debut in 2003. And it’s a great show, with outstanding songs culminating with the goosebump-raising vocals on Defying Gravity.

The story opens with widespread jubilation as the citizens of Oz celebrate the passing of the Wicked Witch of the West, a dastardly green creature who has been bedevilling the land. As fans of the story know, she was done in by a bucket of water tossed by Dorothy. Seems her soul was so unclean that pure water could melt her.

Elphaba is destined for great things, Morrible says, and will be introduced to the great Wizard of Oz, her lifelong dream.

The costumes are quite brilliant, particularly the numerous hues of green in the Emerald City tableaus and the candy-coloured gowns sported by the good witch.

Read the complete review {Via MontrealGazette.com}

Wicked musical showings at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier Place Des Arts continue until August 26, 2012. Experience the Spell of Wicked. Wicked Musical Montreal Quebec Canada Tickets are in full Demand! Avail $10 OFF on Wicked Place des Arts Ticket Orders of $250 or more by using code SUMMERFUNTN at Checkout!

The Broadway musical Wicked tour returns to East Lansing, MI and currently performing at Wharton Center – Cobb Great Hall through July 08, 2012. Here is the Wicked musical review by Bridgette Redman.

The production currently at Wharton Center is the second national tour, but unlike some shows that cut budgets and special effects for the second tour, this one shows no signs of being second best. Christine Dwyer (Elphaba) and Jeanna De Waal (Glinda) are strong vocalists who command the space with soaring voices that beautifully blend in their duets. They convincingly loathe and love each other and take the audience along their journey of growth and transformation.

It’s hard to believe a show as commercially successful as “Wicked” could be chock full of so much word play, irony, tragedy and political commentary. Yet, that’s exactly what this musical has. The show was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which was in turn inspired by Frank L. Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” It follows the story of Elphaba, the woman who would become the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda (later Glinda) the Good Witch.

The story explores dependency, co-dependency, independence and interdependency. It contemplates how deceptive appearances can be and how truly wicked those who “create” truth by ramping up public anxiety are.

One of the more fascinating characters is Catherine Charlebois’ Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister, who eventually becomes governor of Munchkinland and the famous owner of the ruby slippers. Charlebois plays the innocent, embodying the “beautifully tragic” label that others tag on her merely because she uses a wheelchair. Like her sister, she is judged on appearances in dangerous ways and others underestimate her and fail to see who she really is.

There were no weak performances in this production and all of the stage magic, including a rather gratuitous dragon who existed only to create wonder and set the stage for the wizardry that was to come, remained slave to the most important part of this musical: the story.

Read the complete review {Via LansingStateJournal.com}

Wicked Play at Wharton Center – Cobb Great Hall through July 08, 2012. Experience the Spell of Wicked. Wicked Musical East Lansing MI Tickets are in full Demand! Avail $15 OFF on Wicked Wharton Center Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code SUMMERTIXTN at Checkout!

Wicked is currently playing on tour in Durham, NC and the performances at Durham Performing Arts Center continue through Sunday May 27, 2012.

If your first question about the return of “Wicked” to the Durham Performing Arts Center is if you should see it again, the answer is yes. “Wicked” was here two years ago for a blockbuster month, and it will spend most of May at DPAC for a popular return engagement. The first time or second time you see this fly-away Broadway hit, you will like something different about it than the person sitting in the seat next to you. And there’s much to like.

This reviewer went into this show thinking about the roles of the strong leading women, noted by producer David Stone in an interview with The Herald-Sun last week. Elphaba (Christine Dwyer) and Glinda (Tiffany Haas) are powerful women and have a powerful friendship that transcends what keeps them apart. Like many college students who are thrown into rooming together, they come from different worlds and different perspectives. Yet both have qualities that bring them together as friends, and audiences like them, too. Dwyer and Haas excel in their roles.

Elphaba, Glinda, Madame Morrible (Marilyn Caskey) and Nessarose (Catherine Charlebois) are all examples of how to ascend to a power position, for good or evil. There’s Elphaba with her natural and earnest power, Glinda with her popularity power, Morrible with her diabolical behind-the-scenes power, and Nessarose, with her power given by nepotism and held onto with might. Except for Morrible, perhaps, we all see the good in these powerful women, even when they make bad choices.

That all this is pulled off in a musical with spectacular songs, fabulous sets and costumes and a compelling story is quite a feat. You won’t leave “Wicked” without kind words to say about it, whether you were most impressed by the technical, vocal, musical or writing talent. It’s too bad that audiences can’t see the orchestra, because they beautifully exemplify what this score can do.

Not to leave out the men: Billy Harrigan Tighe is charming as Fiyero, Timothy Britten Parker is convincing as goat professor Dr. Dillamond, and Dan Pacheco is spot on as Boq. The Wizard (Paul Kreppel) gives one of the best speeches heard on any Broadway tour – sung, of course – about politics and its smiling nefariousness. Kreppel is wonderfully cast as the Wizard. He does a superb job.

Read the complete review {The Herald-Sun}

Buy Wicked Durham NC Tickets Online. Get $10 OFF on Wicked Durham Performing Arts Center Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code #SpringSavings at Checkout.

Wicked is currently performing on tour in North Charleston, SC at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center is a magical experience. Anne Brummel stars as Elphaba and Tiffany Haas is Glinda in the touring production of “Wicked.”

Wicked flown into the North Charleston Performing Arts Center for a nearly two-week engagement from April 18 to April 29, 2012.

Here is the review by Laura J. Gough @ The Post and Courier:

The PAC has been transformed into the magical land of Oz, complete with Munchkinland and the Yellow Brick Road.

“Wicked” tells the story of Elphaba and Glinda before Dorothy and before they became their more famous alter egos — the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Anne Brummel (left) stars as Elphaba and Tiffany Haas is Glinda in the touring production of “Wicked.” Theatergoers young and old showed up in elaborate costumes and greeted each other in the lobby as if they had known each other for years. They had only just met. As audience members entered the auditorium, the stage already had been brought to life by a red-eyed, smoke-breathing dragon hovering above the stage.

The scene was complete with a glittering map of Oz, and even the ushers were adorned with green bow ties. As the first round of Munchkins jumped and danced on stage, the excitement of the evening really set in. Soon entered Glinda (played by Tiffany Haas), floating down from above on her make-shift bubble. They rejoiced — the Wicked Witch was dead.

As the cast started into the first number, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” Haas got off to a shaky start. By the end of the first act, Brummel reminded us all that the Wicked Witch was worth rooting for in her amazing rendition of “Defying Gravity.” The end of the song has Brummel flying high above the stage bringing to life the tragic split of the friendship between her and Glinda.

Read the complete review {Via PostandCourier.com}

The Tony- and Grammy Award-winning blockbuster Wicked Musical will be at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center through April 29, 2012. Get $10 OFF on Wicked North Charleston SC Tickets Orders of $350 or more by using code #SpringSavings at Checkout.