I still remember the year Wicked hit Broadway and I have been dying to see it ever since. I have sung every song from the show a million times, my mom has played every song from the show and we have probably worn out several copies of sheet music in the process. 16 years later my mom and I finally went together to see this show for the very first time and it was everything we dreamed it would be and more. That being said, let me tell you a few things that I was not expecting…

1. I thought I knew the plot, but I didn’t.

I thought that after years of knowing all the songs and memorizing the lyrics that I had a pretty good idea what the show was about. Well, let me tell you, I didn’t. If you aren’t going because you think you know the story and can just listen to the songs, you are dead wrong. Go. See. The. Show. There are so many plot and story lines that I had no idea about, so many characters that I had pegged completely wrong, and themes I didn’t even know existed. This show will blow your mind completely, it was a thrilling adventure that you have to experience for yourself.

2. I thought I was missing out because I didn’t get to see Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. I wasn’t.

I have seen Idina Menzel perform some of the show numbers in different concerts and cameo performances, but Jackie Burns (Elphaba) stole this show with her powerhouse voice that left you speechless. I’m not even kidding. Speechless. The minute Jackie made her entrance, she commanded the stage and stole the hearts of the audience. After she sang The Wizard and I, I could have left feeling like I had already seen a million dollar show. She was not only lovable and so full of character, but she was a one of a kind performer who in every way made the show… Wicked. Kara Lindsay walked on stage as Glinda and took your breath away immediately. Between her majestic voice and out of this world, every girls dream gown, she sparkled with every ounce of magic the show had to offer. Her comedic timing was flawless and she left you laughing throughout the show. I knew in the first moments of the show that I was in for a magical experience. Every member in the cast of the Wicked Broadway tour will amaze you with their talent. 

3. I thought the costumes and sets would be great, but these costumes and sets added a whole new level to the performance.

The costumes and sets of Wicked were fabulous and really played a large part in the show. As a costume designer I was enthralled with the colors, textures, and themes that wrapped themselves around the story. The costumes, were a fun yet distorted version of the Edwardian Era, with an added dimension that really made Oz this magical place. Between the set and costumes you found yourself in another world that was so far from anything you could imagine, yet it all strangely fit together connecting the wicked pieces and themes. When Glinda entered the stage you gasped with excitement watching her glide in her gown that matched her giddy personality with precision. The steampunk inspired layers of the set covered by gears and maps filled you with wonder and left you searching for the meaning and connections that were built into the set. Each scene was exquisite and so different- yet it all tied together perfectly within the story.

4. I thought I would probably feel happiness and sadness from the story line, but Wicked makes you feel a stream of emotions you don’t see coming.

Wicked will make you laugh and cry and experience all the feel goods that you are expecting. But, Wicked will also make you truly step into a world of empathy and give you the desire to accept others and recognize that no one is perfect. Although the key theme of good vs evil will stand out and shine throughout the performance, the themes of kindness, independence, power, acceptance, and friendship all have their own moments to shine. It is incredible how the themes have a way of looking you right in the face while staying wrapped up in this fun and exciting musical adventure.

5. I thought I would probably give a standing ovation when the curtain went down at the end of the show. I wanted to stand up and clap at intermission.

Not every show deserves a standing ovation, and I can be a bit of a picky person when it comes to handing them out. If I truly loved the show and thought it was above and beyond I will be the first to jump to my feet, but I don’t do that for every show. Had it not been awkward and well, not really a thing to do… I would have jumped to my feet with applause at intermission. I was so wrapped up in the show that when intermission began I didn’t want to wait the 15 minutes to continue the show. No performer, dancer, musician, or part of this show was anything less than 100%. I’d go so far as to say that the performers of the Wicked Broadway Tour were giving 110% during the show. I have to take a minute to throw out an applause to people behind the scenes on this show. I have never seen such a flawless set of transitions as the ones during the production of Wicked. You were never waiting for a set change, they were built into the show to the point you didn’t even realize the change was happening until it was over. I already mentioned the vocals of the leading ladies, but have to say they were backed up by the most incredible ensemble of performers- there wasn’t a dull moment with the excitement, energy, and incredible talent that came flowing from each person. If you tend to be sitting in your seat at the end of performances, I can promise you will be on your feet for this one. Don’t miss Wicked in Salt Lake City which runs through March 3rd!

The Details

Wicked 
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Winnie Holzman

Run Time: 2 hours 45 min 

Eccles Theater
131 S Main SLC, UT

You can purchase your tickets online at broadway-at-the-eccles.com or by calling 801.355.2787

Get your tickets and enjoy a Wicked good time!

I received complimentary tickets for this performance, but all opinions are my own.