The cast of WICKED The Musical at the Gershwin Theatre will perform their 6,000th show this week and it is obvious to audience members why this marvelous production has been on Broadway for almost fifteen years. We had the pleasure of being invited to see WICKED The Musical last weekend and are delighted to report that both the cast performances and the musical score were fantastic!
WICKED The Musical shares the untold background story of the Witches of Oz well before Dorothy was in the picture. Elpheba, with her emerald skin, along with her sister Nessarose meet Glinda, with her curly blonde hair, at boarding school when they are young. Through trials and tribulations, an unlikely friendship forms between Elpheba and Glinda in a time before they were known as "wicked" and "good". This delightfully inventive musical delivers strong messages of staying true to one's values and of resilience in the face of adversity. The stellar cast draws you in from the start and takes you on a mesmerizing journey featuring fabulous costumes, a wonderful musical score, and accompanying performances that are powerful and fun. The stage design and set are brilliantly put to use by the cast to deliver a compelling story as the show unfolds. It's an absolute joy to watch it all.
From my daughter's perspective, she found WICKED The Musical "very entertaining and everybody in the audience was glued to the stage. They were great singers and everyone acted their roles well in the show." She especially loved the scenes in the Emerald City and said her favorite song from the show was "The Wizard and I."
Prior to the show, we were treated to a meet and greet with a few of the cast members of WICKED The Musical inside the rehearsal room. They were gracious and kind, willing to answer all of our questions and take a few photos with us, too. Take a peek at the pictures in the slideshow above. We learned from Martin Moran that what he most enjoys about taking on the role of Doctor Dillamond is being a strong example for the students. As a goat who speaks and is tasked with teaching the human students, Doctor Dillamond's impact on Elpheba is profound. My daughter asked Emily Mechler about the first show that she ever acted in and learned that it was The Wizard of Oz when she was a child; how appropriate indeed, as now she's Standby for Glinda in WICKED! Colby Q. Lindeman chatted with us about being a Swing and how it requires him to know a lot of the different roles in the musical and always be prepared to perform whatever is asked of him for that show.
WICKED The Musical is a captivating show that you definitely want to add to your must-see list! It's the perfect show to enjoy with your family to create lasting memories together. Here is some more information on the show schedule and how to get your tickets:
Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.
Recommended age for children is 8 and up. No children under 5 admitted.
Click here to view the show calendar and purchase tickets to WICKED The Musical on Broadway.
