Last Wednesday, I had to pleasure of seeing the musical “Wicked” at the Ohio Theatre. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is a Broadway production that has won 35 major awards including a Grammy and three, count ’em, THREE Tony Awards. “Wicked” was also named “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly and “a Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety. The show takes place in Oz, and is about the untold relationship between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The show is visually stunning and includes multiple set changes throughout the show. What sets “Wicked” apart though, is the music. The score is from acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, and it is absolutely fantastic. Between “Popular,” “Defying Gravity,” and “For Good,” you’ll be humming the tunes long after the show ends.
Wicked opened in 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway to rave reviews. Richard Zoglin of Time Magazine wrote, “Wicked works because it has something Broadway musicals, so addicted to facetiousness and camp, have largely given up on: a story that adults can take seriously…if every Musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place.”
It’s extremely cool that Wicked has come to Columbus, and those who haven’t been to the Ohio Theatre are in for a treat. While it doesn’t seem like an anachronism from afar, when you step across the threshold of the Ohio Theatre, it really seems like you have been transported to a different era. With the 21 foot high chandeliers and it’s Spanish-Baroque architecture The Ohio Theatre truly is a site to behold.
Wicked is in town until June 23rd and has many showings between now and then. We absolutely recommend getting together with friends or family and seeing “Wicked” right here in Columbus.
On the subject of musicals, The Tony Awards were last week, and we just had to share Neil Patrick Harris’ opening.
The McVey Team Blog 