No Rest for the Wicked!
A Review by Jennifer Benton
Staff Writer
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urrently in its 9th year on Broadway, Wicked is taking the theater world by storm! Over six million people have seen Wicked on Broadway since it began and it has broken the house record in every single city in which it's played. Breaking records nationally and world wide, this is a show not to be missed! With unprecedented advanced sales and numerous major awards, Wicked has been recognized as being the "show that has conquered the world". Photo: a scene from WICKED national touring company presented by Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center Theater, by Joan Marcus
This show is far too grand to possibly list each contributing performer (although I must say the cast was superbly amazing, a flawless performance!), costume designer, set designer, choreographer, or musician to say the least. The list goes on and on. The electrics department alone, that uses enough power to supply approximately twelve houses, works tirelessly to make everything magical. The lighting, the carpenters, EVERY SINGLE THING about this production is unforgettable and mesmerizing.
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From the moment it begins with Glinda floating down in her bubble, you are hooked. As she takes you down memory lane to her college days where she first meets Elphaba (The Wicked Witch), the journey of how they become friends and later each other's nemesis and on their trip to meet the Wizard, this familiar tale with its new twists provides a behind the scenes look at what may have really happened in Oz. This is an alternate look at everything from how the monkeys got their wings to how the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion came to be. It is fresh, unpredictable and full of amazing, original songs that will soon become household favorites and eventually, classics that will stand the test of time. Photo: Alli Mauzey as Glinda in the WICKED national touring company presented by Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center Theater, by Joan Marcus.
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At any given moment you will find yourself laughing, crying, or just holding your breath in amazement. In fact, at the end of the first Act, my son Logan Tipton, a sophomore at Christian Brother's High School in Sacramento and an aspiring performer himself, looked at me and said, "That was ridiculous"; this statement surprised me and I responded, "If you didn't like this, you are getting into the wrong industry". He looked like someone who had been holding their breath and finally was able to let it out, then clarified, "No, it was RIDICULOUSLY amazing!" Photo: a scene from WICKED national touring company presented by Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center Theater, by Joan Marcus
And it was. Seeing it for the second time made absolutely no difference, Defying Gravity was equally as inspiring the second round as the first and Popular made me laugh just hard. I believe one reason for the show's success is the fact that you can see it over and over without disappointment. I cannot imagine how it could ever possibly grow tiresome or be played out. I am already looking forward to seeing it again and I just saw it two years ago in San Francisco. Photo: Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker as Glinda and Elphaba in the WICKED national touring company presented by Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center Theater, by Joan Marcus.
Here are some fun facts about Wicked I found interesting (Note: all facts are for Broadway and were provided by the California Musical Theater's public relations department)
* 250 pounds of dry ice are used per show.
*1,000 feet of steel cable have been used to restring the flying monkey wings during year one of the Broadway run.
* The carpentry department has about 175,000 pounds of scenery, and uses about five miles of cable to automate it.
* The dragon's wingspan is the same as a Cessna 172.
* The show has 90 wigs, using 70 during any given show. All are made of human hair, and made individually for each actor, using their own hairline in the front (personal fav. as I am a stylist by day!)
* There are 179 different types and finishes of leather used in shoes, gloves, hats, and costume trim for Wicked.
Even if you're not a musical theater lover, Wicked is not to be missed and you will not regret seeing it or spending the money (worth EVERY penny) on tickets. Whether you take your parents, children, friends or neighbors, GO SEE THIS SHOW! It is something you will talk about for the rest of your life. Wizard of Oz lovers, don't fret; this show in no way takes away from the timeless, cherished story but rather acts as a companion to only deepen your love for the classic tale.
$25 Orchestra Lottery Tickets
A lottery for $25 orchestra seats will be held before every performance of WICKED's 4-week Sacramento engagement. To enter to win, go to the Community Center Theater Box Office, 1301 L Street in downtown Sacramento, two and 1/2 hours before a performance. All entries will be placed in a lottery drum. Winners are drawn 30 minutes later for a limited number of $25 orchestra seats for that upcoming performance. This lottery is available only in-person, with a limit of two tickets per winner. If chosen, winners must pay cash for the tickets and show a valid photo ID with purchase. There will be no Lottery for the matinee on Saturday, June 2nd as the House has been bought out by a private group. Usual Lottery to take place at the evening performance.
Wicked continues through June 17, 2012. Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm.; Matinee performances Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. (916) 557-1999, (916) 808-5181. Wicked is recommended for theater goers 8 and over.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets for the performance, please visit www.californiamusicaltheatre.com - call (916) 557-1999, or visit the box office located at 1301 L street in downtown Sacramento. Five (5) and 6-Show Season Ticket Packages are on sale now. The 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento Season begins with Memphis, shows October 30 - November 4, 2012, a new musical featuring the underground dance clubs of 1950 Memphis with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. www.calmt.com
Established in 1989 by the non-profit California Musical Theatre, who also produce Music Circus and The Cosmopolitan Cabaret, Broadway Sacramento is the region’s largest live performing arts event with over 200,000 tickets sold annually. Presenting national Broadway tours at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Broadway Sacramento draws theatre-lovers from as far as the Oregon border to western Nevada and the Central Valley. Photo: the Sacramento Community Center Theater
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