Amanda Jane Cooper as Glinda and Emily Koch as Elphaba. Photos by Joan Marcus
The smash Broadway hit musical Wicked is back in Columbus. Touring with Broadway Across America, the show will be performed at the Ohio Theatre through Sept. 4. Performances begin Aug. 17.
Based on the best-selling 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the untold backstory of the witches of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, before Dorothy Gale famously dropped her house in Munchkinland. Social outcast Elphaba and bubbly, popular Glinda are polar opposites. The two eventually develop an unlikely, lasting friendship that changes both them and the Land of Oz forever.
Stuart Zagnit as The Wizard and Emily Koch as Elphaba
Since its premiere in 2003, Wicked has become a success around the world. It has been performed in more than 100 cities in 14 countries across the globe and has been translated into six languages. Wicked is the winner of more than 100 international major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards. A film adaptation has been announced, scheduled to be released in December of 2019.
The musical is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello with staging by Tony winner Wayne Cliento. The book is written by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The score features classic songs including “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good.”
The show is the latest engagement from Broadway Across America, which regularly brings touring productions to Columbus. The next musical in the series is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which will be performed Nov. 22 through 27 at the Ohio Theatre.
Tickets for Wicked are on sale now. Tickets start at $33 and can be purchased at the CAPA ticket center as well as all Ticketmaster outlets. Click here to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster. To purchase by phone call (800) 745-3000. For groups of 20 or more call (614) 719-6900.
Lindsey Capritta is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.