The Smith Centers “Wicked”  blows audiences away with its clever humor, well picked cast, and fun music.

Based on a book by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked” premiered on Broadway in 2003, and has won numerous awards, including one Grammy and three Tonys.  At The Smith Center, it is performed by thespians who are currently touring the United States.

“Wicked” tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, before Dorothy arrived in the famous “Wizard of Oz.” The story focuses on two very different young witches and their unlikely friendship. Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, was born with emerald-green skin, and because of this she is often misunderstood. Others frequently look down upon her, yet she is fierce, intelligent, and bold. The other is Galinda, later known as Glinda, who is wealthy, beautiful, and popular. The two meet each other at Shiz University, after Elphaba is sent there to care for her wheelchair bound sister, Nessarose. They are forced to become roommates, and initially struggle to get along.  At first, Elphaba sees Galinda as shallow, but they later learn that there is more to each other than they expected.

“Wicked” is a stunning performance. The actors convey their characters in a tremendous way, by touching the audience, and being witty and whimsical at the same time. The vocals are spectacular, particularly by Nicole Parker, who has previously portrayed Elphaba on Broadway. With a thick plot-line to cover, the play occasionally seems to drag. Despite this, the characters still manage to create strong emotion and an ability for all audience members to relate.
“Wicked” will play at The Smith Center until Oct. 7. Tickets are sold online or at The Smith Center.
Upcoming productions at The Smith Center include Billy Elliot, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story.