OT: Wicked

[stitchlover]

FINALLY got to see Wicked. Have read the book and been very familiar with the music because my daughter was a Texas Girls' Choir member and they sang a medley a few years back.

Anyway...we saw it over the weekend in Wichita, Kansas and I was blown away by the musical. I had tears rolling down my face several times and plan to go see again next year when it comes locally. I know everyone has seen Kevin's post about it and heard the crew mention it on the podcast. Seriously, if you have a chance to see it do so.

Us seeing it in Wichita is actually a funny story. We live just West of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex but have friends who are from Cunningham, Kansas. When they saw it was going to be in Wichita they invited us to join them and we figured why not. So we all bought our tickets. Then 2-3 weeks later they announced it would be in Dallas in May-June 2010. So I could have avoided the 7+ hours in a mini-van with 4 teenage girls and a 10 year old girl. BUT now I just plan to go see it in Dallas too. Hopefully I will be recovered from the car ride to Wichita by then!

[Dismom+two]

I have seen Wicked in NYC twice. I agree...it's great and would recommend it to anyone!!

[hideeh]

:thumbsup2

Glad you enjoyed. :) It is one of those things that gets in you and sticks with you! I loved it as much the second time (if not more!) as the first time I saw it. I can't wait to see it again.

[DisneyKevin]

We have tickets to see it in Tampa in February.

[disneydreamgirl]

My sisters and I saw it in Toronto a few years back and LOVED it!! I want to see it again, I loved it that much!

[daneenm]

Shh, don't tell... I just got tickets to take DD to see Wicked in San Francisco for her 13th birthday, in January. I think she will be so excited - she has been listening to the CD since DH and I went in July and has been begging to see it.

Now I just have to keep my mouth shut until January. :scared1:

[ScotteHansen]

I saw it in Chicago during their permanant run there at the oriental.

Stunningly good.

This is one of those experiences that snooty critics try and pan, but everyday people absolutely love.

I have never met a single person I know who has seen it that didn't absolutely love it.

Scotte

[LovesThumper]

We have tickets to see it in Tampa in February.

We live in CT. and I am flying in for the weekend in February to Tampa to see it again with my daughter. I have see it twice here and can't wait to see it again. Of course am trying to figure if I go a day or two earlier- can I slip over to WDW. I bet I can!!:banana:

[denise]

Thanks for this thread! My DD wants to see it and walks around singing the songs all the time. I see that it is playing next July in London so we may go then. We will be there for the Baltic cruise and I looked up plays I would want to see and it is on the list now! Others on the list are Billy Elliot (have not seen it) or ones we have all seen but love, Les Miserables, Momma Mia, and Phantom.
I vote for Wicked!!! I know she will too so DH's vote doesn't count this time :lmao:
thanks again.....

[tanyabanana]

I get to see it for the first time this Sunday!! I am glad the OP started this thread..I am beyond excited :jumping1:

[Hollie]

I have tickets for Thursday! Wheee!

[DisneyKevin]

This is one of those experiences that snooty critics try and pan, but everyday people absolutely love.

I have never met a single person I know who has seen it that didn't absolutely love it.

Scotte

I would agree with this 100%.

[Launchpad11B]

We go for the 2nd time in Dec. We loved it! :thumbsup2

[DisneyKevin]

This will be our second time as well.

[Launchpad11B]

This will be our second time as well.

Kevin, we are going to see it at Proctors. Have you ever seen a show there?

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin, we are going to see it at Proctors. Have you ever seen a show there?

Oh my gosh yes....

I would venture to say 20 or 30 in my time.

It's a beautiful theater and I understand it's undergone a rehab since I moved away.

[stichlover87]

We have tickets to see it in Tampa in February.

Me too...I can't wait :love: I bought tickets to the new show Wonderland to hold me over until Wicked time!

I get made fun of for singing Wicked songs in the shower :lmao:

[Launchpad11B]

Oh my gosh yes....

I would venture to say 20 or 30 in my time.

It's a beautiful theater and I understand it's undergone a rehab since I moved away.

It has. They have rehabed the entire downtown area. God knows it needed it! :goodvibes

[DisneyKevin]

It has. They have rehabed the entire downtown area. God knows it needed it! :goodvibes

They used to show classic movies on the huge screen in the 80's.

The cost was a $1.00 and the popcorn was cheap.

I loved seeing the old stuff on the BIG screen as it was meant to be seen.

[QuirkyButterfly]

I am so excited my boyfriend is taking me this month as a birthday present. I can't wait I have the soundtrack at home already but I haven't seen it yet :rolleyes1

If anyone has seen my moving away thread you will be glad to hear that we are going to be able to see it beforehand. :banana: good seats too, 2nd row in the middle.

[kafitty]

i've seen it 2 or 3 times here in Boston.

got to sing "For Good" at my high school graduation - just me and my buddy. :lovestruc

i cry during the opening number. Every. Time. :lovestruc

[mamato3princesses]

Love love love WICKED!! I saw it 2 years ago when my DH was deployed and have talked about it ever since...now DH has surprised me with tickets to the Providence Performing Arts Center in December. I'm thrilled he can see it with me now, too!!

The book is absolutely amazing. Obviously it goes into much more depth, but it is so great. I'm now reading the 2nd in the series, "Son of a Witch" and have "A Lion Among Men" to read after that.

My girls have been watching The Wizard of Oz a lot lately and 2 weeks ago I took them to see the play, which was great. They are so into it now, and my 4 year old is asking me to read Wicked to her. LOL Watching WOZ now is really different from pre-Wicked...isn't it funny how Wicked makes you never look at WOZ the same way again?!

[mainegal]

Sure I'd like to see Wicked. But it isn't likely it will happen.

Will I enjoy the book as much as people enjoy the play? Are they similar?

[stitchlover]

I read the book 4 years ago and there are some themes that are similar but it really is different.

[757hokie]

My wife and I loved Wicked. Now, my daughter and I listen to the soundtrack while I drive her to Kindergarten in the morning. Can't wait for it to come back through the Norfolk, VA area so we can take her to see it!

Think my girls are into The Wizard of Oz much these days?

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/757hokie/Family%20Pictures/DSC_0036_small.jpg

[WebmasterKelsie]

In Denver, they offer a nightly Lottery for 20 tickets. You arrive at 5:30 and place your name on the list. At 6:00 they draw 10 names (limit 2 tickets per winner). The price is $25.00 per ticket. We decided to try last Thursday and we WON! We had 2nd row seats and it was amazing. My 15 year old has been a fan for a long time.

I'm not sure if they do this in all cities but it's worth a try! :)

[jpeka65844]

Sure I'd like to see Wicked. But it isn't likely it will happen.

Will I enjoy the book as much as people enjoy the play? Are they similar?

I actually enjoyed the book FAR MORE than the play. They had to take so much out to make it doable onstage that, to me, it lost some of its richness.

I would read and re-read that book again and again. See the play again and again? Not so much.....

[Hollie]

I just got home from seeing this show. It was spectacular. There aren't even words.

And now I'm going to bed so I can be up for work in three hours lol

[hookedonears]

Saw it in Tulsa, OK this past summer. First of all, I'm a tremendous fan of the music. Had listened to the sound track for a year before actually seeing it. I thought all of the voices were great, except for Glenda's. I don't know if she was sick, or if there was a sound system problem, but her voice was good, though not nearly as strong as many of the others and not nearly as strong as Glenda's in the original cast on Broadway from the sound tract.

[DisneyKevin]

Saw it in Tulsa, OK this past summer. First of all, I'm a tremendous fan of the music. Had listened to the sound track for a year before actually seeing it. I thought all of the voices were great, except for Glenda's. I don't know if she was sick, or if there was a sound system problem, but her voice was good, though not nearly as strong as many of the others and not nearly as strong as Glenda's in the original cast on Broadway from the sound tract.

The part of Glinda is sung by Kristen Cheowith on the original cast recording.

Elphaba is sung by Idina Menzel.

Those are tough acts to follow, as they both are known for their incredible singing talents.

[firsttimemom]

I saw it in Baltimore a couple years ago- loved loved loved it! It's coming to Richmond in March and I was planning to get DD tickets for christmas. Just yesterday I had the idea to get tickets for Saturday AND Sunday because you can't just see it once!

[firsttimemom]

The part of Glinda is sung by Kristen Cheowith on the original cast recording.

Elphaba is sung by Idina Menzel.

Those are tough acts to follow, as they both are known for their incredible singing talents.

Agreed! I forget the name of the person who played Elphaba in Baltimore and she was very, very good. The actress portraying Glinda was good, but nowhere near Kristen's level.

For those Defying Gravity fans- they do a version on the Glee Soundtrack which I'm really enjoying. According to TV guide, it will appear on the 11/11 episode.

Also, if you search youtube, there are some videos of Idina and Kristen rehearsing their songs and getting ready for their performances. Oh- and the's a clip from 'Popular' that they performed on the Today Show.

[Hollie]

The part of Glinda is sung by Kristen Cheowith on the original cast recording.

Elphaba is sung by Idina Menzel.

Those are tough acts to follow, as they both are known for their incredible singing talents.

Boy you said it. I had a hard time not comparing them to each other. Like when people visit Disneyland/Disney World and compare them ;)

[hookedonears]

All of the voices were very good and very strong. That's what was so strange. Glinda's voice was good, but not strong at all. I don't know if it was her mic. or if she couldn't sing loudly because her voice was strained, or what. I just couldn't tell. It was just a little bit disappointing.

[Nicole786]

Love this show! I got into it after seeing a "bootleg" online and immediately downloaded the soundtrack I know all the words etc, I've never seen the actual show!! The closest I got was Idina Menzel's concert she had here in Ft. Lauderdale, she sang Defying Gravity, I love her!! Waiting for 1/15 so I can buy tickets for the show in Miami!

[SusanWasHere]

The part of Glinda is sung by Kristen Cheowith on the original cast recording.

Elphaba is sung by Idina Menzel.

Those are tough acts to follow, as they both are known for their incredible singing talents.

I just saw Wicked in NYC on Halloween. I've had the original Broadway cast soundtrack with Kristen and Idina for years that I love listening to! I have to say - the 2 girls there now were AMAZING!! I was all set to be slightly less impressed but was blown away! The end of Defying Gravity had me COVERED in chills, from my head to my toes, even on my cheeks. The Elphaba was so good and even though I knew the song, the play, the book, I still had my breath taken away! Great show - and cast! Highly recommend to everyone!:thumbsup2

[daneenm]

Shh, don't tell... I just got tickets to take DD to see Wicked in San Francisco for her 13th birthday, in January. I think she will be so excited - she has been listening to the CD since DH and I went in July and has been begging to see it.

Now I just have to keep my mouth shut until January. :scared1:

Tomorrow is the day. Girls day out in San Francisco! DD was thrilled with the tickets and is so excited to go. Lunch at the Palace Hotel and a matinee of Wicked. Doesn't get much better than that!

[DizzyFORDisney]

I have tickets for Wednesday in Phila!

[DizzyFORDisney]

Saw the show last night....AWESOME!!!!!! Loved it!

Kept thinking about the podcast team saying that was the last time they were all together (with Bob).....

Loved loved loved it! And just went for a 4 mile run with the soundtrack in the IPOD! Wooo hooo!

[remark44]

I'm going this Saturday in Philly. I can't wait!:cool1:

[Dodie]

This is one of those experiences that snooty critics try and pan, but everyday people absolutely love.

I have never met a single person I know who has seen it that didn't absolutely love it.

Scotte

I would agree with this 100%.

Me too. I've seen it three times. Broadway, Chicago, and the touring company here in Indianapolis. Excellent each time.

[YayDisney!]

I am taking my DD10 to see this show in Toledo in April. I have not read the book, but a couple of girls in my office who have read the book say that, if the show goes according to the book, it may not be suitable for my daughter.

Could someone chime in as to the appropriateness of this show for a 10-year-old girl?

Thanks so much!! :goodvibes

[Dodie]

I am taking my DD10 to see this show in Toledo in April. I have not read the book, but a couple of girls in my office who have read the book say that, if the show goes according to the book, it may not be suitable for my daughter.

Could someone chime in as to the appropriateness of this show for a 10-year-old girl?

Thanks so much!! :goodvibes

I have not read the book. I tried, but personally thought it was terrible. I know people who have. Trust me, the play is not like the book. In the three times I've seen the show, there have always been young-ish children there. I mean - it's an adult Broadway show - but I don't recall anything particularly inappropriate at all. There is some adult "activity" alluded to early on - but nothing graphic and no bad language particularly.

[hmonkeyruns]

I'm going to see it in Philadelphia this weekend too! I'm so glad people who have seen it here have enjoyed it.

[smphbear]

I am taking my DD10 to see this show in Toledo in April. I have not read the book, but a couple of girls in my office who have read the book say that, if the show goes according to the book, it may not be suitable for my daughter.

Could someone chime in as to the appropriateness of this show for a 10-year-old girl?

Thanks so much!! :goodvibes


The book is very different and not child appropriate.

My son will turn 10 right before he sees it in March. He is very excited and looking forward to it. I think it is ok for her.

[daneenm]

I am taking my DD10 to see this show in Toledo in April. I have not read the book, but a couple of girls in my office who have read the book say that, if the show goes according to the book, it may not be suitable for my daughter.

Could someone chime in as to the appropriateness of this show for a 10-year-old girl?

Thanks so much!! :goodvibes

We took DD13 and DNiece11 and did not feel there was anything inappropriate. One scene where a baby is born (nothing graphic at all, just a woman in a long dress with knees bent and a big belly) and one scene with a small amount of kissing. That is it. We are pretty conservative and none of us thought there was anything that we would rather not have been there.

Have a great time. The two young people who were with us had a fantastic time and were chattering about it for days afterward.

[Tink rules]

I loved it...

Some didn't - like my mom and neighbor... I think it's all personal tastes...

I saw the national touring company here at Proctors and it was fantastic!!!

& my seats (cloud club...) were only $30...

I could never see it in NYC for that... the parking alone would have been more... :sad2:

[PK Disney Dork]

I know I'm going to be in the minority...but I'm just not a fan of the show. I love Maguire's novels and personally felt the musical really took the heart out of the book.

Schwartz basically took a novel that is a dark political alagory and turned it into a buddy cop comedy set to music. Sure the eye candy aspects of the show are phenomenal, but I thought that save for maybe two songs the rest of the score wasn't very memorable.

I saw the show right after it opened...with both Chenowith and Menzel...love Cristin...really can't stand Indina's voice...like in RENT it just always feels like she's over singing and more or less shouting. But I digress...

I'm glad if nothing else that shows like Wicked at least expose audiences that may not see musicals or live theatre and open them up to a wider world of entertainment. So for that I am thankful...other than than...give me a show by Porter, or Sondheim any day over Wicked.

But that's just my snobby opine. :thumbsup2

[kaligal]

I didn't love it 100%. It was okay, there were a few moments I really liked and one song I really enjoyed...I just didn't think it was all that. I am not a snob or a snoot.

I find it ironic that anyone who claims to really love the play and "get" its messages would start with the name calling when someone has an opinion that isn't the popular one.

"We love it and if you don't agree with us, you're a snob."

It is possible to not be a snob and not love Wicked.

[DisneyKevin]

I know I'm going to be in the minority...but I'm just not a fan of the show. I love Maguire's novels and personally felt the musical really took the heart out of the book.

I'm glad if nothing else that shows like Wicked at least expose audiences that may not see musicals or live theatre and open them up to a wider world of entertainment. So for that I am thankful...other than than...give me a show by Porter, or Sondheim any day over Wicked.

But that's just my snobby opine. :thumbsup2

Sadly, Porter is dead and Sondheim is getting up there and no longer as prolific as he used to be.

I agree and I think this show is accessible and reaches a wide audience. I also think that's why we see shows like Mamma Mia become huge hits. Theater can be expensive and folks what as close to a "sure thing" as they can get.

I, for one, cant stand Phantom of the Opera and was the only person in our group that wasnt CRAZY about Jersey Boys.

It's all personal taste and opinion.:thumbsup2

I didn't love it 100%. It was okay, there were a few moments I really liked and one song I really enjoyed...I just didn't think it was all that. I am not a snob or a snoot.

I find it ironic that anyone who claims to really love the play and "get" its messages would start with the name calling when someone has an opinion that isn't the popular one.

"We love it and if you don't agree with us, you're a snob."

It is possible to not be a snob and not love Wicked.

Unless I'm mistaken...and thats possible....I think the "snootie" was reserved for the critics that usually think "good theater" and "popular theater" cant fit in the same sentence.

You can certainly be a snob and not love Wicked....it's all good.

[PK Disney Dork]

Porter may be dead...but I'd personally take one of his shows over a Schwartz show.

Like you said though Kevin...personal tastes.

I couldn't stand Phanton either.