Wicked Tour -- Cities, Tickets, Cast, Reviews

Wicked Tour Reviews and Articles

Below find REVIEWS AND ARTICLES for Wicked on Tour

Grimmerie: The book on the making of Wicked called The Grimmerie includes behind-the-scenes stories, etc. Read about The Grimmerie

View the Wicked trailer with Wicked Tour Clips [opens in new browser window] Universal's site.

December 16, 2007 St. Louis Today - Wicked review

"Wicked," the Stephen Schwartz musical that enjoyed a hugely successful run at the Fox last season, is back — still dazzling to look at, still immensely entertaining, still able to turn adult theatergoers into little kids, breathlessly entranced by a story they've loved all their lives.

Sept 28, 2007 Touring Company Is 'Wicked' Good

For those who think the smash hit Broadway musical Wicked is nothing more than a tween girl sensation, take a look at the crowds that are buzzing in the lobby of the historic Opera House now that the national tour of this record-breaking phenomenon has landed in Boston once again. Families, younger couples, older couples, groups, teens, tweens, and men and women of all ages are clamoring for tickets to this musical juggernaut that in five years has become a world-wide franchise....

Sept 15, 2007 Cape Cod Times: 'Wicked' still casts a powerful spell

...Nothing about this latest version of "Wicked" that has swept into town suggests the traveling company is witch-weary. Christina DeCicco is perky-times-infinity as Glinda, who meets Elphaba when they are forced to room together in boarding school. Her version of "Popular," as she flits, blond curls bouncing, about the stage, suggesting makeover tips for Elphaba, is the show's funniest moment (and there are many in competition).

As the tortured but kind-hearted Elphaba, Victoria Matlock brings the required vulnerable interior hidden in hautiness — as well as a bring-down-the-house voice. She's fabulous.

May 16, 2007 Denver Post: "Wicked" gives good the evil eye

John Moore reflects on why Wicked is so popular. Also see his review: Wicked Tour review May 2007

April 20, 2007 'Wicked' a cauldron full of wonders"

Says the Dallas Morning News: "the entire cast takes the stage and makes every role sparkle.... All hail the wonderful wizardry of Wicked. And those who keep it up to snuff." DallasNews - Wicked Review

Another Texas reviewer, John Garcia, especially liked the Fiyero actor in the touring Wicked. "Cliffton Hall takes a firm, masculine hold of the role and delivers a dynamic, exciting, and vivid performance. This is first time ever that I actually enjoyed hearing the songs sung by this character. Hall has a pop tenor quality to his voice that worked magic on the songs." He also praised Glinda. "Christina DeCicco brings the same blonde bimbo overtones as the previous golden hair beauties, but it is her attack to the darker, more dramatic elements of the character that makes her performance both immensely moving and powerful to watch."

March 15, 2007: Wicked: A Spellbinding Masterpiece

Victoria Matlock as Elphaba:...She is at once powerful, thrilling and heartbreaking.....

February 1, 2007: Something 'Wicked' This Way Comes "...It's a grand, entertaining spectacle. But it's also a serious examination of the power of political propaganda. That could make "Wicked" sound like a poor-man's poly sci class. But this show is smart, powerfully entertaining and wrapped in spectacular production values...." Frederick News Post

October 2006: Toronto Star Review [opens new browser window] The witches of Oz are back with a cast that delights, thrills, dazzles and touches the heart

"...Wicked has been put together by people with showbiz savvy and theatrical boldness, but it's the feelings they convey that make the show such a winner. Sure, they've got the brains and the nerve, but best of all, they've got the heart. Plenty of it." RICHARD OUZOUNIAN - Toronto Star

"On second look, Wicked is even more enjoyable as an emotionally involving tale of an unlikely friendship between two women as well as a campy deconstruction of The Wizard of Oz mythology....Stephen Schwartz's score proves richer and more addictive with successive listens"--Globe and Mail

August 26, 2006: Wicked fills Gammage [Auditorium] with oohs and Oz

Forget “The Phantom of the Opera” and that lurching chandelier. Declaw “Cats” and “The Lion King.” Ditto the grumbling fur ball with the dancing housewares in “Beauty and the Beast.” When it comes to musical theater as grand spectacle, my money’s on “Wicked,” that clever and whiz-bang bombastic prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” that recasts the Wicked Witch of the West as something closer to a misunderstood hero, and Glinda the Good Witch as a flighty, spoiled girl..... - East Valley Tribune.

Aug 11th: Orange County Register Review: A touring version of the phenomenally popular musical arrives in O.C. with all of the show's trademark attributes intact.

July 28, 2006: From San Diego area NCTimes.com Spectacular, entertaining 'Wicked' was worth the wait: "...Schwartz's score is magical, packed with big-finish ballads, harmonizing romantic and friendship duets and big ensemble numbers, without a clunker among them. The most thrilling numbers are Elphaba's show-stoppers, which all end on a stratospheric top note, including the optimistic "The Wizard and I," the high-flying first-act closer "Defying Gravity" and the formidable song of defiance "No Good Deed." The second-act friendship duet between Elphaba and Glinda, "For Good," brings tears to the eyes...."

July 28 Review: Witty Wicked Delights Spellbound Audience - San Diego

Wicked in San Diego Review July 27, 2006 by Welton Jones. "...Here, Elphaba is the sensitive one who sympathizes with the animals and resists wizardly mind-control. Her inevitable spiral downward toward her watery fate at the hands of an unseen Dorothy is done with far more style in the novel but more elbow-digging realism on stage. The play becomes a duo for Elphaba and Glenda, the nice witch played by the creamy-white Billie Burke. In the novel, they meet as school chums, along with a brace of other fetching youngsters...."

Sandiego.com Wicked review

Voice of San Diego "...this production sparkles, shines and enchants in every way. From twinkle lights to flying monkeys to giant wizards (and the little men that hide behind them), the show leaves you breathless."

Theater review July 15: 'Wicked' has more than a sense of humor

The giggle has landed. After much salivating and anticipating, "Wicked," the ballyhooed Broadway prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," finally opened Thursday night at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre. It's surprisingly funny, a hoot on a broomstick....http://www.startribune.com

Review - Pioneer Press, Minneapolis, July 14, 2006 Wicked Review - Twincities

Article about Maguire and Wicked Twincities.com - July 12, 2006

Review from Boston April 19, 2006: Girls Power - Wicked commentary

Review from Pennsylvania - March 3, 2006 - Wicked' a magical musical that's truly a masterpiece

Review from Florida - Feb 9, 2006 - Miami Herald - Sold-out Wicked a magical ride "Wicked is a smash, and deservedly so...Part of what is so beguiling about Wicked, apart from the breathtaking Ozian world created by set designer Eugene Lee (the wizard of clocks, cogs and a massive hovering dragon), whimsical costume designer Susan Hilferty and lighting designer Kenneth Posner (who makes the Emerald City look like verdant Vegas), is the way that the show works on two levels. For the kids and teens who will occupy many of the Broward Center seats, the musical explores familiar feelings...Yet Wicked has deeper charms for the adults who see it...."

Review St. Louis Today.com "...One of the biggest surprises: Instead of focusing on a romance, "Wicked" focuses on a different kind of love, the deep love of friends. In "The Wizard of Oz," Glinda and the Wicked Witch are worlds apart. But Winnie Holzman's "Wicked" script, based on Gregory Maguire's best-selling novel, explains that wasn't always the case..."

Toronto Star review - April 1st 2005 | Variety - Wicked Tour review April 3rd

Oohs and Oz - review from Dallas

Wicked tour review October 2005

Houston press review - Rave: Totally Wicked
An unforgettable musical breaks all the rules. Buy Tickets for Wicked in Houston reliable vendor: Wicked tickets houston

Article with interview quotes from Maguire and Schwartz in St. Petersburg Times http://www.sptimes.com

Read a rave for the tour Feb 9, 2006 posted on Broadway world. National Tour Review: WICKED Holds Broward Center Spellbound

AWARDS:

Touring Broadway Awards The Wicked touring company took home three top prizes at the Touring Broadway Awards including Best New Musical, Best Production Design and Best Musical Score. AND in Feb 2006 - Wicked Tour's Stephanie Block won the Helen Hayes award. Read Wicked Awards!

SAN FRANCISCO REVIEWS where Eden Espinosa temporarily played Elphaba:

Aug 9, 2005: Wicked - S. F. Chronicle article on improvements

Review of Tour version Talkinbroadway.com - Richard (Who saw the 2003 version as well)

Fan testimonial: Wicked has been one of the greatest things in the world to me. The raw emotion that I see portrayed on the stage every time I see this show just blows me away. I pray for the day when Wicked can be released on DVD and I can watch it everyday. -- Preston Gabay, Ohio.

Wicked Links; Questions and Answers

See Wicked Tour Cast Bios and Creative Team Bios

Visit Wicked home page for links to 50 Wicked-related pages

Enter drawing for autographed CD: Wicked drawing

Questions or comments to share? Write to Carol (that's me, the webmaster) at carol@musicalschwartz.com with the words "Question" or "Comment" in the subject heading. (If you don't hear from me please write again - it got lost in my spam filter or yours).

Is Wicked appropriate for children?

This section has moved to its own page: Wicked for kids?

Where can I find Wicked lyrics and libretto (script)?

For lyrics see our Wicked Lyrics page or the sheet music or CD. The Wicked Libretto will be published along with lyrics and lots of photos, etc. in a book. Wicked: The Grimmerie

Will there be a sequel? Well at least of the novel: Wicked Sequel - a novel by Gregory Maguire

What's the URL for the official tour site for more photos, etc.? www.wickedthemusicaltour.com

See Stephen Schwartz musicals

Stephen Schwartz Album - Amazon.com

on video or DVD

Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, Working, The Prince of Egypt,

Disney shows, Others

(Not available on DVD or video but have cast albums: Children of Eden, The Baker's Wife, Rags)