Tag Archives: Wicked

Wicked musical electrifies audiences through ongoing performances at DeVos Performance Hall

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Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, takes the stage at DeVos Performance Hall for their second week of performances (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, is taking the DeVos Performance Hall stage for its second week of performances.

  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
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  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning musical has been dazzling audiences for 20 years. Wicked features music by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz – and a timeless story.

“It’s timeless,” said Steve Quinn, Wicked Company Manager. “That’s what I love about it. We’re not in Los Angeles 1926, we’re in Oz. You come in, and it’s a magical place.”

A magical phenomenon

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Wicked is one of the most popular Broadway shows on the road. The reason for the production’s popularity, Quinn believes, stems from the corresponding 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

“We all watched it growing up, and we all have our own memories of The Wizard of Oz,” said Quinn. “We have that as the ground story.

“Our director said that if you take The Wizard of Oz and move the camera this way five feet, that’s our story. What happened before Dorothy dropped in? Is [Elphaba] wicked? Is Glinda good? We explore those themes, and we do it in a very clever way.”

This unique take on that story and the theme of friendship woven throughout the musical creates a timeless work of art that remains relevant as the years pass.

There’s no place like Oz…

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Wicked descended upon DeVos Performance Hall at 8 a.m. on May 13.

The 90-person crew unloaded 13 semi-trailers of equipment into the performance hall and assembled the set, lights and scenery. An additional 20-25 wardrobe and hair crew are hired locally for the duration of the show.

“The most challenging thing [of load-in] is that all of the departments are trying to work at the same time,” said Evan Ensign, Wicked Production Stage Manager. “You’ve got lighting, which needs space, the air show…It’s a lot of pieces.

“As we’re coming in, there is sort of a science to it. There are so many different aspects it takes to get it put in, and to get put in safely.”

And safety is a priority for Ensign.

“We test everything – flying apparatuses – for safety before we put people on things,” said Ensign. “Everybody knows their job, and we make sure that all the different departments get enough time to go through and check all the things that they need to. It’s built into the load-in.”

A real Broadway experience

“Our producers want to make sure that if you are seeing a Broadway show in Grand Rapids, you’re actually seeing a full-mounted production,” said Quinn. “We give you everything. We want to make sure you are getting the same value you would get in New York City.

“And it’s right here in your own backyard.”

Don’t forget the dragon(s)…

Part of that theatrical experience comes in the form of an enormous dragon mounted above the stage. But is there more than one dragon floating around Oz?

“The truth is, there are two dragons,” said Ensign. “They hopscotch cities. There is no way to differentiate which is which.”

A large dragon dominates the top of the stage – but is there only one? (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


Audience members are guaranteed an introduction to one of those two dragons at the show. But whether the dragon on that particular day is Ozwald or Norbert…well, that will remain a mystery.

How to experience Wicked

The Broadway musical will run through Sunday, June 2. Tickets are available by calling the Broadway Grand Rapids box office at 616-235-6285 or through Ticketmaster.

For additional information, click here.

Broadway Grand Rapids announces 2023-2024 season

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By John Gonzalez
WKTV Contributor

Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announces the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Not one, but two Michigan premieres highlight a “thrilling”new season for Broadway Grand Rapids, which announced its 2023-2024 shows on Monday as part of a preview at DeVos Performance Hall.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR will bring the Michigan premiere of Broadway’s most Tony Award-winning new show of the season, “MJ,” and the musical comedy revival of “Funny Girl,” announced president and CEO Meghan Distel.

Other shows include: “Disney’s Aladdin,” the entertaining “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical,” and the critically acclaimed new play, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In addition, patrons will have the option to add the ever-popular “Les Misérables” and “Wicked.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary season with such a stellar line-up” Distel said. “From ‘MJ’ to ‘Aladdin,’ the season is diverse, wildly entertaining, and truly offers something for everyone. It’s the very best of Broadway, adds vibrancy to our city, and keeps Grand Rapids on the map as a cultural destination.”

Ticket Prices

Five-show season packages which include “Funny Girl,” “TINA-The Tina Turner Musical,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and “MJ,” start at $225 and are available now at BroadwayGrandRapids.com/Subscribe, at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St NW (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by calling the dedicated subscriber hotline at 1-866-928-7469 (Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 5 p.m.).

Season ticket holders have the option to add “Les Misérables” and “Wicked” to their package now. All subscribers are guaranteed the same seats for each show in the five-show package and receive exclusive benefits including interest free payment plan, flexible exchanges, online ticket management, and ability to auto-renew year after year.

For current season ticket holders, the deadline to renew is Monday, March 27.

All performances will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.

Subscription Series

Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announce that “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” will be part of the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

FUNNY GIRL – Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” this bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits. “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.

Disney’s ALADDIN – Discover a whole new world at ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.

Jacob Dickey, who stars as Aladdin in the Broadway production of Disney “Aladdin.” performs during the season announcement event. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).

MJ – The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Grand Rapids. MJ, the multi–Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.

Package Add-Ons

LES MISÉRABLES – Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon. LES MISÉRABLES. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France. LES MISÉRABLES is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. LES MISÉRABLES still undisputedly “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune).

WICKED – WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”

For more information about events visit www.BroadwayGrandRapids.com

Songs from ‘Wicked,’ ‘Lion King,’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ at Grand Rapids Pops’ Blockbuster Broadway

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Jessica Hendy ppeared on Broadway as Grizabella in “Cats” as well as in Grand Rapids on its national tour.

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

Grand Rapids Symphony

 

Ask anyone to name their favorite Broadway musical, and you’ll almost certainly get a list of several, if not many. And there’s only one way to hear music from many of your favorite musicals in one night.

 

The Grand Rapids Pops presents Blockbuster Broadway, with music from some of Broadway’s biggest and best-loved shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Chicago, and many more.

 

Hear songs from Wicked, The Lion King, and Jersey Boys at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-27, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Enjoy old favorites from The Sound of Music and Annie in DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

 

Part of the Fox Motors Pops series, John Varineau will conduct the Grand Rapids Symphony as the orchestra performs an eclectic mix of songs in the show created, produced, and directed by the acclaimed cabaret artist Scott Coulter.

 

Guests include Jessica Hendy, who previously sang at Grand Rapids Symphony’s “Celebrate America” concert at Cannonsburg Ski Area for the D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops in July 2009. Hendy previously appeared on Broadway as Grizabella in Cats as well as in Grand Rapids on its national tour.

 

Scott Coulter, one of New York’s top award-winning vocalists returns to West Michigan to sing “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” with the Grand Rapids Symphony among other songs.

 

Not long ago, Scott starred in An Evening with Scott Coulter: Broadway and Beyond at Kalamazoo’s Farmer’s Alley Theatre, a theater founded by a friend from music school.

 

“I think of my [singing] style as musical storytelling,” Scott said to Farmer’s Alley Theatre. “I do pretty familiar material but people often tell me that they felt like they heard the song for the first time – or in a new light.”

 

It’s not only theater and concert goers who enjoy Scott’s musical interpretation. The Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz, whose work includes Godspell, Wicked, and Enchanted, has described Coulter’s musical talents like this: “One of the best things that can happen to a composer is to have his music interpreted by Scott Coulter.”

 

Coulter has worked frequently with Schwartz, as have guest soloists Jessica Hendy, Kelli Rabke and John Boswell.

 

Called a “vocal powerhouse” with great range by critics, Jessica Hendy most recently worked with Schwartz on his cabaret-style show, The Wizard and I. Hendy, whose voice sometime seem to defy gravity, will sing some of the most electric songs of the program including “Circle of Life” from The Lion King, “Memory” from Cats, and, of course, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.

 

Kelli Rabke

Kelli Rabke, best known for her role of Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Eponine in Les Misérables, also worked with Schwartz in The Wizard and I. As a frequent musical partner with Coulter, she will join him again in the upcoming show, Music of the Knights, which features songs composed by three British musical legends, all knighted by the Queen of England: Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paul McCartney.

 

Along with other songs, Rabke will perform, “I Dreamed a Dream,” the song that serves as an emotional lynchpin in Les Misérables, one of the best-known musicals of all-time.

 

Music Director, pianist, and vocalist John Boswell co-arranged the music for Blockbuster Broadway with Scott Coulter. In addition to writing music for television, John has crafted numerous piano-driven albums, called “accessible, impressionistic tone-poems” by critics. For Blockbuster Broadway, he sings “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” from Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

 

With the warmth and energy of the Grand Rapids Symphony, Broadway returns to Grand Rapids. Performed with a live symphony, it’s a rare opportunity to hear some of Broadway’s best songs by stellar vocalists.

 

Tickets

 

Tickets start at $18 and are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

 

Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Ticketsprogram, sponsored by Comerica and Calvin College. This is a MySymphony360 eligible concert.

Broadway Grand Rapids opens the curtain on its new season

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Broadway Grand RapidsBroadway Grand Rapids announced its new season with a four-show slate sure to pique the curiosity of every generation.

 

“A majority of the shows we bring in are musicals and we’re always looking to bring in something different, something new to Grand Rapids. It’s a combination of new and traditional to reach a multi-generational audience,” said Meghan Distel, Director of Marketing for Broadway Grand Rapids.

 

The planning required to create a new season at Broadway Grand Rapids is quite extensive. Booking a show requires finding shows that will play well with the Grand Rapids audience, planning and scheduling around open dates at the DeVos Performance Hall, and also finding dates that work with the shows themselves and their tour locations. It’s a process that can take over a year, but it’s all worth it.

 

It’s also important to bring in variety. “They’re all very different. Cinderella and the Sound of Music are classics. Motown should bring in a new crowd because it’s new and features over 40 classic hits,” said Distel.

 

What exactly does the new season look like? Take a look:

•    Cinderella (September 27 – October 2, 2016)
•    The Sound of Music (February 21-26. 2017)
•    Motown the Musical (May 2 – 7, 2017)
•    Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage (June 6 – 11, 2017)

https://youtu.be/g3R808Z1V30

The season kicks off with Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, an updated version of the classic family favorite with new twists and musical numbers.

 

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the beloved film The Sound of Music, which starred Julia Andrews. A stage adaption is coming to Grand Rapids directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien.

 

Motown the Musical features more than 40 classic hits and tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. The Michigan roots make it a great show to bring to Grand Rapids.

 

The season finishes off with an unprecedented live experience of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage. Based off the 1987 iconic film, this performance is full of heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing.

 

On top of the four featured shows, Broadway Grand Rapids will premier two special event performances. These performances are scheduled to a limited number of shows.

 

•    A Christmas Story The Musical  (December 27 – 30, 2016)
•    Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (March 14 – 16, 2017)

 

While the 2016-2017 season is currently generating buzz, Broadway Grand Rapids has already reeled in a big fish for the fall of the 2017-2018 season and it’s something quite Wicked. That’s right, Wicked the Musical will be coming to the DeVos Performance Hall.

 

To purchase tickets for the upcoming season, visit broadwaygrandrapids.com.