By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, is taking the DeVos Performance Hall stage for its second week of performances.
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
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…
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.”
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.
