Wickedness
everywhere you turn
As the Depot Theater Company's production of "Jekyll and Hyde" — the ultimate tale of good and evil — continues in Dodge City, Wichita prepares to welcome the Stephen Schwartz musical "Wicked."
The popular show, billed as "The Untold Story of the Wizard of Oz," had a healthy run on Broadway and has been touring the country for a while now.
Schwartz's first big hit, "Godspell," came along about the same time as its more boisterous cousin "Jesus Christ Superstar," and became known as the gentler telling of the biblical story.
Schwartz followed that success with "Pippin," an even bigger show based on the life of Pippin the Hunchback, the son of King Charlemagne.
Since then Schwartz has worked on several animated films, including "Pocahontas" and "The Prince of Egypt."
The original Broadway production of "Wicked" featured Kristin Chenoweth singing "Popular" and Idina Menzel, who burst on the scene in "Rent," belting out "Defying Gravity."
The Wichita run of the tour is presented by the Theater League, whose season continues with Jim Brickman's "Beautiful World Christmas" on Nov. 23, "Avenue Q" Dec. 2 and 3, "Jesus Christ Superstar" Feb. 3, "The Wedding Singer" Feb. 9 and 10, and "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" March 31 through April 18.
For the full story, go to dodgecitydailyglobe.ks.newsmemory.com.

