As the lights dim in the Kansas City Music Hall, the whispers of the audience turn to silence.
The beautifully played music flows through the auditorium, giving me goosebumps.
Monkeys in life-like, intricate costumes dance on to stage with so much passion, I was instantly intrigued.
On the edge of my seat, I watch as the ensemble members dance and sing, bringing the show to life right before my eyes.
The National Broadway tour of Wicked opened in Kansas City on Oct. 9 and closed on Oct. 27.
Hayley Podschun makes me laugh and smile — her comedic timing and personality were absolutely spot-on for her role, Glinda. She was absolutely adorable, and I am definitely her number one fan.
She lit up the theater with her charisma and stage presence.
I am not exaggerating when I say that Jennifer Dinoia, who played Elphaba, was by far the most phenomenal singer I’ve ever heard in my life.
The last few lines of Defying Gravity brought tears to my eyes, and I stared, eyes wide and mouth open as she hit that last note — she undoubtedly had the voice of an angel. I never wanted her to stop singing.
So pure.
So perfect.
Perfect describes the entire performance, as I did not notice a single glitch or impurity during any part of the entire three-hour musical.
From the ensemble to the lead roles, the energy was moving.
Each and every member of the cast had a voice that made the hairs on my arms stand up.
For those of you who are not super mega theater nerds such as myself, let me give you a little bit of background on Wicked, also known as the greatest musical known to man.
The story is a prequel to Wizard of Oz, and in Wicked, audiences are shown how the Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion come to be, as well as the background stories behind the witches.
The story begins as Glinda takes readers back in time to Shiz University at which the witches meet each other for the first time. Elphaba is mocked and looked down on due to the green color of her body, while Glinda is praised and admired for her poise and beauty.
The two end up being roommates, and find that they have more in common than they thought.
In the midst of a “love story”, they get the chance to meet the Wizard. However, he is not who they think he is, and Elphaba gets set up.
Through true love, tragedy in the Emerald City and much more, Elphaba and Glinda become best friends, and “have been changed for good” due to the events that occur.