'Popular' musical 'Wicked' makes its long-awaited return to OKC: What you need to know
In less than a year of making theater magic together as the "Wicked" witches, Olivia Valli and Celia Hottenstein already have been forever changed "For Good."
"No matter what happens, Celia will always be my Glinda. There is this unspeakable bond when you go through the highs and lows of what a female friendship is. Every single night, through our personal things or through what we deal with like out on the road, I always find myself, anytime something happens, I'm like, 'Celia! Guess what happened!'" Valli told The Oklahoman via Zoom.
"Aw, sweetie!" Hottenstein exclaimed as Valli began to lavish praise on her "Good Witch" co-star.
When the national tour of the hit musical "Wicked" at long last follows the Yellow Brick Road back to Oklahoma City, the show's stars will be on each other's team all the way.
"I feel like we have this shared experience that will always bond us, and that's what's special," Hottenstein said. "You see different pairs of Elphabas and Glindas and the different dynamics they have, but they always have this shared experience with them that bonds them in some way. And that's really cool."
For the first time in a decade, "Wicked" is making its long-awaited return to Civic Center Music Hall for a three-week run Feb. 21-March 10 as part of OKC Broadway's 2023-2024 season.
What is 'Wicked' about?
"Wicked," the "Wizard of Oz" prequel that helped launch Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth and "Frozen" actor Idina Menzel to Broadway stardom, last played OKC in fall 2013, which means local fans have been waiting more than 10 years for another chance to see the song-and-dance spectacle featuring the numbers “Popular,” “For Good” and “Defying Gravity.”
"Wicked's" return was originally planned for OKC Broadway's 2020-2021 season, but it was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," the show boasts music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.
The Broadway blockbuster explores what happened in the Land of Oz before Dorothy made her dramatic arrival. It follows the unlikely friendship between Elphaba (Valli), a smart and talented yet hot-tempered and misunderstood witch who was born with emerald-green skin and eventually gets labeled the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Hottenstein), a spoiled and bubbly blonde who is particularly popular and eventually becomes known as Glinda the Good.
How can OKC fans get tickets to 'Wicked?'
The three-time Tony-winning smash is finally making its way back to OKC at a time when the show seems to be as popular as ever. The fourth longest-running title in Broadway history, "Wicked" has been performed in more than 100 cities in 16 countries around the world, been translated into six languages and been seen by in excess of 60 million people worldwide.
Plus, it has amassed more than $5 billion in global sales.
Last year, the show's 20th anniversary on Broadway was cause for multiple Technicolor celebrations, and last week, the first trailer for the anticipated two-part cinematic adaptation of "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, premiered during the Super Bowl. "Part One" of the movie version is flying into theaters Nov. 27, while "Part Two" is slated for a 2025 debut.
Limited tickets for the musical's Feb. 21-March 10 OKC run are available at the Civic Center Music Hall box office, at OKCBroadway.com or by phone at 405-594-8300.
OKC Broadway and the production have announced a Broadway Direct Digital Lottery ticket policy. A limited number of "Wicked" tickets will be available at $35 each. Entries for each performance will be open starting at 10 a.m. four days prior to each performance at lottery.broadwaydirect.com. Entries will be accepted through 6 p.m. three days prior to each show, at which time winners will be contacted by email.
Those selected as winners have 60 minutes to purchase up to two tickets. Seats are assigned at the discretion of the ticket office and cannot be transferred to other people or performances. Tickets will be delivered via mobile delivery between one and three days prior to the event and are subject to availability.
'Wicked' stars eager to bring their witchy characters to OKC
Valli and Hottenstein started together as the stars of the "Wicked" national tour in May 2023, but both had played their witchy characters before: Valli was previously an understudy for the role of Elphaba on the tour from 2016-2019, and Hottenstein understudied the part of Glinda with the Broadway production.
The "Wicked" leads chatted with The Oklahoman via Zoom about what goes into casting the iconic show's spell:
Q: What is about this show that makes it a global phenomenon?
Valli: First, it's a spectacle: You have two women flying in the air while singing crazy high notes. You have people dressed as monkeys, and the costumes themselves in the show are so detailed, so good, so perfect for the world of Oz.
The lighting is gorgeous; the special effects are insane. And people can't get enough of that, because so much of what we've seen now in theater is on a screen. It's like, 'oh, look at this special effect.' And that's valid, too, and right for some shows. But we are having that old-school theater magic happen. ... Then, I think it's a very powerful tale of two women and their unconditional love for one another.
Hottenstein: All of that. I think, too, this is a story that people can relate to because I think everybody at some point in their lives has felt misunderstood or maybe alienated. And I think this show speaks really well to that part of everyone. And it encourages people to be their authentic and true self. Isn't that what we all want is to just be ourselves and accept ourselves for who we are and accept other people who for who they are? So, I think that's why it's so successful.
Q: Is it satisfying to play such iconic female characters both with really interesting story arcs?
Hottenstein: Of course, yeah, Having a character arc and a character journey is always going to be satisfying. I think what I really enjoy about this is the comedy. I love comedy. I love doing comedy. I grew up watching Lucille Ball and her physical comedy, so this has always been a dream of mine since I saw it around when it first opened. So, that is so satisfying to me.
I love making people laugh in everyday (life), so to do that every night as well it's really fun.
Valli: This is such a juicy role, and I'm finding something new every single day. I'm finding something new to grow with and new ways to do things and discovering new things. I think that I could do this roll for five years and still find new things. ...
Vocally for me, it's so satisfying. I get to use my full range, and I love that. When I was growing up, I listen to the 'Wicked' soundtrack, and I was like, 'Wow, there are really big voices that sing like me. I don't have to be this like character actor; I can be a leading lady.'
I've always wanted to be Elphaba. ... To play somebody who is so deeply misunderstood, but chooses her power to lean into is really, really, really satisfying. We have like three months left, and I'm like, 'Oh, wow. Sad. Now what?' It's not every day, you get to walk into roles, as well written and as well done as these two characters.
Q: What are you looking forward to when you come to OKC for your three-week visit?
Hottenstein: I'm definitely excited to get back there. I haven't been there in nine years ... when I was there with 'The Phantom of the Opera' (national tour).
I've heard it's changed there and that there's some exciting new things. So, I am very excited for Oklahoma City.
Valli: Yeah, I'm excited for Oklahoma City. I can't wait to be back. I was there a year and a half ago with (the national tour of the musical) 'Pretty Woman.' And I can't wait to just explore it all over again. I have a car in that city, so I get to drive around and go to all the places I really wanted to go. ... It's a really fun city, and I love that botanical garden that's right by the theater.
'WICKED'
When: Feb. 21-March 10.
Where: Civic Center, 201 N Walker.
Tickets: https://www.okcbroadway.com/wicked.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Team Glinda or Team Elphaba? 'Wicked' witches coming to Oklahoma City
