By Kimberly Rau
“Wicked” is in Providence for an extended tour, and if you’re a fan of the show or looking for a palate cleanser after the second “Wicked” movie, this is the show for you.
Do I need to get into the plot after the media blitz that has been the last two years? Based on the classic “Wizard of Oz” series with some minor nods to the 1930s film, “Wicked” is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, told from the perspective of her former schoolmate Glinda. The play asks us at the start if people are born wicked, or have wickedness thrust upon them, but by the end, you realize nothing is ever that black and white. With a strong score and book, gorgeous costumes and lighting, and all the theater magic you could ask for, “Wicked” has been delighting audiences for more than 20 years. This tour is no exception.
One of my favorite things about every “Wicked” tour I’ve seen is that, largely, you are getting the same high production value experience you’d have in New York. So many big musicals get stripped down when they go on the road, but “Wicked,” which premiered in 2003, has always retained the look and feel of the mega-musicals era from which it came. The sets are complex, the lights are magnificent, it’s an equity tour and there’s still a full orchestra pit. (Side note: It’s an abomination to charge Broadway-level prices for non-equity tours that rely mostly on keyboards. Knock it off.)
That’s not to say this is the same tour that last came through Providence. I noticed several new costume designs (including a fun black and white theme for “Dancing Through Life”) and some new choreography and staging in certain numbers. Nor, fortunately, is it trying to mimic either the first “Wicked” movie, which was excellent, or the second, which left me wishing they’d not bothered. This tour feels fresh and energetic, and every bit as captivating as the first time I saw it more than 20 years ago.
The actors, too, are making the roles their own. There are no wannabe Idinas, Kristins, Cynthias or Arianas in this production. Jessie Davidson is hands-down one of the best Elphabas I’ve seen. Her line delivery is on point and her voice reminds me of Jessica Vosk in the best possible way. Even better, she has fantastic chemistry with both Zoe Jensen (Glinda) and Ethan Kirschbaum (Fiyero). Jensen’s Glinda is more of a character role than I’m used to, but that’s not a bad thing. Her choices could have been more cohesive at times, but it worked overall, and she and Davidson are great on stage together, especially when their friendship is first forming in Act 1.
Kirschbaum is well-cast as Fiyero, giving a strong performance that lent itself to a somewhat more thoughtful Fieyro. (You’re thinking “that doesn’t work!”, but it does.) I enjoyed his interpretation of “Dancing Through Life” and thought he and Davidson executed Act 2’s “As Long as You’re Mine” beautifully.
Tim McGowan as the Wizard is another example of great casting. McGowan has a voice that reminds me of Joel Grey, and is just the right amount of affable to make you understand how he got all of Oz under his thumb. And Eileen T’Kaye’s choices for Madame Morrible made the character perfectly intimidating. Finally, Jada Temple is a lovely Nessarose, who does a great job with “The Wicked Witch of the East.” (Why is that never on the cast recording?)
Overall, this is a great tour with strong performances. The ensemble is dynamic and the energy never once flagged. There’s nothing like live theater, and some of the best is in Rhode Island right now, including “Wicked.” Add this to your list before it leaves town.
“Wicked” runs through March 22, 2026, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
