SOMETHING WICKED GOOD
THIS WAY COMES

The national tour lands in Boston with enough
brains, heart, and theatrical magic to remind
us why this musical continues to defy gravity

Claudia Bennett as Glinda and Aline Mayagoitia as Elphaba (center) and the North American Touring Company of Wicked

It’s appropriate that the national tour of Wicked has returned to Boston—it’s the home territory for author Gregory Maguire, whose novel is the foundation for one of the world’s longest-running and highest-grossing musicals, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, and direction by Joe Mantello. Maguire’s reimagining of The Wizard of Oz places the Wicked Witch of the West at the heart of the story, transforming a familiar villain into a sympathetic heroine.

Aline Mayagoitia and Claudia Bennett

Aline Mayagoitia

The long-running national tour, which was halted by the COVID shutdown before becoming the first U.S. touring production to resume performances in 2021, welcomed a new group of principals this summer. Claudia Bennett brings the vocal power Glinda demands, while Aline Mayagoitia makes an especially strong impression as Elphaba, particularly with her soaring “The Wizard and I.” Impressive stagecraft (Eugene Lee, settings; Kenneth Posner, lighting; Tony Meola, sound; Chic Silber, special effects) keeps the audience gasping with delight (see especially Elphaba in “Defying Gravity”—she doesn’t just fly, she levitates, seemingly in some other dimension).

The North American Touring Company of WICKED

Claudia Bennett as Glinda and Aline Mayagoitia as Elphaba

The imaginary Land of Oz offers distorted echoes of familiar real-world social issues. Elphaba’s physical differences and her commitment to social justice put her in peril, however, and Glinda is eventually forced to choose between safety and loyalty.

Ethan Kirschbaum as Fiyero and Aline Mayagoitia as Elphaba

Cristina Sastre as Nessarose and Pablo David Laucerica as Boq

Satisfyingly entertaining, Wicked is uplifting, thought-provoking, and, finally, moving, forcing us to think about what we label good and what we perceive as evil.

Drew McVety as Doctor Dillamond

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photos by Joan Marcus

Wicked
Citizens Opera House, 539 Washington Street
ends on November 15, 2026 in Boston
for tickets, visit Broadway in Boston
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Wicked Tour

for more shows, visit Theatre in Boston

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Lynne Weiss is a member of the Boston Theater Critics Association. Her reviews, travel tales, and progressively optimistic opinions are on her substack.

Ethan Kirschbaum as Fiyero

Susan Cella as Madame Morrible

Cristina Sastre as Nessarose

Pablo David Laucerica as Boq

Claudia Bennett as Glinda and Aline Mayagoitia as Elphaba

Tom McGowan as The Wizard (photo by Matt Crockett)