‘Wicked’ Opens Month-long Run at the Benedum (Wed., 1/14/26)

WICKED (musical). Music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman. PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh. January 14 – February 15

When children’s author L. Frank Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, little did he know that he’d write as many as 13 books more in his series about the strange land of Oz. Likewise he would not have known that a film version of his first book would star Judy Garland in 1939, or that it would later become a true classic of American cinema. And, of course, he would never have guessed that the story of Oz would become so ingrained in American culture that authors like Gregory Maguire, in 1995, could publish his own fictional backstory to the life of the Wicked Witch of the West and, with that, carry along an audience through three more novels in his Wicked Years series. In 2003, of course, Maguire’s first Wicked novel turned Broadway “upside-down,” defying gravity with music by Carnegie Mellon University alum Stephen Schwartz (and a book by Winnie Holzman). Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth played the lead roles until multiple touring companies cast dozens more young ingenues (some green in more ways than one) to travel the world over. Now, for the sixth time since 2006, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh welcome Wicked to the Benedum Center stage. In case you hadn’t heard, the show is “popular.” 237 7th St., Cultural District.  (C.P.O.)

Share on Social Media