We all know the story of the Wizard of Oz. Farm Girl’s house lands on evil Witch. Farm girl meets good Witch and other friends, runs into dead witch’s wicked western sister, and defeats said wicked witch with a bucket of water- you know the rest. But what exactly happened before Dorothy dropped in?

That’s where the story of the hit musical Wicked comes in. A tale of how Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West came to be so wicked, this show is famous for its catchy songs, clever writing, and touching message. So, when the Hippodrome announced Wicked was coming for the month of April, I was thrilled. Though I had seen the show twice before, the saying “third time’s the charm” was easily applicable. The show’s two leads, Elphaba the Wicked Witch and Galinda the Good Witch, both require amazing vocal abilities, and the actresses stepped up to the challenge, hitting unbelievable notes and rightfully earning thundering applause from the audience, myself included. Not only were the acting, singing and dancing phenomenal, but the musical itself teaches valuable lessons about love, power, and most importantly, friendship. Every time I see this show, I am reminded of these powerful messages, and will always recommend the musical to anyone who asks. As Galinda tells Elphaba in one of the final songs, after seeing this show, “I have been changed for good.”