Bold opening hook: Wicked arrives in Rochester with a backstage story you won’t want to miss, from 10 semi-trailers of gear to a stage rig that reads like a field guide to spectacle. But here’s where it gets controversial: is the magic of a Tony-winning musical really knowable from behind the curtain? Let’s pull back the curtain and find out.
Behind the scenes of Wicked as it readies a 16-show run in Rochester
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The beloved musical Wicked is back in Rochester, opening Wednesday at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre.
On Tuesday, News10NBC had an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the production process as crews prepared the set. The morning focus was on the so-called air show, where technicians hung lighting and suspended the Time Dragon over the stage.
“It’s organized chaos,” said Steve Quinn, the company manager for Wicked. “We’re dealing with 10 semi-trailer trucks worth of equipment. We loaded out in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. It took about seven hours to unload everything from the building and then transfer it here.”
Quinn noted that this isn’t Wicked’s first visit to Rochester. “It’s our fifth time here, so many locals are familiar with us.”
He added, “They greeted us warmly when we arrived, and it’s nice—they kind of know what’s going on, which is great.”
Wicked recounts the story of Oz before Dorothy’s arrival and dives into the backstories of the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good Witch.
The Rochester engagement features 16 performances, running through March 1. Tickets remain available online or at the Auditorium Box Office.
For Thursday’s matinee, the venue offers free parking and a shuttle service to accommodate weekday daytime showtimes.
Click here to read more. (https://www.whec.com/top-news/rbtl-offering-free-parking-and-shuttle-service-for-thursdays-matinee-of-wicked/)
Related stories: Wicked behind the scenes and RBTL coverage.
