Wicked: For Good came out last fall and put a wrap on the film version of the Wicked story. Now Wicked the musical is town, so Pittsburgh fans can experience the full story again in a new light.

The musical takes place within the universe of The Wizard of Oz, but it should be noted that it is not canon to the original movie. Instead, it is inspired by the novel written by Gregory Maguire.

Unlike the recent two-part Wicked movies, the musical is one show, which is impressive to say the least. Story building and plot pacing is definitely more difficult in a roughly three-hour show compared to two movies that are each two and a half hours long.

The musical follows the life of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and it explains how she came to be so “wicked.” She becomes friends with Glinda, someone who contrasts her greatly. Her magic powers punch her a ticket to see the wizard, and the unlikely pair set off into the Emerald City.

After an incident involving the wizard, Elphaba flees the city solo, and she is called public threat number one. What follows is a series of unfortunate events involving people close to Elphaba and magic.

All of the actors and actresses in this touring company are phenomenal. Jessie Davidson’s vocals shine, and it is clear why she was given the role of Elphaba. There are many instances where she has to sing back-to-back songs, and she rises to the occasion with her performances.

The stage design shifts many times throughout the show and makes use of a color-changing backdrop that conveys deeper feeling during some songs. The set pieces are well made, and the wizard’s talking head particularly stands out.

All and all, the musical explores themes of wickedness, friendship, acceptance, and the importance of doing good in the world. It is the perfect experience for fans of the novel or movies, and will be playing at the Benedum Center through Feb 15.