WICKED MANIA in MANILA! (@WICKED_Musical Review)

Read: Our Awesome Adventures 2013: ♪ Because I Knew You ♩ I Have Been Changed For Good! 

WICKED The Musical finally opened last night at the CCP Main Theatre to kickoff Wicked Mania in Manila! It’s the world-class Broadway musical that Filipinos have been raving about and campaigning to bring to the Philippines. 

“Wicked” is the untold story of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. It’s like a prequel to the story of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. It also shows the origins of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.

I love the show’s “Green For Good” motto and why we shouldn’t believe in hearsay and judge other people based purely on rumors. 

After celebrating 10 years on Broadway last October 30, 2013, Wicked is finally in Manila!

Here’s a photo essay of my WICKED experience…

WICKED LONDON @ The Apollo Victoria

I was blessed to watch WICKED in London during the PAL Media tour last November 2013.

Read More: PAL Manila Non-Stop to London: A Photo Essay of the Maiden Vogage of PAL Flight PR720! @FlyPAL #PALnonstopLondon

WICKED is shown at The Apollo Victoria theatre, located between Wilton Road and Vauxhall Bridge Road in Central London.

For more info visit www.WickedtheMusical.co.uk

Ticket prices ranges from £15 to £95 (P1,124 – P7,120 at 1 GBP = 72.7654 PHP). 

The stage is set up with the Clock of the Time Dragon, which supposedly tells the secrets of one’s life.

Its eyes turn red every time there’s magic happening on stage.

My “Wicked-mates” at The Apollo Victoria theatre. 

 

WICKED MANILA @ CCP Main Theatre

Wicked The Musical will run in Manila from January 22, 2014 to February 23, 2014 at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre) in Manila.

I love watching at CCP. We would usually arrive early to admire the beauty of the CCP fountain before the show.

You can feel the excitement in the air. I still can’t believe that Wicked is performing live in Manila! 

Ticket prices range from P1,823.50 to P7,294. The weekend shows are almost sold-out so your best bet is to watch during the weekdays.

Check out the availability of Wicked tickets on Ticketworld.

Best to arrive early, around 5.30pm, so that you can secure a parking slot and be the first in line when the doors open.  Like in London, they allow people to take pictures before the show starts.

The Manila stage looks the same as the one in London, complete with a map of the Land of Oz.

The doors open at exactly 7.00pm, and the show starts promptly at 7.30pm. The first act runs for 90 minutes until 9.00pm. After a 20 minute intermission, the show resumes and ends at around 10.30pm.

 

The Land of OZ in Manila!

The Emerald City is located in the middle where the Wizard of Oz is located. Elphaba comes from Munchkinland on the West and Glinda comes from the South of Oz.

(Official Photo from the Wicked the Musical Website)

I love wicked for its dramatic sets. It is, indeed, the benchmark for world-class stage productions.

My favorite part is “One Short Day”, where they were able to depict the glory and glitter of the Emerald City.

(Official Photo from the Wicked the Musical Website)

The mechanical Wizard of Oz face added dramatic emphasis to the secret of the Wizard.

Wicked really has some awesome stage production…the same world-class standard as the Phantom of the Opera.

 

Glinda & Elphaba

 
(Official Photo from Wicked the Musical Manila Souvenir Program)

Elphaba, performed by Jemma Rix for the Australasian tour company, was the best among all the cast members and even better than the Elphaba in London.

I like that the songs are sung in a way that really fit the mood of the situations depicted on stage, with smooth acting and natural rapport with the audience.

 
(Official Photo from Wicked the Musical Manila Souvenir Program)

Glinda, performed by Suzie Mathers, was able to make the audience laugh. Her comic timing, and girly antics endeared her to the crowd. 

(Official Photo from Wicked the Musical Manila Souvenir Program)

Turning Point. At the start of the show, the singing and acting was very tentative, as if the cast was feeling the pressure of the Filipino crowd’s high expectations of the show.

The tension was broken in “Dancing Through Life”, where Glinda started to boldly follow the awkward dance moves of Elphaba. 

(Official Photo from the Wicked the Musical Website)

Popular. The next song was Popular, and this was where the cast connected with the crowd, who was laughing throughout the scene. Some audience members couldn’t even help but sing along with the cast.

(Official Photo from Wicked the Musical Manila Souvenir Program)

Defying Gravity. Act I was getting better and better as the show went along and culminated in the awesome Defying Gravity scene.  

I love the lyrics of “Defying Gravity”, which is my theme song for my businesses in 2014. The actual scene is very visually stunning, as Elphaba levitates with a dramatic play of lights!

(Official Photo from the Wicked the Musical Website)

For Good.  I love this song. This is my motto for all my business dealings and partnerships this year. I want my business partners, friends, and collegeaus to say to themselves: “Because I knew you… I have been changed for good…“

I’m commited to make that positive difference in the lives of people that I meet and work with because of this song.

Read: Our Awesome Adventures 2013: ♪ Because I Knew You ♩ I Have Been Changed For Good! 

 

Wicked & Aidan
 

I was suppose to watch with Rache, but ever since we started listening to the Wicked CD in the car back in December, Aidan insisted to watch the live show with us. 

(Special Thanks to Pepper Teehankee for the Wicked CD!) 

It was Aidan’s first time to watch a world-class Broadway show. Their generation is lucky because they can get to see these productions in Manila. This is also a good way to add some culture in their lives and expose them to a different kind of entertainment.

I still remember my first time watching a Broadway show in New York, when we watched Miss Saigon.

Aidan was very excited! As a Father, I was proud to join him and get to experience Wicked together.

We laughed throughout and sang the Wicked songs we already knew by heart. The audience was cheering on almost every song, and by end, the crowd immediately erupted into a standing ovation. It was awesome!

I highly recommend experiencing WICKED with your loved ones, especially with your kids! This is a great way to help develop in them an appreciation for world-class Broadway musical productions at an early age.

Don’t miss Wicked The Musical in Manila, which runs from January 22, 2014 to February 23, 2014!

For more info, visit the Wicked Manila Facebook Page and buy your Wicked tickets on Ticketworld.

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com 

P.S. Here are some photos of what you can buy at the OZ DUST BOUTIQUE:

In London, I bought Wicked Green for Good Shirts for Rache, which cost about £19 (P1,424 at 1 GBP = 72.7654 PHP). 

There’s also an Oz Dust Boutique in Manila, but with limited souvenir products.

The Wicked T-shirts cost P1,000, and the caps are selling for P500.

This is the biggest size for the T-shirt.

 
The Wicked Original Cast CD sells for P1,200, and Souvenir Programs for P500.

P.P.S Where to eat?

There’s a small food kiosk by Barbara’s that sells sandwiches and drinks. Budget is about P250/head. You can check out Barbara’s menu for available products. Make sure to buy water (P50) in advance to keep yourself hydrated during intermission. 

There’s a new lifestyle area called Bluebay Walk on the corner of EDSA and Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. We ate at Project Pie, which was the only open and interesting resto in the area.

TIP: The Food Club buffet restaurant is opening this weekend, so if you have time before the show, check that out.