Asked if the runaway success of Wicked with its different take on the goodness/badness of witches and Dorothy had any effect on the traditional version of the story, Wade said, “I think some of the costumes are a little bit inspired by Wicked; our Emerald City is actually quite similar to the Wicked production. Having the other side of the witches’ story might have an effect; our Glinda is a little goofy, and the Wicked Witch you feel for a little bit. It’s not the same; our Wicked Witch is still very, very wicked, but she does have a song now, and so does Glinda.”
Other tweaks are that, yes, while Dorothy wears her signature dress, she also gets to wear overalls (were we the only ones who didn’t understand why Garland’s Dorothy wore a dress to slop the pigs?). As far as Wade is concerned, the two dogs who play Toto are some of the best aspects of the show. “Nigel is the lead Toto; Loki is the understudy. It’s really cool to hear the audience’s reaction when they come out for the first time.”
For your chance to take a trip along the yellow brick road, join TUTS at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through March 16. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-558-8887 or visit tuts.com. $24 to $121.
Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 & 8 p.m. Starts: March 4. Continues through March 16, 2014