I have been called a Wizard of Oz “nut”. I have seen the movie hundreds of times (literally) and can pretty much recite it word for word. I have numerous Wizard of Oz collector’s items, including hundreds of dollars worth of collector’s plates, figurines and dolls. The first time I went to Las Vegas I stayed at the MGM Grand Hotel just so that I could be in the same building as a life-size display of all of the main characters. I don’t gamble much, but any time I am in a casino, I search exhaustively for their Wizard of Oz themed slot machines. (So far they have been quite lucky!) This year, I am going as Dorothy for Halloween. You get the idea.

So when I first heard, back in 2003, that a Broadway musical was coming out based on some of the characters from the Wizard of Oz, I was thrilled. I know there were some naysayers out there who thought it sacrilegious to create a prequel to such a time honored story. Well, they were so wrong. Wicked debuted in 2003 and quickly became a blockbuster hit. It has won 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, and charmed audiences around the world, both those who are Wizard of Oz devotees and those who have never seen the classic film.

Wicked is coming back to Austin in early 2012—and flying monkeys couldn't keep me away. I first saw the show in Toronto in 2004; I bought tickets as a surprise for my then boyfriend (now husband, also a huge Wizard of Oz fan) who was visiting me at the time. We were both blown away. I have seen many Broadway musicals in my time, but after seeing Wicked for the first time, I thought, "this show is special."

Wicked has all of the elements of a show that will become a Broadway classic. It has intriguing characters, breathtaking sets and costumes, humor and music that is sure to get into your head and your heart, including inspirational songs like “Defying Gravity” and “For Good” and catchy fun tunes like “Popular” and “What is this Feeling?” Those qualities alone make it a must see adventure. But what puts it over the top is a story and message that are not only relevant and contemporary, but timeless. Without being preachy, it contains several good messages that have to do with being different, acceptance, defiance and forgiveness. It shows another side to the Wizard of Oz story, delving into the relationship of those who would become the Good Witch of the North (Glinda the Good) and the Wicked Witch of the West. It shows that things and people were not always as they were when Dorothy got swept up in a cyclone and dropped into Oz.

Bottom line, if you’ve got a Wizard of Oz fan on your Christmas list or you just like to see a good musical from time to time, I highly recommend Wicked. I can’t imagine anyone going away from this show disappointed.

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Wicked comes back to the Texas capital for a three week run at Bass Concert Hall starting on January 25, 2012. Tickets for this spectacular go on sale this Saturday, October 22^nd. Click here for more information.