A Look Behind the Curtain as Something WICKED comes to the Eccles

SALT LAKE CITY — Receiving an invite to view the backstage set up and load in for the Wicked National Tour in Salt Lake City is comparable to receiving an invitation to meet the Wizard. However, in this case seeing the “man behind the curtain” is not disappointing, but illuminating, awesome, and inspiring. Zion’s Bank Broadway at the Eccles and the Wicked National Tour invited local media yesterday morning to get a peek at the process preparing Wicked for Salt Lake City which opens tonight, April 16th, 2025 . I attended representing Utah Theatre Bloggers for this behind the scenes view of how the spectacle comes together mechanically before it comes alive with the magic spectacle of theatre. Getting a peek into the world of the Wicked National Tour is a great prelude for the performances to come, and I’m looking forward to reviewing the upcoming Thursday night performance for UTBA.

Why see Wicked?

Steve Quinn, Company Manager for the Tour, answered questions and added commentary to the event. When asked who should come and see Wicked, Quinn answered  “Wicked is for everyone.” and likes that families can attend together and everyone can find something to enjoy. I would note that children under 5 are not admitted. To those who have seen the movie adaptation released last November but are interested in the musical, attendees will be surprised that there’s a second act following “Defying Gravity”. Quinn said that the movie is a lovely tribute to the Broadway production and the movie also stands as it’s own entity apart from the production. I appreciated when Quinn noted “There’s movie magic and there’s stage magic, and it’s fun seeing the stage magic”.

Quinn, without spoilers, teased that there are special effects unique to this touring production and will have fans noticing things they have never seen before.

While Popular, Tickets are Still Available

While Wicked is a popular selection in Salt Lake, Quinn remarked it’s a common misconception the show is sold out. Weekends are popular, but weeknights and Sundays  as well as performances in the last two weeks from May 11th-25th have better availability. Prospective audience members are encouraged to purchase directly from Broadway at the Eccles through ArtTix either online, calling or visiting the box office.

Oz Lands in Salt Lake City

While no wizard was in attendance, the wizardry of stage craft and design was gearing up for a show. Quinn noted that the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater is one of two newest and most advanced venues on the touring schedule. One of the nicest features is the expansive backstage areas as well as the newer technology.

In talking about the experience performing at the Eccles Theater, Quinn praised the beautiful auditorium space and the audiences of Salt Lake City. In talking about the energy backstage, Quinn remarked the production is “very excited to perform.” Adding the “Salt Lake is a very smart theatre crowd…. There’s good regional theatre here. Broadway shows love being here.”

I asked Quinn about a favorite part of the show. Quinn jokingly answered “Payday”, then answered reflecting on bringing the show to locations across the United States and Canada. Quinn said, “Bringing Broadway to America is a real treat. Not everyone can afford to go to New York…so it’s nice to be able to bring Broadway in your own backyard.”

Building Oz and the Yellow Brick Road

I asked Quinn about the most unique part of setting up the production, and Quinn mentioned the dragon is “a little bit complicated…It takes a little bit of time to set up the dragon.” Quinn added that there are two dragons, the one installed in the Eccles Theater currently and a second moving from the tour’s previous location in Boise, Idaho to the next in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This impressive and iconic “Oswald” the dragon is an imposing feature of the proscenium for this production. Quinn understands how effective the dragon is saying, “It’s a fun effect. The nice thing about our show is when you come in to the theatre you’re going away from Salt Lake. You’re going to a very special place. We kindof transport you immediately the minute you sit down.” Even without sitting down for the show, I felt the anticipation building looking around at the various scenic elements including the dragon, but also Glinda’s bubble in the fly space.

Invited to go backstage during the set up process placed me and others right in the thick of the action. Onstage was very busy as crew members moved pieces around to set them in place. About ninety people make up the backstage crew with a mix of locals and National tour members all represented by IASTE. Hard at work, these crew members moved swiftly during the time doing a multitude of tasks.  Standing in the Eccles Theatre as the set is actively assembled is a testament to the excellent craft and precision of the Broadway touring productions.

One Short Morning on the Wicked Stage

Additional video and photos from my attendance at this event were shared during the morning on the Utah Theatre Bloggers Social Media Pages. This brief introduction flew by and left me eager to see the fully completed stage with all the additional theatre magic as Wicked opens in Salt Lake City. There’s nothing quite like walking into a theatre awaiting the overture…