Damn Dorothy

Let's face it. In this part of the country, The Wizard of Oz is played out. Yeah, yeah, yeah — L. Frank Baum wrote a great story, and MGM filmed it beautifully. But if we must endure one more "Oh, you're not in Kansas anymore, ha ha!" from a coastal schmuck (who doesn't know the difference between Kansas and Missouri), we're going to beat up Dorothy and piss on Baum's grave. As it turns out, someone else is tired of the old story, too — namely, its chief villain. She first got to defend herself in Gregory Maguire's 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The story was soon adapted into a Broadway musical that now hits stages all over as a touring production. Feel a little empathy for Elphaba at 8 tonight, when the curtain rises on a three-week run of Wicked at the Music Hall (301 West 13th Street). Tickets start at $34. Call 816-513-5000.
Wed., Nov. 11, 8 p.m.; Thu., Nov. 12, 2 & 8 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 13, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 14, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 15, 1 & 6:30 p.m.; Tue., Nov. 17, 8 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 18, 8 p.m.; Thu., Nov. 19, 8 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 20, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 21, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 22, 6:30 & 8 p.m.; Mon., Nov. 23, 8 p.m.; Tue., Nov. 24, 8 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 25, 8 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 27, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 28, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 29, 1 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 1, 8 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 2, 8 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 3, 2 & 8 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 4, 8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 5, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 6, 1 p.m., 2009