Omaha’s Strength in Introducing Wicked

“It’s like a colony of ants, carefully choreographed,” James P. “Buck” Weyerman says to the Omaha Wolrd Herlad, the next lucky recepients of the national tour; Weyerman began as a dock stagehand in the mid ’80s and is now production manager for the Omaha Performing Arts Center, where for the past few days have been preparing for the world’s latest and greatest national tour - Wicked. 86 laborers together opening up over a dozen semitrailer trucks that are filled with enough equipement to transform the Orpheum into the story of the two witches of Oz - now only 36 hours separates the crew from the paying patrons, with expected number running over 75,000 in total during its four week run. Weyerman has the planning down to a “T,” with marked grids with over 80 overhead rigging points and a removable orchestra pit that allows for a wide and more expansive workplace. “It’s a heavy show, Buck,” one stagehand says to his boss. “Lotta weight.” With all the mood lighting and the extra contraptions that have made this play one of the most magical of the era, it’s no wonder that all this extra stuff would cost, and weigh, a lot. The stage is set and tomorrow is opening day, so make sure if you’re in the area that you have Wicked tickets now!

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