Performances: Wicked

It’s been the habit of late to take a tale that has delighted and entertained generations of readers and inject a darker “twist” on its traditional telling. Fairy tales and L. Frank Baum’s Land of Oz seem to be most susceptible to these retellings in novels and film, with varying results. The Broadway musical Wicked, however, has quickly become a classic in its own right. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked the musical courts the lighter side of Maguire’s telling without losing its essential remarks on friendship, good intentions and harsh consequences. Celebrity Attractions invites fans to the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., where Wicked runs Sept. 4-22. Tickets are $35-$150, available at www.myticketoffice.com. For more about the musical, visit www.okcciviccenter.com online.