Lights dim as the orchestra begins to play. Movement on the stage can barely be seen as a woman?s voice starts to reverberate. The play begins and the audience quiets down, attentively watching the drama unfold.

Over 65 students will attend Wicked, a new released Broadway musical, at Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 18. However, time schedule is still pending.

?I had wanted to see Wicked for a long time,? Molly Sargent, peer counseling adviser, said. ?When I found tickets for such a good price, I wanted to give as many people an opportunity to go see the play.?

This prequel to The Wizard of Oz explains how the tin man lost his heart, the cowardily lion squandered his courage and the brainless scarecrow misplaced his intelligence. Part of the play’s premise is about misguided perceptions and how that affects how people judge each other.

?I read the book before,? Sargent said. ?The play shows how the wicked witch of the west becomes wicked, but it is not really just that. It is so much more.?

Sargent believes conflicts between Elphaba, future wicked witch of the West, and Glinda demonstrate various relationships for peer counseling students to learn from.

?The storyline of the play is great,? Sargent said. ?I hope the peer counseling girls will learn how circumstances effect relationships.?

Sargent invited Jon Endicott’s A.P. English class to accompany the peer counseling girls. In addition, few students in neither class who desired to attend are able.

“Unfortunately the play is the same weekend as the student leadership retreat,” Will Hierholzer, ’07, said. “Although I’m looking forward to the retreat because haven’t been to the snow yet this year, I’m disappointed to miss the opportunity to go see the play with my classmates.”

Students in journalism and drama will also have the chance to see the play in the bi-annual trip to New York. The group will be attending the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s national journalism convention from March 11-17. Drama will be taking acting and stage seminars. Both group plan on taking in Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.

?Wicked is one of the top plays on Broadway right now,? Scott Orcutt, ?09, said. ?Both classes really wanted to see it, so we got tickets to go on March 14. Anywhere you see Wicked, would be good, but seeing it in New York would be amazing.?