The "Wicked" Witches have arrived.

The Broadway tour of Wicked has made it to Honolulu and will be playing from now until January 12, a world-class production that’s been honed to perfection since its debut in 2003. Wicked is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” adapted by composer and lyricist  Stephen Schwartz from the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”

Cliffton Hall as Fiyero.

The musical’s main focus is the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, whose real name is Elphaba. Along the way, we find out why the wicked witch wasn’t so wicked after all, why the Tinman has no heart, how the Scarecrow became a scarecrow and the real purpose of those infamous red, ruby slippers. It’s also a story about friendship, love and standing by one’s beliefs. Actors Dee Roscioli (Elphaba) and Patti Murin (Glinda) give magnetic performances as the two witches of Oz. Kailua-native Cliffton Hall plays Fiyero, Glinda and Elphaba’s love interest, and gives a crowd-pleasing performance as well. Nine local musicians have also joined Wicked’s traveling orchestra for all of the Honolulu performances.

The Blaisdell production is a carbon copy of what you would see on Broadway: pitch-perfect voices, beautiful stage design, trained dancers, well-practiced jokes and seamless transitions between scenes. Many of the performers are Broadway veterans and some, such as Roscioli, have played these roles on Broadway before touring with this group. But, as fantastic as Wicked may be, Broadway musicals are still not for everyone. I’m sure the one man who broke out in a snore one row in front of me would agree, as would some young children (read HONOLULU Family’s review). But for everyone else, Wicked is a musical that will make you treasure “The Wizard of Oz” and all of its characters that much more.

For tickets and information, visit http://www.magicspace.net/honolulu.