Wirick is celebrating his 16th year on the Wicked national tour!
By JESSICA NEU
Flying into the Benedum Center for the first time since 2018, the mega-musical Wicked is prepared to ‘defy gravity’ from January 14th to February 15th. But before Glinda drops the “a” in her name, I had the pleasure of speaking with ensemble member Justin Wirick. Born in Uniontown, PA, Justin is celebrating his 16th year with the touring company of Wicked. Having performed in over 4,500 shows since joining the cast in 2010, Wirick is looking forward to returning to his hometown for the next month.
Wirick’s journey to Oz began as a young child when his mother first enrolled him in an all-boys gymnastics class. His love for movement and performance grew, and he eventually started taking dance lessons. He quickly began studying various genres, including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, acro, and soon added partner work, which he credits with helping his versatility in Wicked, as much partner work is required in the show. Wirick competed in the competitive dance competition and convention circuit throughout his teens and fostered a love of performing on stage. Out of high school, he planned to attend Point Park University but decided to follow his dreams to Los Angeles. He auditioned for Wicked in 2007 and over the next few years received a few phone calls to join the cast but was under other contractual obligations each time. However, all the yellow bricks aligned in 2010, and Wirick joined the national tour, where he has remained ever since.
In discussing the show’s evolution since he joined the cast, Wirick explained that “every year that goes by, the creative team allows for a little bit more exploration with the roles because the show has been done time and time again across the country and also internationally.” Whether a principal actor or an ensemble member, “each individual actor can bring their individuality to a role,” Wirick continues. “Even though you know what is going to happen, you know the story, you know the songs, each performer can truly bring their uniqueness to the show and that’s what makes Wicked special and different for each performance. Also, we have all the excitement and the hype of the film now. Before the film, I felt like Wicked was already a mainstream musical, but now if you mention Wicked, everybody knows what it is. We are definitely drawing in people who are seeing Wicked for the first time. And those who saw the show years ago are now bringing their children. The show has the same effect that I would imagine The Wizard of Oz does. Younger generations are being introduced to Wicked allowing the show to live on.”
Wirick went on to explain that he hopes first-time audience members can detect the important nuances in Wicked. “There is so much chaos in the world and in our country right now. Whatever side of the aisle you’re on, things do not feel particularly calm, and we are not being particularly kind to one another. People are being painted as ‘the other’ or ‘the enemy.’ This show has always been relevant and keeps staying relevant because it was created around the early 2000s around 9/11 when there was a common enemy. I just want people to connect the dots a little bit and leave the performance thinking that maybe there is more to this story and we should remember not to judge a book by its cover, do a little more listening, and be a little bit kinder.” However, Wirick understands that audience members are swept away by the grandiose nature of the show. “When you’re first seeing the show, there is so much going on and so much to take in that it can be overwhelming,” he stated. “It can be easy to miss some of the deeper meanings throughout the production.” The grand scale of the show is a key factor that prompts people to see the show repeatedly. “Returning audience members are certain to see something that they had missed in previous productions or had simply forgotten about,” Wirick continued. “People are constantly asking us, ‘did you guys add this or change this?’ We have not, but there is just so much in the show that your mind does not retain everything.
For Wirick, being a cast member fulfills a dream and inspiration he has had since he was a teenager. “I’ve always loved the show,” Wirick explained. “I got to see it in New York City in 2004 when I was 16. I won Teen Mister Dance of America at Dance Masters of America and one of the teachers gave me tickets to see the show. My part in the show is called the ‘Tumbler Track’ because I do tumbling passes, and I remember seeing that character in the show and recognizing some similarities between him and me. I remember thinking that I would love to do that and saw a role in the show that would be perfect for me. It is crazy that all these years later I am still getting to play this part and do this show. It has become my life. I have made a way of living on the road that I absolutely love, and I take a lot of pride in Wicked. It is woven into the fabric of my life. A lot of people get done with the show and go home and there is some separation. Here, we are living on the road and touring and so Wicked has become such a constant in my life. With everything constantly changing around you on the road, I have found comfort in the three hours of the show that is always going to be the same.”
Aside from being a devoted performer, Wirick is also a champion philanthropist. He proudly serves as the fundraising coordinator for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “This is something that I came into when I joined the company,” Wirick explained. “The tour opened in March 2009, and I joined in 2010. There was a man who played Elphaba’s father, and he had lived through the AIDS epidemic and was so passionate about the charity. He was leading and coordinating the efforts and was so inspiring. I did find that it was very healthy to have another creative outlet aside from being in the show, and the fundraising was that inspiration and outlet for me. It can humble you and ground you, and when the coordinator left the show in 2012, I decided to lead the efforts and kept it going for another 14 years. As a company, we have raised over $ 7.4 million. It helps people living with HIV and AIDS, but it also helps people facing other difficulties, such as women’s health care, medications, food pantries, and housing. It is is an umbrella organization that does so much.
Wirick’s run in Pittsburgh will certainly be a homecoming, but he has found creative ways to bring his family on the road with him throughout the years. Wirick wanted to share his passion for Wicked with those closest to him, so he decided to bring his family along for the ride. “I wanted to share this experience with my parents, so I actually brought them on tour with me for a few years and they sold merchandise, so we are a family on the road,” Wirick stated. “Wicked has given me so much and there is such a love and respect there, especially for me as a dancer. I started the show when I was 21 and now, I am 37 and my body definitely does not feel as it once did. I know that my time in the show is finite, so I am just soaking it all in. This will probably be my last time performing in Pittsburgh because with how the show rotates through cities, I may not still be with the production the next time it comes through. I’ve met so many incredible people across the country, I am dating someone from the cast now, and I have watched time go by on the road. I am just soaking it all in and being present. I am staying grounded and remaining thankful for getting to do what I do.”
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Veteran Ozians and first-time fliers can see Justin Wirick and the rest of the Wicked cast at the Benedum Center from January 14th to February 15th, 2026.
Tickets for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh production of Wicked are available at https://trustarts.org/production/100705/wicked
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Feature Stories, Show Previews
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