Wicked
Cleveland 2026

About the KeyBank State Theatre at Playhouse Square

Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the United States outside of New York City, and the KeyBank State Theatre is its grandest venue. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb in the Italian Renaissance style and opened in 1921, the theater seats 3,200 and features ornate gilded details, sweeping balconies, and the legendary 320-foot series of lobbies that was once the longest single-theater lobby in the world. After a careful restoration in the 1980s, the State Theatre has served as Cleveland's premier home for touring Broadway productions — and a spectacle as visually stunning as Wicked, with its towering Emerald City set, flying broomstick sequences, and elaborate costume design, deserves a stage this magnificent. Located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Playhouse Square is also surrounded by restaurants and parking options that make a night at the theater easy to plan.

Why Wicked Is Bigger Than Ever

Wicked has always been a Broadway powerhouse — the show has grossed over $5 billion worldwide and has been seen by more than 65 million people across productions on Broadway, the West End, and touring companies spanning six continents. But the 2024 film adaptation brought the story to an entirely new audience. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the movie became a massive cultural event and introduced the music and themes of Wicked to millions who had never seen it on stage. The result is that demand for live Wicked tickets has surged to levels not seen since the show's early years, with audiences eager to experience the full theatrical production — the elaborate sets, the live orchestra, the stunning "Defying Gravity" first-act finale that no movie screen can fully replicate. If you have been waiting to see Wicked live, there has never been a better time.

Get Your Wicked Cleveland Tickets on BigStub

With 32 performances over a holiday run that stretches from early December through the first week of January, there are matinee and evening options throughout — but Cleveland audiences have been waiting five years for Wicked to return, and demand is going to be enormous. Weekend shows and performances around Christmas and New Year's Eve will be especially popular, so early ticket buyers will have the best selection. BigStub makes it simple to browse every available date, check the KeyBank State Theatre seating chart, and compare prices across sections. Scroll up, find the showtime that works for you, and secure your Wicked tickets before the best seats disappear. The Witches of Oz are coming to Cleveland — make sure you have a seat when the curtain goes up!