Blog
From the moment we walked into the theater, the excitement was obvious. One youth looked around wide-eyed and asked, “Do they live here? Are they really singing? I want to do that.” That youth later shared that this was her first time seeing a play or musical. She spoke about feeling inspired by the performers, the space, and the possibility that this could be something she might pursue one day. Because of this young person’s helpfulness during intermission and again after the show, she ended up getting a job that very day at the Benedum Center. Exposure matters. Access matters. Sometimes one experience is enough to shift what a young person believes is possible.
Another youth shared that he wanted to attend specifically because of the storyline and the song Defying Gravity. That moment resonated deeply. “It made me feel like I am not alone,” as he connected the song to his own experience of not fitting in and feeling pressure to change himself for others. Hearing him name that out loud was powerful.
After the show, we talked about labeling and how being misunderstood affects identity and decision-making. When asked how being labeled impacted how they felt about themselves, several youth shared experiences of being called negative names by peers growing up. They shared how those labels didn’t just hurt in the moment; they followed them.
“When people keep calling you stuff, you start making decisions like that’s who you are.” One of youth reflected on how internalizing those messages influenced the choices they made, sometimes limiting themselves before anyone else could.
We also discussed how Wicked complicates the idea of “good” and “bad,” and what it means to make choices when there isn’t a perfect answer. One youth offered a reflection that sparked a deeper conversation: “Nobody mourns the wicked, yet they weren’t wicked. And people in this world do mourn the wicked.”
They went on to list public figures they felt had caused harm but were still celebrated or mourned. This opened up an honest dialogue about morality, power, and how society decides whose actions are forgiven and whose are condemned. Another youth shared that sometimes you don’t choose between right and wrong, you choose between consequences quoting, “you just pick what you can live with.”
After the performance, the group went to The Eagle and continued the conversation over food, talking about favorite scenes, emotional moments, and shared themes. The story gave language to experiences many of the youth already carry but don’t always have the space to explore.
This experience of seeing Wicked was a meaningful one, especially as conversations unfolded about access to the arts and the barriers that often make experiences like this feel out of reach. Tickets are expensive, recordings are limited, and opportunities can be scarce, but when given the chance, our youth leaned in fully. The Youth Zone helps young people survive; experiences like Wicked help them imagine, reflect, and thrive. Sometimes a night at the theater is more than entertainment, it becomes a mirror, a doorway, and a reminder that their voices and stories belong on every stage.
Another youth shared that he wanted to attend specifically because of the storyline and the song Defying Gravity. That moment resonated deeply. “It made me feel like I am not alone,” as he connected the song to his own experience of not fitting in and feeling pressure to change himself for others. Hearing him name that out loud was powerful.
After the show, we talked about labeling and how being misunderstood affects identity and decision-making. When asked how being labeled impacted how they felt about themselves, several youth shared experiences of being called negative names by peers growing up. They shared how those labels didn’t just hurt in the moment; they followed them.
“When people keep calling you stuff, you start making decisions like that’s who you are.” One of youth reflected on how internalizing those messages influenced the choices they made, sometimes limiting themselves before anyone else could.
We also discussed how Wicked complicates the idea of “good” and “bad,” and what it means to make choices when there isn’t a perfect answer. One youth offered a reflection that sparked a deeper conversation: “Nobody mourns the wicked, yet they weren’t wicked. And people in this world do mourn the wicked.”
They went on to list public figures they felt had caused harm but were still celebrated or mourned. This opened up an honest dialogue about morality, power, and how society decides whose actions are forgiven and whose are condemned. Another youth shared that sometimes you don’t choose between right and wrong, you choose between consequences quoting, “you just pick what you can live with.”
After the performance, the group went to The Eagle and continued the conversation over food, talking about favorite scenes, emotional moments, and shared themes. The story gave language to experiences many of the youth already carry but don’t always have the space to explore.
This experience of seeing Wicked was a meaningful one, especially as conversations unfolded about access to the arts and the barriers that often make experiences like this feel out of reach. Tickets are expensive, recordings are limited, and opportunities can be scarce, but when given the chance, our youth leaned in fully. The Youth Zone helps young people survive; experiences like Wicked help them imagine, reflect, and thrive. Sometimes a night at the theater is more than entertainment, it becomes a mirror, a doorway, and a reminder that their voices and stories belong on every stage.