Boston Opera House

Boston Ballet opens its new season with a program that is far more playful and provocative than the usual fall curtain-raiser. The evening starts with selections from Stravinsky's The Firebird, performed live by the Boston Ballet Orchestra, before shifting gears with Alexander Ekman's Cacti, a slyly funny work that pokes at our tendency to overanalyze art. Sixteen dancers, a live orchestra and string quartet turn the stage into a rhythmic playground, with platforms becoming percussion instruments under the dancers' feet. Then comes Akram Khan's Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023, a more elemental piece inspired by Sufi traditions and the writings of Rumi. The contrast is what makes this program worth seeing: one half mischievous and self-aware, the other immersive and searching. For anyone who thinks ballet means tutus and storybook plots, this is a useful reset. Runs September 10 to 20 at Citizens Opera House.

Wicked flips the Oz story you think you know, digging into the tangled friendship and rivalry between Elphaba and Glinda long before Dorothy ever dropped in. The show’s been packing houses for years, but there’s a reason locals keep coming back: the production’s sly humor and sharp political edge still feel fresh, even if you’ve seen it before. The set design is a spectacle in itself, with clever visual nods to the original film and enough detail to reward a second look. If you’re the type who usually skips big musicals, this one’s worth reconsidering. The script’s wit lands with a local crowd, and the score has a way of sticking with you for days. It’s a rare blockbuster that actually earns its hype, and seeing it live is a reminder of how much fun a night at the theater can be.