Wicked is an absolutely amazing show. It has won multiple awards including Tonys for Best Costume Design, Best Set Design, and Best Actress in a Musical, as well as Drama Desk awards.
And there certainly is a Wicked-RENT connection. Idina Menzel originated the roles of both Maureen and Elphaba and her standby for the OBC of Wicked, Eden Espinosa, is Maureen for the CBC of RENT. Also, after Eden left the Los Angeles cast of Wicked, Caissie Levy, who had previously played Maureen, took over. Several of the ensemble members in many of the casts have been in RENT.
Wicked is a wonderful show!
This is my favorite review:
"Wicked works because it has something Broadway musicals, so addicted to facetiousness and camp, have largely given up on: a story that adults can take seriously. Adapted by Winnie Holzmann from the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical reimagines a children's tale in grown-up psychopolitical terms...As the Wizard puts it, "The best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy."...IF EVERY MUSICAL HAD A BRAIN, A HEART, AND THE COURAGE OF WICKED, BROADWAY REALLY WOULD BE A MAGICAL PLACE."
~Richard Zoglin, TIME