2008 January - Wicked the Musical Info - Wicked Broadway, Wicked Chicago and more

‘Wicked’ soars past initial records held as highest-grossing musical

Wicked has done it again. Apparently cast and crew of the smash-hit Broadway production were not satisfied with setting the record for highest grossing musical in Los Angeles and Chicago history, as well as the highest grossing national tour in history, because they have set those records at a new, all-time high during the last week of December, according to an article published Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the Broadway World official Web site.

The production, which was created by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, held previous records in those three markets, and set new ones as follows: Los Angeles Pantages Theatre with $1,949,968, Chicago’s Ford Center with $1,418,363 and the national tour in St. Louis with $2,291,608. The revenues from each of those three, combined with those from the production’s three international shows - London, Stuttgart and Tokyo - hits a whopping $11.2 million.

The Broadway production of Wicked has been showing since Oct. 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre, according to the Broadway World article. It branched out to the Los Angeles and Chicago theaters in 2005 and has an open-ended agreement with LA’s Pantages Theatre. The production is scheduled to open in Australia in 2008 and the Netherlands in 2009, according to Broadway World.

Still haven’t seen Wicked? The musical is a story of the enchanted land of Oz and how its two most intriguing characters, Elphaba and Glinda, befriended each other and eventually became enemies. Now that the smash hit is being offered at theaters in almost every corner of the world, it would be hard not to see this fun-for-the-whole-family production. Check out Wicked tickets right here and right now at Stubhub.com and get all the best deals.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 3, 2008 - Post a comment

The women of ‘Wicked’ peform live at Scott Alan CD release party

Actresses Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa and Stephanie J. Block all have a thing or two in common.

Not only did all three star in the smash hit Broadway musical Wicked, which featured music and lyrics by composer Stephen Schwartz, the talented vocalists all played the same character - Elphaba, the Wicked Witch - and ironically are now scheduled to perform live together at the official CD release party for composer and lyricist Scott Alan’s debut album “Dreaming Wide Awake,” this coming Monday, Jan. 7 at New York City’s Birdland, according to an article published Tuesday, Jan. 1 at BroadwayWorld.com.

Block, who stared as Elphaba in the Broadway production, will be joined by Bean - who played the wicked witch in the national tour and on Broadway - and Eden Espinosa, who created the green-with-envy witch in both the Broadway and Los Angeles productions.
Alan, a Long Island, New York native who attended UMass Boston, Emerson College and Berklee College of Music, made his claim to fame after moving to Los Angeles and writing the book, music and lyrics for the musical Detour, which played for packed crowds at LA’s Complex Theater, and also had the chance to work with Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross and Boyz II Men. Alan evenutally moved back to New York, where he produced the musical Piece. The composer/lyricist has since launched the concert series “Monday Nights, New Voices.”

The “Dreaming Wide Awake” CD release party will begin at 7:30 p.m. and if you still haven’t booked your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to see a live production, no matter if you decide to see Espinosa, Bean and Block perform live at Birdland next week or simply grab a pair of Wicked tickets for the Broadway show or one of the national performances. Check out Stubhub.com right here and now for the best deals!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 2, 2008 - Post a comment