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

Wicked’s Gregory Maguire at The Music Hall

Writers on New England Stage will be welcoming Gregory Maguire to The Music Hall. As the best-selling author of the series “Wicked Years” he has won great acclaim, especially through his novel “Wicked.” “Wicked” has become one of the biggest hits on Broadway in this decade, as well as one of the most publicized. The rest of the series includes “Son of a Witch” and the newest book “A Lion Among Men.”

Wicked has become one of the best loved classics of American literature, read by people all over the globe. When it was first published in 1995, it unveiled a whole new way of looking at the world and a whole new way of looking at the world of Oz. As a participant in The Writers on a New England Stage event, Maguire will be interviewed by the host of New Hamphire’s Public Radio’s Word-of-mouth, Virginia Prescott. The next author to be interviewed will be Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The musical Wicked is definitely one of the most well-produced and best loved shows on stage right now. The musical has continued to play to sell-out crowds for close to five years. It opened on October 30, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre in New York. If you have not seen it, then you certainly should as it is one of the msot influential and popular musicals of our decade. Get your tickets today at Stubhub.com!

Wicked’s Long Run

Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003, and met with wild success. The show became a big hit, garnering three Tony Awards. The show gained so much success, that the investment of $14 million dollars was recouped within 14 months. The show is currently playing in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. It is also on tour at the moment, currently playing in Atlanta Georgia, and will be starting previews in San Francisco in January.

Wicked, the story of the powerful witches of Oz, was on its 2042 showing as of October 5 of this year and is still going strong. The musical is now the eighth longest running musical currently on Broadway, although there are several that had longer runs, which are no longer on stage. This alone is enough to pique the interest of anyone who hears about it, but there is more. The musical is also surrounded by buzz concerning a possible movie contract. Be sure to get your tickets to see this incredible show before it hits the big screen, and experience the full impact of the live show. Tickets are available today at Stubhub.com

Wicked Celebrates London Birthday

Wicked, the incredibly and wildly popular musical based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire, recently celebrated its second anniversary in London. The musical has garnered rave reviews from San Francisco to Japan and back again, and it does not seem likely that its incredible presence in theaters worldwide is going to be moving on any time soon.

In London the musical is playing at the Apollo Victoria, in the West End. The official London birthday celebration took place on September 27. Cast and crew celebrated by thanking fans and sharing a Wicked birthday cake with them. Wicked features set design by Tony Award winning designer Eugene Lee and constume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty.

The musical that is garnering rave reviews worldwide, is about two girls growing up in oz, both of whom most people can relate to. Elphaba is a young woman who is smart and fiery, unfortunately her emerald green skin and confirmed set of morals means that she is often misunderstood. Galinda (Glinda) is beautiful, young and golden haired and seems to have everything going for her.

In London the part of Elphaba is played by Alexia Khadime, who beautifully executed the part of Nala in London’s stage production of Lion King. Glinda (Galinda) is played by Dianne Pilkington, who played Grizabella in the UK national tour of Cats. Oliver Tompsett is Fiyero, who first joined the cast back in 2006. Harriet Thorpe plays Madame Morrible and is known for her excellent performance as Carole in BBC’s Brittas Empire. The Wizard is played by Desmond Barrit, whose performances on stage have won him a long list of awards and nominations.

You might not be able to travel across the pond to see Wicked, but you can see it here in these United States. The musical will be on National Tour until July of 2009, playing on stages across the US. It is also appearing in theaters in most of the major cities in the country. Be sure to check out the website at Stubhub.com and find a performance that will be right for you. Get your tickets to see Wicked today!

Wicked on the Move

Wicked, the national tour, packed up last weekend and moved on from the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The show has just finished its first week at Atlantic, where it will be playing until November 2, before it moves on to the Orpheum in Minneaopolis, Minnesota, for the month of November.

The cast of the National Tour includes Carmen Cusack as Elphaba. Carmen originally played Elphaba in the Chicago production of Wicked and hails from Texas. An actress who has traveled all over the world, Cusack does an incredible job in her execution of the part of Elphaba. Acting alongside her, in the part of Glinda, is Katie Rose Clarke who has been seen in several key roles in musicals such as Light in the Piazza and the play Prayer for My Enemy.

In addition to the places already mentioned, the national tour will be appearing in cities such as Detroit, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; Appleton, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; and Fort Myers, Florida to name a few. Keep an eye on the website at Stubhub.com for ticket information, to see where the show is going to be appearing this month. It could be coming to a venue near you, and if it does don’t delay to get your tickets right away, because this is definitely a play that you will want to see!

Oz on Stage and in Film

Those who are fans of Wicked, may not know that there is a rich history of stage and film that stands behind the land of Oz; which is much more extensive than just the musical that starred Judy Garland. Following the publication of the book in 1900, for which L. Frank Baum was given an astounding (in that day) $3,432.64 advance on royalties, the Wizard arrived on Broadway in 1903. From its first arrival on the stage it becomes the biggest hit of the season.

In  1914 another story from Oz, The Patchwork Girl, was made into a silent film. The Magic Cloak of Oz and His Majesty, the Scarcrow of Oz are both released later that year. Sadly, L. Frank Baum died in 1919 at the age of 63. But his publisher did not want to see the legacy of Oz come to an end, and commisioned Ruth Plumly Thomson to continue the series that already consisted of more than a dozen books.

Judy Garland stared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s The Wizard of Oz in 1939, and the film received several Academy Award nominations. IN 1975 The Wiz opened on Broadway, it was a rock musical version of the first book of Oz, with and all-black cast. It was such a big hit that in 1978 it was made into a film staring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.  Return to Oz was released in 1985, it is the story of Dorothy following her return to Kansas from Oz. The movie starred Fairuza Balk as Dorothy.

Of course, the most recent developement in the appearence of Oz before the public eye,  is the hit Broadway musical, Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire who has written several other additions to the story of Oz. Wicked is definitely the most exciting and sensational part of the story so far. The musical has now been playing for five years on stages all over the world, and there are rumors of it being made into a movie as well. Get your tickets to see the newest step in the story of Oz unfold before your eyes today! Tickets are available at Stubhub.com for venues all around the US.

Wicked’s Galinda…Glinda

Galinda, later known as Glinda the good witch, sings her signature song “Popular” during the hit Broadway musical Wicked, based on the novel Wicked: The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The popular and beautiful, pink-frocked young girl who becomes the best friend of Elphaba, is one that has taken the original character of Glinda the Good and turned it on its head…metaphorically speaking.

In the original story by L. Frank Baum, we see a woman who is both beautiful and good, helping Dorothy to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. But in Wicked we are taken on a journey into Oz and meet a somewhat different Glinda, or rather Galinda who drops the first ‘a’ in her name half way through the story. From the first introduction of Galinda and Elphaba to the end of the musical, we see a very different story unfold.

Get tickets to see Wicked and have your preconceptions about Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West changed, perhaps for the better. With incredible casts in cities all over the US, there is sure to be a performance coming to a stage near you. Watch the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda unfold before your eyes, in a way that you have never seen it before. Be sure to get your tickets soon, as shows sell out fast. Buy your tickets at Stubhub.com today!

Madame Morrible

Madam Morrible is one of the more fascinating characters in the Broadway musical production of Wicked. Her seemingly benevolent teacher’s attitude acts as a thin veneer over something much more sinister…or is it? Who exactly is Madame Morrible? What does she do? Where is she from? All of these things are definitely questions that you will want to have answered, because reading a summary about on character in the play will not give you the full view of what the play is really all about.

The actresses playing Madame Morrible on stages around the US today are definitely providing performances that you will want to see! In Los Angeles, the incredible Emmy Award winning actress Carol Kane fills the part of Shiz University’s headmistress. For the Nation-wide tour the part is being filled by the incredible Myra Lucretia Taylor. Rondi Reed is Chicago’s Madame Morrible, this Drama Desk award winner is certain to hold your attention. In New York the part is played by Jayne Houdyshell, and is another award winning actress to look out for. And although the 2009 cast in San Francisco has yet to be announced, it is certain that they will pick yet another incredible star to fill the part.

Look forward to the incredible acting by wonderful cast members, Wicked’s Madame Morrible and the rest of the cast will take you on a path of fascination and intruigue as you discover the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West. Look out for Madame Morrible, though, she’s a tough enemy and a frightening friend…or perhaps it’s the other way around…but you will have to get tickets to find out the answer to the question: What really happened in Oz? Tickets are available to shows all over the US, so book your seat and get your broom ready for the ride of your life. Stubhub.com has the seats that you are looking for!

Wicked Green L.A.