Wicked Returns to Indy

Before the end of 2010, Indianapolis will once again be graced by Elphaba and her wicked ways, as “Wicked” returns to the mid west city in December. The announcement, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal, came as the entire Broadway series for Indianapolis, which will also include Mary Poppins, Dreamgirls, Grease, Rock of Ages and 9 to 5. The shows for this season include 101 Dalmatians, A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde, Jersey Boys and Nickelodeon Presents Storytime Live.

Wicked is set to be running from December 15 through January 1, 2011 at the Murat Theatre in the Murat Centre. The theater, according to Broadway Across America, has been named in America’s National Register of Historic Places. The building was first constructed in 1909 with a renovation happening in hte late ’90s for $11 million. Eventually the building became one of the most prestigious in the area as it opened up with the Murat Theater, holding about 2,600, and the Murat Egyptian Room, with 2,000 standing. The venue has been deemed “a peoples place” as tourists and locals alike enjoy events at the Murat. Located on New Jersey Street in Indianapolis, The Murat Theater is a perfect place to welcome Wicked again.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 26, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked Going to ‘Oz’

It might be hard to define the character of Elphaba past her color, as the Wicked role continues to see updates during its touring, Broadway and international tours. Yet for Laura Swanson, who takes on the role at Michelle’s Studio of Dance and Performing Arts, the character is much more than her obvious color. Despite taking more than three hours to turn a nasty shade of swamp water, the Wicked Witch of the West in the new show “Oz,” features heart, soul, longing and more. Swanson has been dancing for just two years but has been a lover of Broadway her entire life, and now that she is combining the two, she finds that both roles parallel each other.

The new performance takes an obvious cue from Gregory Maguire’s novel “The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” a story he adapted from the beloved novel and film “The Wizard of Oz.” Developed by studio owner Michelle McDevitt, the story combines both the classic fable of “The Wizard of Oz” and today’s modern concept of “Wicked,” with a bit more modern dance. “I’m wicked, but I’m not really wicked,” Swanson says of her role. This new version is something as equally exciting to see for all “Wicked” lovers.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 25, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked Gets New Witch

The original Nina from the Broadway musical In the Heights will be coming to Broadway in a new kind of role - as she assumes the green figure in “Wicked.” Mandy Gonzalez takes on the Broadway role of Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked beginning Tuesday, March 23. Gonzelez joins the cast of Katie Rose Clarke, Tony Award winning Rondi Reed, PJ Benjamin, Andy Karl, Jenny Fellner and Timothy Britten Parker.

Gonzalez was seen during the In the Heights off-Broadway and Broadway run, a role that helped the ensemble win a Drama Desk Award for. Her other Broadway appearances include Lennon, Aida and Dance of the Vampires. The actress has also performed in the off-Broadway Eli’s Comin’, which earned her an OBIE Award. For the small screen, she has been seen on shows like “The Good Wife,” “One Life to Live,” “The Guiding Light,” “Third Watch” and the silver screen’s “After.”

The new musical she is performing in has its own long list of credits as well. Apart from being hailed as “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety, the play has been seen by millions around the world and has earned plethora of awards, including Tonys, Drama Desk and more.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 24, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked Returns to St. Louis

Wicked is set to return to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis this June for a short engagement of the best selling touring Broadway show around. The show broke box office records in both 2005 and 2007 when “Wicked” appeared at the Fabulous Fox Theater previously, and soon enough the same results will be shattered when these tickets go on sale for a return engagement April 18th. The return will see performances Tuesday through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8pm, and Sunday at 2 and 7:30pm. Special additional performances include Thursday June 17th at 1pm, Monday June 28th at 8pm, Thursday July 1st at 1pm with no shows on July 4th.

“St. Louis loves Wicked,” Fox Theatre Producer Mike Isaacson said to BroadwayWorld. “Rarely does a show inspire the phenomenal passion, joy and devotion in the way that Wicked has. It is a triumph of writing, production and casting, and it is now a beloved perennial at The Fox. We’re all a bit green with  joy whenever Wicked is on our stage.”

The show continues to impress audiences in the same cities, and will be a real treat when it comes to St. Louis again this year.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 23, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked’s Attracting Youth Writers

The story of “Wicked” doesn’t just end on stage - as London’s West End has just revealed a new educational program that recognizes excellence in writing, reports Broadway World. The award encourages creative souls to develop a new story for the session, which was generated by Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo. This new program, the Wicked Young Writers’ Awards, is the first kind of development ever and hopes to get thousands of entries from writers between the ages of 5 to 25 who live in the UK.

In addition to Morpurgo, the judging panel will also include “Wicked” author himself Gregory Maguire, who penned the critically and commercially acclaimed novel that is hailed as the prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.” “I hope the award will bring the passion and energy of Wicked’s amazing theatrical show,” Morpurgo said, “and it’s ability to reach across age- ranges and backgrounds, to young people and their writing.  With the encouragement of their teachers and families and the excitement of this kind of challenge, we will see original and creative writing coming through from children of all backgrounds and abilities. Let’s hope that many, many young people will be encouraged to begin their own storytelling journeys.”

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 22, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked Comes to Madison in the Fall

“Wicked” remains the biggest selling Broadway picture as of late, so when a city residents hear that the green skinned witch and her sparkly counterpart are coming into town, they couldn’t be happier. Such is the case for Madison this year, who just learned of the “Wicked” arrival for fall, set to kick off Overture Center’s new Broadway season. “It’s really exciting that right on the heels of ‘Lion King’ we’re getting another top blockbuster multi-week musical in the fall,” Overture President and CEO Tom Carto said to Host.Madison.com. “That’s going to give us good momentum for letting this region know that first class Broadway is here to stay in Madison.”

The show is set to premiere on September 22nd and run through October 10th, with eight shows a week. The show’s story is familiar to many - written by Gregory Maguire and adapted as the prequel to the “Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” follows Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch) before Dorothy comes along. The two are unlikely friends who meet at wizarding school and must choose between power and friendship in the end.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 19, 2010 - Post a comment

Test Your ‘Wicked’ Knowledge

As reported yesterday, for a few lucky patrons in the Dayton area, the Broadway national tour of “Wicked” is giving away some tickets and is now publishing the rules for such a high stakes contest.

But here’s the draw - if you want to win that coveted Wicked prize pack for March 2nd, you must take a quiz! Are you a Wicked master? Find our with the quiz, with questions like “What is the name of Elphaba’s younger sister?” “What is the name of the University where Elphaba and Glinda meet for the first time?” “What province does Elphaba come from?” “Who plays Elphaba in the Los Angeles production of ‘Wicked’?” “Which ‘Wicked’ actor won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical?” and others. The real trick is that whether you know your trivia or not, all participants will be entered in the contest!

This show has developed under unparalleled conditions and continues to remain one of the most successful Broadway shows around the globe. Not only was it a success at the 2004 Tony Awards the year it debuted, but it recently was named the best West End Production for it’s UK cast.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 18, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked Enters Dayton

Dayton’s downtown is going to be sparkling green for over $1 million as the Broadway spectacle Wicked comes into town. The event is a means to amp up the Dayton community, which has been struggling since the economic downtown - discounts can be found at participating downtown and Oregon District restaurants and hotels for the musical that opens February 17th at the Schuster Center. “We are going to have a lot of people coming to downtown, many for the first time,” special projects coordinator for the Downtown Dayton Partnership Kristen Wicked said to the Dayton Daily News. “We really wanted to make it seem festive.”

The estimated sales, according to the Americans for the Arts, is set to be at $1.6 million - which includes the restaurants, souvenirs, parking and hotels. And with that price tag, this touring expedition is already set to be one of the biggest events that Dayton has ever seen. “It is a huge thing for the downtown economy and Dayton economy,” Victoria Theater spokeswoman Diane Schoeffler-Warren continued to the Dayton Daily News.

The entire town is excited to see such a big event coming into its existence, so make sure to act now to get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 17, 2010 - Post a comment

Wicked on Winning Streak

It has seemed apparent that theatergoers from all over the world enjoy Wicked, but now the UK has shown that they enjoy Wicked above everything else. The country recently voted London’s show the “Best West End Show” at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Awards, reports Broadway World. The award asks the public to decide which production has the best overall show, and this year Wicked grabbed the title, the same year that the awards show celebrates its 10th Anniversary.

Over 46,000 theatergoers voted online or by text message in the categories, with other performances that made the final “Best West End Show” category including Billy Elliot, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Mama Mia! The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse and We Will Rock You. Executive producer Michael McCabe said, “It has been an incredible year for West End theatre, and the productions that made the shortlist for this special award are proof of the diversity and quality that have helped maintain London as the world leader for live entertainment. We are therefore truly honored that the public has chosen Wicked as London’s ‘Best West End Show’, and our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who voted.”  The show has been shortlisted for the 2010 Laurence Olivier Audience Award.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 16, 2010 - Post a comment

Espinosa Joins SF Wicked Cast

Eden Espinosa, a veteran stage performer who has always managed the role of Elphaba on Broadway, is set to join the San Francisco Company of Wicked in March, reports Playbill.com. The former Broadway star is going to join the cast at the Orpheum Theater for an open-ended engagement at the Bay Area theater. Though she is a veteran performer of the role, Espinosa will actually join the cast March 2nd alongside Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, Jody Gelb as Madame Morrible, Tom McGowan as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Nicolas Dromard as Fiyero, Paul Slade Smith as Doctor Dillamond, Deedee Magno Hall as Nessarose and Etai BenShlomo as Boq.

Espinosa premiered on Broadway in Wicked, as the understudy for both the green faced star Elphaba and her sister, Nessarose. She moved on to the leading role after a few months, and followed the touring production to Los Angeles while also finishing the final round of “Rent” as Maureen during its last shows on Broadway. She was seen in the Reprise staging of “Flora, the Red Menace” as well.

Get Wicked tickets from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on February 12, 2010 - Post a comment


 Page 1 of 2  1  2 »