Kansas City’s New Holiday Tradition

Kansas City’s downtown will get some “Wicked” fanfare when the Broadway show’s cast sets up the holiday season November 19th. The show’s national tour cast members will serenade fans during the annual tree lighting ceremony following a free performance at Barney Allis Plaza. The Broadway national tour is making its rounds in Kansas City around the same time that the annual holiday specials happen, and President and CEO of the Downtown Council Bill Diertrich thought it would be a perfect addition to the typical show. With a free concert, many fans that weren’t able to act quickly enough to get their own Wicked tickets are sure to be happy when it performs in the plaza.

The actual musical is running for three and a half weeks at the Music Hall (across from Barney Allis). The musical stars will sing special holiday treats without costume with the marching band from Raymore Peculiar High School as they salute the Christmas tree. The event will also premiere the Downtown Santa Parade where all residents are invited, provided they are wearing holiday attire and meet at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown lobby at 5:30pm as marchers continue through the Power and Light District.

Though Wicked traditions are new via StubHub, many are old - so join in on the holiday fun this year.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 10, 2009 - Post a comment

Wicked Wins People Choice Award in London

Though Wicked came out nearly a decade ago on the Broadway stage, winning tons of accolades from fans as well as several Tony Awards, the show hasn’t stopped impressing audiences and critics alike as it goes into a new season and traveling tour. Recently the show picked up the Best Family Fun at the BT Visit London People’s Choice Awards 2009. The annual People’s Choice Awards allow the public to vote on their favorite event of the year in London. This award, according to the Show and Stay website, is about number 50 for the internationally recognized play that first opened in 2004.

The show has done at least 1,300 performances while at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre with over two million viewers. The show is likely to remain at the top for several more years thanks to its strong fan base, which earned the London company a new Guinness World Record in October when the fans showed up at the Wicked Cackle for a Halloween celebration. The event broke so much force into the industry and the story that the company added three more Wicked Christmas matinee shows!

If you are intrigued by the Wicked Witch of the West and her story, get Wicked tickets today via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 9, 2009 - Post a comment

A Wicked Burglary Weekend

It seems that not even magical powers can keep “Wicked” castmembers safe when it comes to burglars. While performing at the Century II in Wichita, Kansas, several “Wicked” cast members were burglarized. Police are currently searching for the culprit, reports KSN.com.

Apparently the culprits really knew when to strike, and when it would hurt the most. The crime happened during the first weekend of the musical’s touring show in Kansas, police noting that the thieves were in the dressing room area once the cast left for the night. Several personal items were stolen, including a laptop, camera, MP3 player, leather jacket and shoes. The total amount reportedly lost comes out to be around $1,500.

“It’s quite possible that that area could be accessible to people walking off the street, it just depends on the security, the level of security at that time,” Lt. Mike Hennessy said from the Wichita Police Department. Police believe that Century II security and staff as well as the musical’s cast and crew have been around the Century II building 24 hours a day, yet it was unknown whether the dressing room was constantly locked. Though clearly some of the cast members are upset about the events, they are all professionals and still plan on putting on a great show.

Get Wicked tickets today from StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 6, 2009 - Post a comment

Finger Lickin’ Good - Witches’ Finger Cookies from the Source

Glinda the Good Witch visited the View from the Bay website baking witch fingers.  The finger cookies are basically sugar cookies, she says.

1 Cup Butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. Almond Extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cup whole almonds

red food coloring

Mix all ingredients together and put in refrigerator for about thirty minutes. Remove and shape onto baking sheet into long fingers. Put almonds for fingers and paint almond with red food coloring.

“It’s a very blessed situation,” she says. Kendra Kassebaum continues saying that she has eight shows a week. “You live like a nun, a little bit,” she says regarding keeping her voice. “You can live, but it’s definitely disciplined. I’m not a perfect performance, but sometimes you embrace those performances.”

Though she isn’t a great chef, the fingers once they come out of the oven should have a finger like quality to them! Put them in for about 20 to 25 minutes and you should be quickly enjoying some finger food!

If you haven’t yet seen the show in the place that it started, San Francisco, California, then you are missing out! Bring your friends and family and get Wicked tickets today via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 5, 2009 - Post a comment

Rooting for the Bad Girl

In March 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed Wicked one of the ‘Great American Musicals” of our time, a “maverick,” not only for its spectacular scenery and costumes but for its storyline as well. Without looking too deep into the plot, the basic theme that Howard Shapiro of the Inquirer staff says is that there are always two sides to a story. The show, which was set to open for a two and a half week run that April, sold out its tickets immediately.

Though today the story is even more well known, with international venues eating up the play and Gregory Maguire’s series expanding to almost four fables, audiences around the globe still can’t seem to get enough of the green girl and her bubble-floating friend. What makes this success seem even more un-natural is that the story Wicked is based off of, “The Wizard of Oz,” has cycled through generations of families for decades, retelling the same story over and over - the Wicked Witch of the West threatens to destroy Dorothy and her friends, until good resides over evil. Yet in this musical, audience’s find themselves siding with the once ‘bad’ girl of the familiar story in a turn of fate. And yet people eat it up - and continue to do so, making Wicked one of the most wildly successful musicals in a long time.

Get Wicked tickets via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 4, 2009 - Post a comment

Wicked’s Wicked History

Back in December 2005, The Washington Post wrote a piece on Wicked’s new show. The story ran just days before the holiday season. The article opened not with a synopsis of the story or the dates of the arrival of the show - that was already known - but the fact that the producers had created a television ad that was unnecessary. The show, which opened at the Kennedy Center that week, “sold out the inventory in seven hours,” noted David Stone, the musicals’ lead producer. The show was performing 32 shows. Even four years ago the show was selling gargantuan numbers - out producing “The Producers,” and even the previous best seller “Phantom of the Opera.” The show was actually dismissed unlike those plays mentioned above (”Producers” earned 12 Tonys, “Phantom” nearly the same) as Wicked instead only picked up three - scenery, costumes and leading actress.

Though technically Wicked was ’snubbed’ by the first few critics and Tony voters, the public hasn’t seemed to mind at all. They have done some of the best since it first appeared and have continued to sell out. The show isn’t just finding success for one-time viewers either - fans around the globe have gone to see the show over and over again.

Not just a fantasy treat, Wicked tickets from StubHubare a must have.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 3, 2009 - Post a comment

Cleveland’s ‘Wicked’ Return

As part of the US Bank Star Performance Series, ‘Wikced’ is pulling out all the stops for the Cleveland area - returning to the stage at the Playhouse Square for the third time, November 18th through December 13th. The show, written by Stephen Schwartz, is currently directed by two time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, from “Take Me Out,” “The Vagina Monologues” and “9 to 5″ and includes musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento. The story is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire and has won 20 major awards - Grammy’s, Tony Awards and more.

The show at the State Theater at Playhouse Square is running Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8pm and Sundays at 1 and 6:30pm. November 19th has a special 2pm matinée and performances will not run on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th. If you want to see this award winning night, then you are not going to want to miss out.

A special evening for teens will be hosted by the Playhouse Square Comunity Engagement and Education Department. Following the December 5th performance, the Playhouse community is hosting a Teen Night where teens, ages 14 to 19 can enjoy pizza, a DJ, karaoke and an opportunity to meet members of the cast.

Get Wicked tickets via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on November 2, 2009 - Post a comment

Wicked’s Main Character

For anyone who plays the lead role of Elphaba in Gregory Maguire’s hit Broadway musical Wicked, they always note it’s an honor. One such star is Marcie Dodd, the leading lady for Broadway’s national tour currently performing at the Century II Theater. “I love it,” she says backstage while getting green makeup piled on. “It’s an honor to be able to play a part like this.” There are many reasons why Dodd enjoys the character, but one in particular. “She kind of says, ‘it’s okay to be different.’” True to form, Elphaba is much different than the rest of the cast - Dodd must come to the set 30 minutes before everyone else to get a green transformation. The 30 minute adventure has a crew spreading the light green color all over her body, face hands and chest, and then puts on green tights that cover her legs and arms. The event is complete with a wig and pointed hat.

Though she has to make sure to stay dry so she doesn’t sweat and let the makeup run, it only takes about ten minutes to let the makeup run off her in the shower. Once out of her green, she says she isn’t like Elphaba at all. “I’m actually a pretty shy person. But every now and then somebody will catch a glimpse of green still on my ear.”

Get Wicked tickets via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on October 30, 2009 - Post a comment

Wicked star Marcie Dodd plays the role of Elphaba

As many Wicked fans lined up to get into Century II for Wednesday night’s performance of Broadway’s “Wicked,” KAKE News went behind the scenes for an exclusive interview with Marcie Dodd. Dodd is the performance’s leading  lady, playing the role of Elphaba, better know as the Wicked Witch of the West. Dodd told KAKE News that “It’s an honor to be able to play a part like this.” The actress arrives before any of her co-stars to prepare for the role of Elphaba. She has to wear green make and tights. The costume includes a wig and a pointed hat, which completes the head-to-toe transformation.

At one point in the show, Dodd has to wear a sequin-studded dress that weighs about 40 pounds. The actress said the makeup doesn’t bother her, but she has to stay cool and avoid sweating because the makeup will run. Dodd stated that after 10 minutes in the shower, the makeup finally comes off. When the actress is out of makeup and looking like her old self, very few fans recognize her. “I’m actually a pretty shy person,” she said. “But every now and then somebody will catch a glimpse of green still on my ear.”

Purchase Wicked tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on October 29, 2009 - Post a comment

Wicked’s Australian Performance Reaches 500

Last night with a big soiree, Australia’s Wicked celebrated 500 performances. The show, which opened at Melbourne’s Regent Theater in July 2008, has played in Australia for 13 months and broke the record last night - celebrating the big numbers with a bash and cake. The theater has taken in over $2.3 million in advance bookings for the night it first opened in February 2008 and broke down the box office records for all Melbourne theaters during the one day sale with $1.5 million tickets sold.

The show opened at Sydney’s Capitol Theater in September 2009 and has continuously broken more records - re-creating all box office records for a musical at Capitol with a $1,473,7750 gross in one week. Since first opening in Australia the show has welcomed over 750,000 guests and been presented with six Helpmann Awards, including Best Musical. Co-producer John Frost said “Australian audiences have fallen under the magical spell of Wicked. This show is a phenomenon, quite unlike any other musical, and appeals to people of all ages. I know that many people who have never before been to the theater have come along and loved it. And many ‘Wicked’ fans have come back time and time again to see the spectacle. I’d like to thank audiences for helping us reach the milestone of 500 performances, as well as everyone who has worked on the show over the past 15 months. Bookings are very strong in Sydney and we hope to be here for a long time.”

Get Wicked tickets via StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on October 28, 2009 - Post a comment


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