The national touring company of Wicked will host “Our Wicked, Wicked Ways,” an evening of cabaret performances on August 23, 2010. Held at Axis Nightclub, the event will feature performances from the company’s cast and crew with the net proceeds benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Produced by company members, the evening is an opportunity for them to step out of their Wicked roles and perform in other forms of music, dance, and comedy. Co-hosted by Columbus’ own Nina West, the evening will feature Chandra Lee Schwartz (Glinda), Richard Kline (The Wizard), Richard H. Blake (Fiyero), and Mariand Torres (Elphaba standby), as well as members of the ensemble and touring staff. In addition, there will be a silent auction of several items including Wicked memorabilia, and a live auction with opportunities to bid on backstage tours and a walk-on role in Wicked. The musical is now playing the Uihlein Hall Marcus Center For The Performing Arts through August 08 and Ohio Theatre through August 29. Tickets to performances of Wicked are available.

“Our Wicked, Wicked Ways” is part of an ongoing series of performances by the national touring company to support charitable causes. In its five years on the road, the company has raised well over $1 million in donations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and local Aids service organizations all over the country.

The musical Wicked has been wowing audiences with what some call the best musical of the decade. The story is about what happened before Dorothy dropped into Munchkinland in The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is about two girls who meet in the land of Oz.

The New York Times called Wicked “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster.”

The musical has won 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards.

NBC 4‘s Monica Day sat down with two of the stars from the show to find out why everyone loves the musical.

“Anytime you have a story with these familiar characters that a lot of people are very familiar with but with different aspect of that story is very appealing,” said Justin Brill who stars as the character Boq.

“To use a very good quote, ‘It’s a cultural phenomenon.’ It has such a wide spread appeal that everyone that sees it loves it,” said Brynn O’Malley who stars as the character Nessarose.

The show runs until Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Ohio Theater. Buy now and save $20 on your next order over $250.