Wicked is currently performing at Times Union Ctr Perf Arts Moran Theater and continue through Sunday, January 22, 2012. Wicked, the latest offering from the Artist Series in Jacksonville, is a technically lavish, expertly performed production of the immensely entertaining and hugely popular show that has been running on Broadway since 2003.

Anne Brummel (left) as Elphaba and Tiffany Haas as Glinda in Wicked Musical at the Times-Union Center's Moran Theater

It provides a clever backstory to Elphaba, the mean and green Wicked Witch of the West played by Margaret Hamilton in the iconic 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” but has never been a critical darling. But the characters are fascinating and the plot dovetails satisfyingly with the familiar story we know from the movie. Dorothy’s trip to Oz coincides with the last half of the second act and while she is never seen on stage, she is referenced in several scenes.

The story centers on Elphaba, a young woman born with green skin and mysterious powers, a permanent outsider who strikes unlikely alliances at school with the dazzlingly popular Glinda (soon to be the good witch) and the dashingly irresponsible Fiyero. When she learns that the animals of Oz, once treated as equals to humans, are being oppressed, Elphaba becomes an unlikely animal-rights advocate and a social outcast.

The touring version now at the Moran Theater in The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts works wonderfully well. Anne Brummel makes a fierce Elphaba and Tiffany Haas a bubbly, self-absorbed Glinda. Don Amendolia is expert as the humbug Wizard and Timothy Britten Parker makes a terrific goatman as Dr. Dillamond.

The sets, costumes and special effects are dazzling as Glinda flies around in her bubble and Elphaba on her broom, while the Wizard’s mechanical head roars and belches smoke.

Read the complete review {Via Jacksonville.com}

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Broadway rang in more than a billion for the 2011 calendar year, with “Wicked” once again claiming the title of the year’s top grosser. Though the 2010 chart was dominated by long-running successes, In the year 2011, two big-earning newbies — “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” and “The Book of Mormon” – show potential for longer runs.

The $1.08 billion total reps the cume from the 52-week period ending Dec. 25. (Next year will be one of the calendar’s periodic 53-week seshes.) The 2011 tally is up by some $44 million over the prior frame — no surprise, given rising ticket prices and increasing prominence of premium-ticket sales. Attendance, on the other hand, just barely showed an uptick — by about 25,000 theatergoers to 12.13 million.

Last year saw longtime top dog “Wicked” unseated multiple times from its habitual perch by both “Lion King” and “Spider-Man.” Still, “Wicked” finished first often enough to maintain its status as the highest-grossing Broadway show for the eighth year in a row, the only production ever to do so. “The Phantom of the Opera” also has been a top annual grosser for eight years, but those years weren’t consecutive.

For its part, “Lion King” can tout its unusually strong B.O. performance heading into its 15th year on Broadway. The show’s holiday-week tally of $2.4 million was its best ever on the Rialto; the same frame saw the tuner break house records in Las Vegas and on the road as well.

It was “Spider-Man” that provided the biggest shakeup in the year-end charts, overcoming much-publicized tech troubles and nasty reviews to gross $69 million for the year. There’s no guarantee the show will continue to maintain that momentum for another year, but given the $2.9 million tally logged by the musical for the week ending Jan. 1, it’s clear producers know how take advantage of high-demand periods.

There’s also “Book of Mormon,” with a $51 million total that placed it right behind the $52.3 million belted out by “Jersey Boys.” The Broadway edition of “Mormon” likely won’t approach the pile of money earned by “Wicked” or “Lion King” because of its venue’s substantially smaller seating capacity, but the strength of those figures suggest the Tony winner could be adding to the Broadway pot for a considerable while.

Read the complete news {Via Variety.com}