Kristin Chenoweth will get a star-studded celebration at the Drama League Gala. Broadway favorites Cheyenne Jackson, Laura Benanti and Joel Grey are among the stars who will head to the Pierre Hotel on February 6 to help the Drama League honor Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth at their 28th annual gala, A Musical Celebration of Broadway. The evening’s all-star tribute, directed by Evan Pappas, will support the Drama League’s famed Directors Project.

In addition to Grey, Jackson and Benanti, the evening’s guests will include Elaine Paige, Donna Murphy, Debra Monk, Andrew Lippa, Marlo Thomas, Brent Barrett, Carole Shelley, Josh Young, David Elder, Marni Nixon, Jason Graae, Eden Espinosa, Kevin Clash from Sesame Street, as well as original and current cast members from the Broadway musical Wicked.

The show will include selections from Chenoweth’s impressive resume, featuring numbers from Wicked, Glee, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Candide, Promises, Promises, Steel Pier, The Apple Tree, the TV adaptations of Annie and The Music Man and more.

Read the complete news {Via Broadway Buzz}

Wicked Musical Coming to El Paso’s Plaza Theatre Next Month, playing February 01 through February 12, 2012. Wicked is the story of two witches, Elphaba, the unfortunate girl with the green skin, and the blonde and perfect Glinda. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…).

Wicked will be performing in The Plaza Theatre El Paso from February 01 through February 12, 2012. Buy Wicked El Paso TX Tickets Online, Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Orders over $350!

In “The Wizard of Oz,” the Wicked Witch of the East, Nessarose, gets her five minutes – more like one minute – of fame when a young girl’s home fatally lands on her. The rest of the story proceeds to tell how Dorothy, a girl traveling through the land of Oz wearing the witch’s sparkly red shoes, attempts to find her way back home with the help of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

However, if there is one character from “The Wizard of Oz” who deserves a back story, it’s definitely not the young girl whose house gets blown away by a tornado. Instead, it is Elphaba (Mamie Parris), sister to the Wicked Witch of the East (Cristy Candler), who has a more compelling story to tell – one about a time where she wasn’t wicked at all.

The musical “Wicked” currently playing at the Pantages Theatre tells that story and continue through January 29, 2012. The show begins with the munchkins of Oz celebrating the death of Elphaba. The production does an extraordinary job in the storytelling and performance while also including just the right amount of comedy and wit in between. “Wicked” combines love, tragedy and ethics to create a story with a not-so-predictable happy ending.

As Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke) enters and celebrates with the rest of Oz, one of the munchkins questions whether she was once friends with the Wicked Witch. As the munchkins gasp in disbelief that someone would ask such a question, Glinda begins to tell the story of when she first crossed paths with the Wicked Witch – a time where she and Elphaba became good friends.

Each number the cast performed ended with a roaring applause from the audience while every joke, whether minor or major, was reciprocated with just the right amount of laughter echoing through the Pantages.

The stage production was also very impressive, with smooth transitions between scenes and performances.

Clarke does an amazing job as Glinda, an overconfident, popular and spoiled girl who always gets her way. From her exaggerated movement on stage to her knack for using a lot of made-up words, Clarke had a stage presence that kept the audience wondering what she was going to do or say next.

Parris also does a spectacular job in playing just the opposite of Clarke, a green (literally) character who has no friends and is blamed by her father for why her sister has to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

As the plot carries the audience through Glinda and Elphaba’s time as students, roommates and friends, “Wicked,” includes frequent references to “The Wizard of Oz” – telling a back story of how the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow all came about.

The musical reveals many ideas that would have never been evident just by watching “The Wizard of Oz.” “Wicked,” at some points in the musical, makes audiences who have grown up with the “The Wizard of Oz” story feel cheated and mislead about “the wonderful wizard” as well as the wicked and good witches, but at the same time happy to finally know the truth.

Read the complete story {Via DailyBruin.com}

Wicked will be performing in Los Angeles CA through January 29, 2012. Buy Wicked Pantages Theatre Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Los Angeles CA Tickets Orders over $350!

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.

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}

Buy Wicked Times Union Ctr Perf Arts Moran Theater Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Jacksonville FL Tickets Orders over $350!

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}

Wicked will return to Austin at Texas Performing Arts Bass Concert Hall, playing January 25 through February 12, 2012. Wicked broke box office records and sold out in record time in 2009.

Wicked is the story of two witches, Elphaba, the unfortunate girl with the green skin, and the blonde and perfect Glinda. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. They grow up together and become rivals for the attention of the handsome Fiyero. They also eventually differ in their stands towards the Wizard’s regime and policy of taking speech away from animals. Elphaba sides with the animals and is called the Wicked Witch of the West while Glinda the Good becomes known as the Good Witch of the North. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Wicked will play at Bass Concert Hall through February 12, 2012. Buy Wicked Austin TX Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Bass Concert Hall Tickets Orders over $350!

Wicked Musical is currently performing at Wicked is currently performing at the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles CA through January 29, 2012.

Yesterday… Dorothy Lucey went to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, where “Wicked” is playing… and for one brief, shining moment… she got to play the part of “Glinda”… who’s normally played by Katie Rose Clarke. Katie showed Dorothy how “Glinda” makes her grand entrance… in a bubble that descends from the rafters. Check out video below:

{Via Fox Television Stations}

Wicked will play at the Pantages Theatre through January 29, 2012. Buy Wicked Los Angeles CA Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Pantages Theatre Tickets Orders over $350!

Wicked Tour will make a stop at Jacksonville Florida next week for the performances at Times Union Ctr Perf Arts Moran Theater starting January 04 through Sunday, January 22, 2012.

The first stage version played on Broadway in 1902. The musical “The Wiz,” which featured a black cast, was a Broadway hit in 1975 and a movie in 1978. Last year, The Artist Series brought a meticulously faithful-to-the-movie stage version of “The Wizard of Oz” to the Moran Theater.

Like many Americans of his generation, Stephen Schwartz, 63, got his first exposure to the world of Oz when he watched an early television screening of the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz.”

Unlike most of those who fell under the spell of the iconic movie, Schwartz got a chance to create his own variation on the Oz story when he wrote the music and lyrics for “Wicked.” That musical has been running on Broadway since 2003 and a touring production will come to Jacksonville Wednesday, January 04 2012 for 31 performances over 19 days.

Schwartz said that Oz’s ongoing appeal is partly attributable to the fact that it is, like “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars,” an archetypal quest story.

What “Wicked” also does, Schwartz noted, is take that beloved story and “turn the whole thing on its head.”

At the time he became aware of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” Schwartz had sworn off Broadway. The composer, who launched his career with the Broadway hits “Godspell” (1971) and “Pippin” (1972), spent the 1990s writing music for animated films such as “Pocahantas,” for which he won two Academy Awards.

But Schwartz said he knew as soon as he read “Wicked” that he yearned for Broadway again.

Read the complete story {Via Jacksonville.com}

Wicked will play at Times Union Ctr Perf Arts Moran Theater through January 22, 2012. Buy Wicked Jacksonville FL Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Times Union Ctr Perf Arts Moran Theater Tickets Orders over $350!

Wicked is the perfect family treat for all of the family to enjoy this Christmas! Wicked has just announced that they are holding some extra shows during the festive period on Thursday 22nd December and Tuesday 27th December at 2:30pm!

If you think you know the Wicked Witch of the West, think again… When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire’s acclaimed 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, re-imagined the land of Oz, creating a parallel universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900. Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl, Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths.

Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The spectacular, multi award-winning stage musical, with music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, has become the most spellbinding and successful new musical in years. ‘A major hit with audiences and critics alike’ (BBC News), Wicked won the 2010 Olivier Award for Most Popular Show and the 2010 and 2011 Whatsonstage.com Award for Best West End Show. The Evening Standard raved: ‘A wicked and wonderful vision of Oz. A remarkable kaleidoscope of magical shocks, surprises and sensations, Wicked works like a dream.’

{Via Entertainment-Focus.com}

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Wicked is currently performing at Detroit Opera House, Detroit Michigan. Wicked will run through December 31 at the Detroit Opera House.

The music in Wicked is wonderful and the costumes are very beautiful. The stage sets and special effects, particularly the Wizard’s facade, are extremely well. Both Anne Brummel (Elphaba) and Tiffany Haas (Glinda), are inspired performances as actors, providing beautiful and chilling vocals throughout the entire play in both solos and duets.

Wicked musical is simultaneously comedic and dramatic and, combined with the great acting and musical talent, supported the subtext of the play very well. Wicked would be a great experinced musical of great fun, music and stories at the Detroit Opera House and you must not miss this highly recommended musical Wicked who is interested in music, theater, or opera.

Wicked will play at Detroit Opera House through December 31, 2011. Buy Wicked Detroit MI Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked Detroit Opera House Tickets Orders over $350! Also Use Code HOL2011 for FREE SHIPPING!