Wicked playing currently in Toronto at the Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St. Until Sunday, Nov. 28 2010.

It’s wicked good, not wicked great.

Jackie Burns stars as Elphaba and Chandra Lee Schwartz is Glinda in a production of Wicked opening in Toronto Oct. 20, 2010

The third version of this astronomical hit to play Toronto proves, in a very subtle way, that all productions are not created equal.

It’s still one hell of an entertaining evening, but the two guests I brought had interestingly different responses. One who had never seen the show before thought it was just swell as it was.

Wicked is a whole lot more complex and fascinating than it might originally seem to be. On one level it’s a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, led by two female characters who can be counted on to deliver the Twilight kind of crowd in droves.

But for those who look twice at the serious work underneath, nothing less than total commitment will make this show soar to the heavens.

The sine qua non that any Wicked has to have is an awesome Elphaba, someone who can play that lonely green outsider who makes all of our hearts ache. Mercifully, this production has it in Jackie Burns.

For vocal clarity, sheer power and emotional openness, I rank her up there with the very best of the five people I’ve seen in the role, including the original, Idina Menzel. Her Act I finale, “Defying Gravity,” remains every bit as thrilling as ever. I can offer her no higher compliment than that.

But Elphaba has an opposite in the show, the blond, beaming yet far-from-benign Glinda and here’s where we fall down. Chandra Lee Schwartz, who plays the role, has all of the Act I fun and camp. Her version of “Popular” is hysterical. But when we get to Act II, when Glinda becomes coldly, calculatingly evil, she doesn’t have the right stuff. Schwartz has also played Sharpay in High School Musical and that’s what she’s giving us here, a camp villainess.

Matters aren’t helped by this production’s Madame Morrible, Randy Danson, who treats the part as a piece of raw milk cheese that’s been allowed to ripen too soon. One recalls Carole Shelley’s razor-sharp innuendo in the role and sighs in regret.

On the positive side, Richard H. Blake is a totally hunky Fiyero, Justin Brill a sweet, tortured Boq and Stefanie Brown possibly the best Nessarose I’ve seen. She’s an amazing character, with those ruby shoes you’ll never forget and a blazing passion that I wish other actors could bottle.

One also has to praise Joe Mantello’s staging, which still looks sleek and bright and glossy and spectacular. Producer David Stone cuts no corners. This is the most “Grade A” tour you’re ever likely to see.

Though this Wicked isn’t perfect, it’s a wonderful piece of writing and production, and you don’t have to be a teenage girl to like it.

Even with a few warts, it’s well worth a visit. Buy your Wicked Toronto ON Tickets Online.
{Via TheStar.com – Wicked review}

Smith Center books musical ‘Wicked’ as its inaugural Broadway touring show. Broadway’s No. 1 show for the past six years, with touring productions and “sit-down” engagements in cities worldwide, “Wicked” will fly into Reynolds Hall, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts center’s main performance venue, Aug. 28-Oct. 7, 2012, about five months after its March 2012 opening, scheduling eight performances each week.

Reasonable prices for tickets — which will go on sale about six months before the show arrives — were part of the agreement to bring “Wicked” to the Smith Center. “We have an understanding that our prices have to be comparable to our peer cities,” Myron Martin, president of the Smith Center says, estimating the range at $39-$99. “Oftentimes when you see a show on the Strip, it’s priced more expensively than you might have seen it in L.A. or San Francisco. Our deal is that prices will mirror cities like Denver and Salt Lake City.”

Wait few more months for Wicked Las Vegas Nevada Tickets.

Wicked One of the most successful shows in theatre history. When the Australian production of Wicked arrives in Brisbane it will have already played more than 866 shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

It is blitzing the Queensland box office with more than 70,000 tickets already sold.

Ms Rix is the star of Wicked the Musical which opens in Brisbane in January next year. “We are getting everyone aware of Wicked because we are going to Brisbane and I know it is still a little bit of a distance, but it is such a massive spectacle and a big event that we can’t unfortunately take it to every town,” Ms Rix said.

Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West

“We want to spread the word. It has been such a long running show it actually left us in Melbourne for about 14 months so it was like having a day job,” Mr Dobson said.

Wicked relates the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. 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; how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

For Ms Rix landing the role of Elphaba was an amazing achievement for the performer who got her career start in various amateur musical theatre productions while growing up.

“It is one of those roles that everybody knows about in the musical theatre industry. A role that I think lots of people fought for and auditioned for and even in the audition process there were people that were dressing up; they weren’t actually green but they were trying to make themselves look like Elphaba.”

We offer discounted Tickets to Wicked in Brisbane Australia for all Lyric Theatre, QPAC performances. The tickets of this sensational show are within your reach now – Buy Wicked Brisbane Australia Tickets.

Wicked has cast a spell on audiences nationwide and it’s now playing successfully here in Memphis. It’s a musical that truly has something for everyone: beautiful music, gorgeous costumes, terrific special effects and even flying monkeys! It is one of the most successful musicals of all time.

For those who haven’t had a chance to see it, Wicked is the back-story to The Wizard of Oz.

The story follows the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her arch nemeses Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. In the musical Elphaba is simply a misunderstood, victimized person, who happens to be green, who stands up against the wizard’s corrupt government.

Wicked runs through Sunday, October 31st at the Orpheum Theatre. Buy now and save $20 on your next order over $250.

Wicked, the musical that offers a novel perspective on the witches of the Wizard of Oz, will be playing Toronto ON over Halloween. It’s going to be at the Canon Theatre there from Oct. 20 playing thru Nov. 28, 2010.

This will be the third Toronto visit for the American touring version of Wicked. It sold out there in 2005 and 2006. Wicked is based on the 1995 novel of the same title by Gregory Maguire. It has won many prizes including three Tony Awards.

Wicked also touring Western Canada starting June 1st, 2011 in Vancouver and moving to Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg.

Wicked Musical is back in Orpheum Theatre, Memphis TN for its second year. The first show is Wednesday, October 13. Unlike last year, when they sold out in the first week, this year they have plenty of tickets.

Wicked tells the story of two friends who grow apart, one becomes the wicked witch of the west while the other becomes a good witch.

Bryan Landrine, the production stage manager says, “They went to school together. It’s the perception of good and evil and that’s what this show challenges everybody about and that’s why people keep coming back to it.”

He says, “Whether they’re on the sound board, electrics, carpentry, a large portion is for wardrobe, to help the actors get dressed, to wash the costumes and mend the costumes.”

Because it was such a big seller last year, The Orpheum is offering cheaper tickets through a lottery. You have to show up 2 1/2 hours before the show to enter your name.

Wicked’s company manager Erica Norgaard says, “They draw two hours prior to the show and if you win it’s $25 per ticket, cash and you can win up to 2 tickets and that’s every show and that’s a great way of seeing it if you can’t afford top ticket price.” 20 seats will be offered by the lottery each night of the show.

Tickets range from $40 to $143. Buy Wicked Orpheum Theatre TN Tickets Online.

Wicked is set to make its Calgary premiere at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium starting June 29, 2011.

Wicked is a new musical 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”) based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

The musical 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, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® Award and 3 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 begin performances on Wednesday June 29, 2011 and conclude Sunday July 17, 2011. Tickets for Wicked vary in range depending on performance, seat location and date of purchase and start at $35.00.

Wicked is presented by Broadway Across Canada and is part of a five city tour in Western Canada including dates in Vancouver (June 1 – 26, 2011), Edmonton (July 20 – August 7, 2011), Saskatoon (August 10 – 21, 2011) and Winnipeg (August 24 – September 4, 2011).

Purchase Wicked Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Tickets online.

A new Broadway blockbuster musical will make its Winnipeg premiere at the Centennial Concert Hall on August 24, 2011.

“Wicked” is the untold story of the witches of Oz and based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. 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, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Wicked has received rave reviews by Variety and The New York Times and continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently seven productions of the musical touring the globe, including a Dutch-language production to launch in 2011.

Wicked musical will conclude at the Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall on September 4, 2011.

Wicked is Touring Western Canada starting June 1st, 2011 in Vancouver and moving to Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg.

So much happened before Dorothy dropped in!

Wicked flies back to the Murat Theatre, December 15 – January 1, 2011 for three weeks only. Buy Wicked Indianapolis IN tickets now before they go on sale completely, Purchase today or you’ll be green with envy.

Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the best musical of the decade” (Entertainment Weekly).

Buy Wicked Murat Theatre Tickets Online, Save $10 on Wicked Ticket Orders over $350! Code AFF$10

Mandy Gonzalez and Katie Rose Clarke, who star as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in Broadway’s Wicked, posed with Brett LaTorre, who was the production’s 5 millionth audience member to have his ticket scanned in at the Gershwin Theatre, which occurred at the 2pm matinee performance on Wednesday, September 29.

Katie Rose Clarke, Brett LaTorre and Mandy Gonzalez

View the Entire Gallery Here – Photos (© Jillian Nelson)

Brett LaTorre, Wicked's 5 Millionth Broadway Audience Member

Briana Yacavone and Brett LaTorre

Briana Yacavone, Brett LaTorre and Jonathan Warren

Briana Yacavone, Katie Rose Clarke, Brett LaTorre, Mandy Gonzalez and Jonathan Warren

Brett LaTorre of Sparta, NJ, received a special surprise when he took in the Sept. 29 Wicked matinee. LaTorre, who was celebrating his 21st birthday with his girlfriend and grandparents, was holding the 5 millionth ticket scanned for the show at the Gershwin Theatre.

He was given a special “Key to the Emerald City” as well as a free trip to London to see the West End production of Wicked and complimentary hotel accommodations at the luxury hotel Rubens at the Palace.

The cast currently includes Mandy Gonzalez as Elphaba, Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Andy Karl as Fiyero, Alex Brightman as Boq, Jenny Fellner as Nessarose, Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible and Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond.

Click Here to Buy Wicked Musical Tickets and Find Wicked Tour Updates.