Wicked became the the first show to remain the highest-grossing production on Broadway for nine consecutive years. Wicked musical beats The Phantom of the Opera, which remained Broadway’s top show for eight non-consecutive years (1988-91, 1993-94 and 1996-97).

The show also had the highest-grossing week with 9 performances in Broadway history, taking in $2,947,172 for the week ending December 30, 2012.

As Wicked enters its 10th year on Broadway, the musical currently stars Jackie Burns as Elphaba, Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero, Randy Danson as Made Morrible, Adam Grupper as the Wizard, Catherin Charlebois as Nessarose, Tom Flynne as Dr. Dillamond and F. Michael Haynie as Boq.

Based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked” is the musical adaptation of the untold story of the witches of Oz. The play follows the young Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda in the Land of Oz…long before Dorothy drops in.

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Desi Oakley Debuts on Wicked Broadway for the “universal swing” role in the Broadway production of Wicked.

Desi Oakley, who grew up and attended school in Wichita, Kansas, started appearing on stage at age 8 with the Music Theatre of Wichita. Following high school, Oakley studied theater at the University of Michigan. According to Annie Thomson (Oakley’s mother), the school receives more than 5,000 applications annually. Only 20 students are accepted each year, 10 boys and 10 girls. The program is elite and regarded as one of the best musical theater schools in the nation.

“It’s really neat, a great accomplishment,” Annie Thomson said. “I know I just sound like a proud mom, but it’s a great thing for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she keeps going for bigger and better things.”

During her career, Oakley has played the lead roles in Evita and The The Little Mermaid. After graduating from Michigan last year, she headed straight for the big show, Wicked Musical.

She was soon picked up by a casting agent, which led to her “universal swing” role in the Broadway production of Wicked. “My Broadway debut was the best night of my life,” Oakley said. “I had so much energy and adrenaline, I felt like I got shot out of a cannon.”

Being a “universal swing” means Oakley fills in for other actors both on the national tour and in New York. She has learned 16 different parts in the play — the roles of every female character in the cast. Currently in Jacksonville, Florida, on tour, Oakley says she could never see herself doing anything else.

“I’ve though a lot about it,” she said. “I can’t think of anything I would rather do. I love being confident in who I am. If you have the passion, nothing can stop you. And I personally feel like I have a duty to share the gifts I was given.”

Wicked is one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. Wicked musical has grossed nearly $2.5 billion and has been seen by 30 million people worldwide. Wicked is currently playing on tour in Los Angeles, CA and Jacksonville, FL. Buy Wicked Tour 2012 Tickets, Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Orders over $350!

Broadway box offices were busy places last week – 11 musicals made more than $1 million of which Wicked was Big seller again.

The Broadway League said Monday that total grosses for the week ending Sunday soared to $28.9 million, up from $23.8 million the week before.

The numbers, boosted by vacationers, did not even need “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” which was on hiatus.

Making the millionaire’s club were perennial big sellers “Wicked,” “Mary Poppins,” “Jersey Boys,” “The Addams Family,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Billy Elliot,” “Mamma Mia!” and “The Lion King.” Two new hot tickets were “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “The Book of Mormon” and the outgoing “American Idiot.”

Amanda Jane Cooper will join the first North American touring company of Wicked in the role of Glinda, beginning with the Tuesday, April 19 performance at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Amanda Jane Cooper to Be New Glinda in Wicked

Cooper joins a cast that includes Jackie Burns (Elphaba), Randy Danson (Madame Morrible), Mark Jacoby (The Wizard), Justin Brill (Boq), Stefanie Brown (Nessarose), Colin Hanlon (Fiyero), Paul Slade Smith (Dr. Dillamond), and Mariand Torres (Standby for Elphaba).

The Ft. Lauderdale engagement of Wicked is currently running through April 24 at the Broward Center. Good seats are still available.

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Wicked Musical was the top-earning show during the week leading up to the New Year’s holiday, the Broadway League announced Monday.

Wicked, at the Gershwin Theatre, grossed $2,153,110, surpassing the record it had set for the week of November 28, 2010, when it grossed $2,150,665. It is also the record for the largest weekly gross in Broadway history.

Two other Broadway musicals (Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera) have reported that they have broken their respective theater’s records for highest weekly grosses during the week ending January 2. The Broadway League has reported that grosses for the week for all shows totaled $34,997,571.

In addition, 14 other shows grossed over $1 million for the week.

Wicked, the smash hit musical, will kick off The Smith Center for the Performing Arts’ 2012-2013 Broadway-subscription series with a limited six-week engagement. After breaking box office records and selling out across the country, Wicked has added The Smith Center to its 2012-2013 tour, with performances scheduled for August 29 – October 7, 2012.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announced on Monday that the hit musical “Wicked” would have a six-week run at the new venue during its inaugural year in 2012.

“Wicked” will be part of the Smith Center’s 2012-2013 Broadway-subscription series, with performances scheduled for Aug. 29 through Oct. 7. The on-sale date will be announced at a later date.

The Smith Center is expected to open in March 2012 in the Symphony Park development in downtown Las Vegas. More information on the center can be found on its website – www.thesmithcenter.com.