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}

On Saturday, a day after Maddox turned 10, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt treated their eldest to a matinee performance of Wicked. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s plan, as they took their brood out in London today to see the West End smash hit musical Wicked. The family had clearly fallen under the production’s spell too, and were seen beaming broadly as they left Victoria’s Apollo Theatre to get a car back to their base in Richmond.

Daughter Shiloh, five, in particular seemed smitten by the show, and left clutching a cute winged monkey, a stuffed toy version of one of the show’s fantastical characters. She and Maddox were joined by sister Zahara, six, and Pax, seven with three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne deemed a bit too young for the afternoon’s entertainment.

Brad, 47, however was far more casual in a dark indigo shirt, denim jeans and black boots. He had taken some time out from filming his latest movie World War Z in London to join his family for the matinee performance.

Angelina, 36, looked rather dressed up considering. Angelina certainly wants to make sure her children are seeing all the sights London has to offer, and last week, took them to the city’s Aquarium while Brad was busy.

The cast members were said to be delighted to have the famous family come to see their Wizard of Oz themed show. ‘There was definitely a big excitement backstage! Everyone was on a high,’ a Wicked cast member told Us Weekly. The family did not sit in a VIP box but sat in the orchestra area and were surrounded by a few empty, reserved seats to maintain their privacy. ‘They were very happy and quite quiet,’ the cast member said of the Jolie-Pitts. ‘The children seemed fascinated by the spectacle.’

The family are currently living in Richmond, west London, renting a lavish £10million home while Brad finishes filming. Angelina has already been seen popping into a toy shop in Richmond to buy her children presents, including water pistols and pretend money. Brad is in the capital filming his new zombie movie, World War Z. He is also producing the film, an adaption of Max Brooks’s novel.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Kids Images at Victoria’s Apollo Theatre:

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After finishing out of No.1 for three consecutive months, the long-running hit musical Wicked regains the top on TicketNews’ exclusive events rankings for July 2011.

Although no stranger to the top of the rankings, “Wicked” is the fourth event to fill the No. 1 slot in as many months. Previously the Top Event for June, Paul McCartney’s summer tour stayed strong in July with a fourth-place finish.

TicketNews’ Monthly Top Events for July 1-31, 2011

 

{Via TicketNews}

Wicked West End has announced that Rachel Tucker will continue in her starring role as Elphaba into 2012. Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Nikki Davis-Jones (Standby Elphaba) and Chloe Taylor (Standby Glinda) are also all continuing in their roles.

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “Since first joining our cast in March 2010, Rachel has thrilled audiences and critics alike with her powerful and passionate performance as Elphaba. We are all absolutely thrilled that Rachel has now decided to continue leading the company with her extraordinary professionalism and great dedication to the role – we couldn’t be more proud of her success”.

Louise Dearman (Glinda), Mark Evans (Fiyero), Clive Carter (The Wizard), Julian Forsyth (Dr Dillamond), Zoe Rainey (Nessarose) and Ben Stott (Boq) will all play their final performances on Saturday 10 December 2011.

Wicked recently celebrated its landmark 2000th performance at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. This “hugely popular musical” (The Times) has now been seen by almost 4 million people and grossed in excess of £135 million at the UK Box Office since its West End premiere in 2006.

The production is now booking through 27 October 2012 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG. Buy Wicked Apollo Victoria Theatre Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Wicked London, United Kingdom Ticket Orders over $350!

Wicked announced that tickets are now on sale up to Saturday October 27th next year. Wicked is set to continue its run in front of those on London, GL theatre.

The news comes after the musical passed its 2,000th landmark performance, which has entertained nearly four million people and generated more than £135 million at the box office.

During its time at the Apollo Victoria theatre, the production has picked up a number of prizes, including the 2010 Olivier Award for Most Popular Show and the Whatsonstage.com gong for Best West End Show in 2010 and 2011.

It is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire which tells the story of a friendship between two girls who meet up as sorcery students, with the pair going on to be Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked Cast Currently, Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Louise Dearman (Glinda), Mark Evans (Fiyero) and Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible) are starring in the production.

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It’s flyaway time for the “Wicked Years” series. “Out of Oz,” the fourth and final volume of Gregory Maguire’s million-selling take on “The Wizard of Oz,” will come out on Nov. 1.

Publisher William Morrow announced Wednesday that “Out of Oz” will feature all sorts of magical mayhem, with the Emerald City plotting an attack on Munchkinland, while the Cowardly Lion runs for his life. Young Dorothy pops in for “something more than a cameo.”

Maguire’s “Wicked,” published in 1995, was adapted into the long-running Broadway musical of the same name. His other books include “Son of a Witch” and “A Lion Among Men.”

{Via Mercury News}

Wicked is currently playing on tour in Washington-DC and Calgary, Alberta Canada. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Orders over $350!

“Wicked: The Musical” is on its way to becoming the biggest money making franchise in theatre history. Its success is well deserved, as demonstrated at it’s opening in Tucson at UA’s Centennial Hall. However, this popularity is due not only to performing talent, but also to a level of quality control and product improvement.

“Wicked” is the imaginative backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and her friendship with good witch and fellow student, Glinda. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” used both L. Frank Baum’s original stories and the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz” as starting points. Maguire described a complex and violent history of events prior to Dorothy’s cathartic arrival from Kansas.

About Wicked Musical – Story:

Opening with a visitation by Glinda just after the death of the Wicked Witch, the story is told in flashback, including Elphaba’s conception and birth. It then jumps to their meeting and accidental pairing as roommates in college, where Glinda is empty-headed and popular and Elphaba is a smart, talented loner, though not necessarily by choice.

Glinda does a self-serving favor for Elphaba’s crippled sister (who will become the Wicked Witch of the East), leading Elphaba to get Glinda her first training wand.

After Elphaba’s radicalization into an animal rights activist and her confrontation with the Wizard, she is branded a terrorist. Glinda, by serving the state in its repression, is officially labeled, “the Good.”

The story of Glinda and Elphaba’s wary friendship, growing gradually into lifelong love and respect, is another dimension, as is Elphaba’s transition from outcast girl who desperately wants in, to empowered woman.

Wicked Cast – Top Performing Stars:

The stars of this production, Vicki Noon as Elphaba and Natalie Daradich as Glinda, are electric, especially in their numerous scenes together. Prior to being selected for this national touring company, they were both standby’s for their respective roles in the show’s 2009 San Francisco production. They were also both in the show’s Los Angeles cast.

Vicki Noon brings an incredibly powerful and assured voice. She commands the stage during her solos: giddy and hopeful in “The Wizard and I,” simultaneously vulnerable and courageous in “I’m Not That Girl,” and openly terrifying in “No Good Deed.” She also deftly handles her physical transition from awkward/angry schoolgirl to supernaturally empowered witch.

Actresses playing Glinda have a more difficult character arc, going from comic blonde to tragic leader. Daradich proved herself a master of physical comedy with her annoying perkiness, adroit dancing (both serious and goofy), giggles and girly leg flicks. Leaving the show, groups of girls were laughing as they re-enacted the “hair toss – toss – flutter” moves that she tries to teach Elphaba. As happiness eludes her, Daradich completely sells her tragic aspects with depth and nuance.

Natalie Daradich also well-voiced, though her character requires her to use more nasal tone and an excessive vibrato to undercut any potential seriousness. She demonstrated in the emotional final duet with Noon, “For Good,” that any affectation to her singing was a controlled professional choice.

The other cast members, they all do exemplary jobs in their respective parts, but their roles are numerous and minor in comparison to the two leads. However, the overall ensemble deserves mention for their outstanding singing and dancing.

As good as the “Dancing Through Life” scene was, it was dwarfed by the color and extravagance of the Emerald City number, “One Short Day.” The finale, when they have returned to their surrealistic Les Miserable mob style of the opening scene, singing what can only be described as the “Wicked” chord, is as perfect and memorable as an ending gets.

“Wicked: The Musical” has been shrewdly marketed – the franchise practically owns the color formerly known as “chartreuse.” Its quality control is formidable. Casting for all the productions is handled by a centralized company. Costuming, choreography, and set design are standardized. The only concessions to local variance are the venue’s requirements and the inclusion of nine area musicians to augment the touring company’s in-house band.

Wicked Musical will be a Big hit in Tucson AZ, performing through January 23, 2011. Tickets are still available for few shows. Buy Wicked Tucson Tickets Online and Save $10 on Wicked Ticket Orders over $350! Use Code AFF$10.

Salma Hayek is going somewhere over the rainbow for her next project. The actress is producing a new ABC miniseries based on the Oz-inspired book “Wicked.” Wicked, the novel and hit musical, is not getting turned into a movie. Instead it’s going to get its own miniseries from Salma Hayek.

TVLine reports that the eight-hour film — which tells the sympathetic backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West — will differ from the hit Broadway musical in that there won’t be any singing.

In addition, the storyline is expected follow Gregory Maguire’s book more closely. Expect the miniseries to be less of a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” and more of a parallel story, says TVLine.

While Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith originated the roles of Elphaba and Galinda (Glinda the Good Witch) in the “Wicked” stage musical, the cast for the ABC project has not yet been announced.

Wicked Musical has claimed the title of top event for the fourth week in a row, according to TicketNews’ exclusive events rankings for the week ending Sunday, January 9. With a power scored of 5.07, “Wicked” dominated the week’s rankings, with its closest competitor, Taylor Swift, coming in with a power score of 2.44.

“Wicked” also led the Top Broadway and Top Theater rankings for the week, power scoring a 26.23 and a 25.02, respectively. Joining “Wicked” in the Broadway rankings was “Jersey Boys” at two (12.40), “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark” at three (8.97), and Al Pacino’s limited run of “The Merchant of Venice” at four (8.34). Disney On Ice: Princess Wishes made it into the Broadway rankings at number five (4.41), with “Billy Elliot” and “Lion King” in at numbers seven (2.68) and eight (2.57). The Metropolitan Opera’s “La Traviata” finished the week at nine (2.29), followed by a rare top ten appearance from “American Idiot” at ten (2.26).

TicketNews Exclusive Rankings and Power Scores are based on ticket sales from the TicketNetwork ExchangeTM, the world’s largest secondary market exchange.

According to TicketNews’ exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, December 26, Wicked is in the number one position for the second straight week, power scoring a 6.49. “Wicked” was followed in the rankings by Jersey Boys (two, 2.96), Taylor Swift (three, 2.29) and the 2011 BCS National Championship Game (four, 2.13).

“Wicked” led both the Top Broadway and Top Theater rankings this week, power scoring a 19.72 and 22.79, respectively. “Wicked” was joined on the Broadway list by The Merchant of Venice (two, 12.53), “Jersey Boys” (three, 8.57) and holiday favorite the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (four, 7.37). Plagued by delays and bad luck, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, finished at number five (6.96) this week, followed by Cirque Du Soleil’s Wintuk at six (5.98) and Lion King at seven (4.23). The long running hit musical Phantom of the Opera finished the week at eight (2.45), with Billy Elliot in at nine (2.24) and the holiday production of Elf at ten (2.12).

Following “Wicked” in the Top Theater rankings were “Jersey Boys” (two, 10.79), “West Side Story” (three, 5.62), “The Merchant of Venice” (four, 4.61) and “Lion King” (five, 3.80). This week, Les Miserables made an unusual appearance in the top ten, finishing at number six (3.60). “Billy Elliot” took number seven (3.26), followed by the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” at eight (3.16). Mary Poppins continued its holiday resurgence this week, coming in at number nine (3.02), and “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark” ended the week at number ten (2.55).

{Via TicketNews.com}