The North American touring production of “Wicked,” which experienced its Wisconsin premiere in 2009 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton, is returning Wednesday to the PAC. The show, which plays in Appleton through Sunday, February 20, is back by popular demand, said PAC executive vice president Maria Van Laanen.

“When it was here the first time, and the fact that it was a state premiere, the tickets flew out the door,” Van Laanen said. “It’s popular everywhere it goes, but I think here the audiences really connected with the different storylines and the fact every time you go you can pick up a different thread of the show and a new nuance. We really pride ourselves on being the community’s performing arts center, and we’re so grateful for everything the community does to help us be the first place in the state where some of these shows come. We’re interested in learning what the community wants to see and doing the very best we can to bring it to them.”

In “Wicked” the friendship between the young women Elphaba and Galinda is anything but instantaneous. They’re college roommates with no common ground who are more likely competitors.

In the world of Broadway, shows about friendships are rare finds, says Winnie Holzman, who is the book writer for the musical “Wicked.”

Wicked will be performing through Sunday, February 20 in Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton WI.

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“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.

Anne Brummel will take over the role of Elphaba in the second North American tour of the hit musical, Wicked, beginning with the Wednesday, January 26 performance in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Anne Brummel has spent the past year as the Elphaba standby on the tour. She has also toured the U.S. and Canada with Cats, Scarlet Pimpernel, Funny Girl and Evita.

She joins a cast that includes Natalie Daradich as Glinda, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Morrible and Tom McGowan as The Wizard. The company also features Zach Hanna (Boq), Michelle London (Nessarose), Martin Moran (Dr. Dillamond), David Nathan Perlow (Fiyero) and Christine Dwyer (Standby for Elphaba) with Kerry Blanchard, Michael Drolet, Jeremy Duvall, Peter C. Ermides, Ryan Patrick Farrell, Samantha Farrow, KC Fredericks, Todd Hanebrink, Laurel Harris, Lauren Haughton, Courtney Iventosch, Ryan Jackson, Lauren Linville, Lesley McKinnell, Robert Pendilla, Rachel Potter, Casey Quinn, Don Richard, Tory Ross, Billy Harrigan Tighe, Daniel Torres, Erin Wilson, Justin Wirick and Lindsay Wood.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Wicked features a score by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.

Wicked is currently performing on tour in Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago-IL and Centennial Hall, Tucson-AZ.

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Wicked national tour arrive Spokane, Washington in May will undoubtedly be the most sought-after event of Spokane’s spring theater season.

Wicked will be performing at Inb Performing Arts Center from Thursday, May 19, 2011 thru Saturday, May 28, 2011.

It’s the first visit of “Wicked” to Spokane, WA. The hotly anticipated national tour of this re-telling of the “Wizard of Oz” story from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. The show opened on Broadway in 2003 and is still playing to sold-out houses more than seven years later.

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Wicked, The Broadway hit, The Grammy and Tony-award winning musical started performances at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall from Wednesday, January 5 2011. The Centennial Hall Performances run through Sunday, January 23, 2011.

Wicked tells the story of two witches before Dorothy dropped into the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. The musical follows how these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

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Wicked will be visiting Appleton, WI in January 2011. After breaking ticket office records and selling out in record time in 2009, Wicked, Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, will return to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton January 26 through February 20.

Wicked at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center – The performance schedule
Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and
Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (excluding the evening performance on Sunday, February 20).
Special matinee performances will be presented on Thursday, January 27 and Thursday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m.

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.

“We’re thrilled to have Wicked back in the Fox Cities,” said Susan Stockton, president of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. “When we presented Wicked in 2009, we were overwhelmed by the community’s excitement. This second engagement is the perfect chance for those who missed it the first time to be part of the experience, and it’s a great opportunity for established fans to discover something new in a story they love.”

Tickets for Wicked are on sale now and start at $61. Buy Wicked Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Tickets Online.

Wicked is currently playing on tour in Indianapolis-IN through January 1, 2011 and Chicago-IL through January 23, 2011.

Wicked second North American tour of welcomes David Nathan Perlow as Fiyero on Monday, December 27 in Indianapolis, IN.

Perlow has spent the past year in Broadway’s Tony Award winning production of La Cage Aux Folles. Other credits include La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theater, North Shore Music Theater, Pre-Broadway workshops of White Noise, Clueless, YANK! and Kinky Boots.

Perlow joins a cast that includes Vicki Noon as Elphaba, Natalie Daradich as Glinda, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Morrible and Don Amendolia as The Wizard.

The company also features David de Vries (Dr. Dillamond), Zach Hanna (Boq), Michelle London (Nessarose) and Anne Brummel (Standby for Elphaba) with Kerry Blanchard, Michael Drolet, Jeremy Duvall, Christine Dwyer, Peter C. Ermides, Ryan Patrick Farrell, Samantha Farrow, KC Fredericks, Todd Hanebrink, Lauren Haughton, Courtney Iventosch, Ryan Jackson, Lauren Linville, Lesley McKinnell, Robert Pendilla, Rachel Potter, Casey Quinn, Don Richard, Tory Ross, Billy Harrigan Tighe, Daniel Torres, Erin Wilson, Justin Wirick and Lindsay Wood.

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Emmerdale actress Suzanne Shaw has revealed she would love to return to the West End at some point in the future, with Wicked high on her list of ideal shows.

The former Hear’Say singer has already appeared in Summer Holiday and Chicago in London since the reality TV pop group split in 2002, but she told the Mirror she would never say no to treading the boards again if the opportunity arose.

“I love trying different things out,” she enthused. “I’d love to do Sweet Charity or be Glinda in Wicked.”

Sweet Charity recently closed in the West End following a successful run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, but Wicked is still going strong at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

However, the producers recently announced that Louise Dearman will continue to play the role of Glinda after renewing her contract, so Shaw may have some time to wait if she wants to step into those particular shoes.

{ Via UK Theatre Tickets }

The Toronto Star’s Richard Ouzounian reports that the show, which just finished its third Toronto run, set the record for highest-earning week in Canadian theatre, grossing $1,986,319 for the week of November 28.

During the week that ended Nov. 28, the show grossed $1,986,319, making it the highest-earning week for a show in Canadian theatre history.

Over the course of the six weeks that Wicked played Toronto this time around, it took in a total of $11,459,475, breaking its own house record at the Canon Theatre five times.

Since opening in 2003, the show written by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman from the novel by Gregory Maguire has grossed $2 billion and played to 25 million people around the world.

Producer David Stone has previously gone on record as saying, “Toronto is one of our favourite cities to play.” There is no indication when, or if, a fourth edition of Wicked will be seen in Toronto.

Wicked is currently playing in Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago IL and Miller Auditorium – Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI.

The Broadway musical Wicked returns to Tulsa tomorrow, Wednesday, November 17.

Crews spent Tuesday getting ready for opening night. More than 130 carpenters rigged the stage with a massive dragon and a giant clock.

“We bring the Broadway experience to Tulsa,” said Justin Klynsma, head carpenter. “This is a really big show. This is not cut down over the generation. This has all the bells and whistles.”

This is the second time the Broadway musical has come to Tulsa. The Tulsa Performing Arts center said last summer’s run broke box office records and sold out in record time.

Wicked opens Wednesday night, November 17, 2010 and runs through November 28, 2010 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in downtown Tulsa, OK.

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