The most successful musical in the world today, WICKED, is officially set to fly west to Adelaide to open in the Festival Theatre in April 2011.
Announcing the season WICKED Australia Co-Producer John Frost said, “Right from the start this show has been an overwhelming hit so we are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring this show, in all its emerald glory, to my home town of Adelaide – there is no place like home. More than 20,000 South Australians have already seen the show during its record breaking Melbourne and Sydney seasons and there has been an active fan-based Facebook campaign to bring the show to Adelaide.
“WICKED is a phenomenon, the most successful musical in the world today, and appeals to everyone from 8 to 80. People love it for so many different reasons – some people come to see WICKED for the engrossing story inspired by the best-selling novel of the same name by author Gregory Maguire, some for the astonishing sets and costumes, some for the soaring ballads, some for the deeper messages, and some to see the life-affirming friendship between the two girls who grow up to be Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Melbourne and Sydney audiences have been blown away by WICKED, which heads next to Brisbane in January 2011.
“WICKED is the winner of 35 major awards including the Grammy Award, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards. It’s a musical that enchants audiences around the world and right across the spectrum” he said.
The Hon. John Hill, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts says, “I’m really looking forward to seeing WICKED and know this international blockbuster will receive a very warm and enthusiastic welcome in Adelaide.”
Douglas Gautier, CEO and Artistic director, Adelaide Festival Centre said, “We are proud to be hosting this much anticipated event in the Festival Theatre as part of our annual program in 2011.”
WICKED’s record-breaking Australian run began in June 2008 at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, where it broke the city’s box office record and ran through August 2009.
The production transferred to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on September 5, 2009 and will conclude its record-breaking run on September 12, 2010 having played more than 866 performances and having been seen by well over 1 million people.
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.
Currently in its 7th year on Broadway, WICKED’s four North American and four international companies have cumulatively grossed $1.9 billion and have been seen by 24 million people worldwide.
WICKED, 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), is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B Platt and David Stone, with John Frost as Australian Co-Producer.
For more information about the show or to waitlist for updates on the Adelaide season of WICKED go to wickedthemusical.com.au
