Photo Flash: London Wicked Rehearsals Begin

The London company of Wicked assembled for the first day of rehearsals on Monday, July 24th. Director Joe Mantello, choreographer Wayne Cilento and producers Marc Platt and David Stone welcomed the cast, company and production team at the start of a 7-week rehearsal process. Wicked opens at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre on Wednesday, September 27th, with previews from Thursday, September 7th.

The London cast includes: Idina Menzel, who will recreate her Tony Award-winning Broadway performance as Elphaba, Helen Dallimore, who will make her West End debut as Glinda, Adam Garcia (Fiyero), Miriam Margolyes (Madame Morrible), Nigel Planer (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), James Gillan (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose). Kerry Ellis will be standby for Elphaba and Annalene Beechey will be standby for Glinda. From January 2007, the role of Elphaba will be played by Kerry Ellis.

Based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, and orchestrations by William David Brohn.

For more on Wicked in London, visit www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk.

Photos by Tristram Kenton

Choreographer Wayne Cilento and director Joe Mantello

Producer David Stone, Helen Dallimore, Nigel Planer, Martin Ball, Miriam Margolyes, Joe Mantello, Katie Rowley Jones, Idina Menzel, Adam Garcia, James Gillan and producer Marc Platt

Idina Menzel, Nigel Planer, Helen Dallimore, Martin Ball, Miriam Margolyes, Adam Garcia, Katie Rowley Jones and James Gillan

Idina Menzel and Helen Dallimore

Idina Menzel, Adam Garcia and Helen Dallimore

Martin Ball, Katie Rowley Jones and James Gillan