Los Angeles 'Wicked' to Close 1/11/09

The Los Angeles production of Wicked will play its final performance on January 11, 2009, ending its record-breaking run at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.  Upon closing, the production will have played 791 performances and 12 previews.

The musical, which began previews on February 10, 2007 and opened on February 21, set the record for top box office earner during a single week in Los Angeles theatre history when it grossed a record $1,949,068 during the week ending December 30, 2007.  Since opening, more than 1.15 million patrons have seen Wicked in Los Angeles and the production has grossed over $90 million.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento.  The production is directed by Joe Mantello.  The Grammy Award-winning original cast recording of Wicked, produced by Stephen Schwartz for Decca Broadway, has been one of the fastest selling Broadway recordings of recent years and has been certified 'Platinum' by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is 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 Witch.

Tickets for Wicked are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, in person at the Pantages Theatre Box Office (opens daily at 10am), 6233 Hollywood Blvd., or at any Ticketmaster outlet.  For groups, visit www.nedgroups.com or call 866-755-3075.

For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com.