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Chicago Events, Including Wicked Day, Celebrate Wicked in October
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 27, 2005
Broadway In Chicago and the City of Chicago celebrate Wicked month by creating a Wicked tent in Pumpkin Plaza where children can hear spooky tales told by Wicked cast members or friends at various times each week beginning Friday, October 14. Also, children can celebrate Wicked Month by getting "greenified" in the Wicked tent. Dates and times are as follows:
Every Thursday in October beginning October 20
Story Telling from 4 – 4:35 p.m. and 6:15 – 6:55 p.m.
Every Friday in October beginning October 14
Story Telling from 4 – 4:35 p.m. and 6:15 – 6:55 p.m. (Except Friday, Oct. 14 - only 6:15 – 6:55 p.m.)
Every Saturday in October beginning October 15
Story Telling from 4 – 4:35 p.m. and 6:15 – 6:55 p.m.
Face Painting from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.
Every Sunday in October beginning October 16
Story Telling from 4 – 4:35 p.m. and 6:15 – 6:55 p.m.
Face Painting from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.
The Haunted Village on Pumpkin (Daley Plaza) is open October 14 – 31. Hours include: October 14, 5 – 8 p.m.; October 15 – 31, Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursday - Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
On October 19th, a Be Wicked Singing Contest will be launched.
Wicked will host the first annual Be Wicked singing contests at various locations during the month of October to find the most "popular" singer in Chicago. Preliminary rounds will take place on Wednesday, October 19 at Navy Pier and Thursday, October 20 at Northbrook Court. 50 contestants (ages 10 and up) will be randomly selected from all those who register before 4 p.m. at each preliminary location. Registration will begin at 2:30 p.m. Contestants will sing a pre-determined 60-second selection from one of Wicked's most dynamic musical numbers: "Defying Gravity," "The Wizard and I," "Dancing Through Life," "For Good," or "Popular." Five winners at each location will be selected by a panel of judges. Those five winners will move on to the Be Wicked contest finals, October 30.
On October 30, the 10 first-round winners will compete in the finals of the Be Wicked Singing Contest on Pumpkin (Daley) Plaza. The finals begin at 11 a.m. Celebrity judges from the cast of Wicked will determine who in Chicagoland is the most Wicked singer of them all.
The Be Wicked singing contest dates and locations are as follows:
Be Wicked Preliminary Singing Contests:
Wednesday, Oct. 19 begins at 4 p.m. at Navy Pier
Thursday, Oct. 20 begins at 4 p.m. at Northbrook Court
Be Wicked Singing Finals:
Sunday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Pumpkin Plaza
On October 16th, new Performances of Wicked will go onsale. The fastest-selling show in Chicago history will celebrate Wicked Month with a new block of tickets going on sale on Sunday, October 16 for performances January 17 – April 30, 2006. These new weeks represent the completion of Wicked's first year in Chicago.
On October 22 at 12 p.m., the State Street Halloween Happening Parade will take the town. Wicked's witches Elphaba and Glinda, will serve as Grand Marshals during the State Street Halloween Happening Parade. The parade steps off at 12 noon at the corner of State and Randolph streets. Following the parade, the Pumpkin Plaza will host a costume contest, as well as exciting performances, hayrides, treats and more! Prizes will be awarded to the best costume winners.
On October 26 at 11 a.m., a book release party will be held at Borders.
Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the hit Broadway musical will be available in book stores on Wednesday, Oct. 26. In celebration of the release, Borders on State St., will host a book-signing party from 11 a.m – 12 p.m. where guests can have their books autographed by cast members from the Chicago company. This 192-page, full-color coffee table book profiles the original Broadway cast and creative team with photographs and insiders' accounts throughout.
On October 29 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Witches, Wizards and Wands: A Halloween Celebration will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs will present the family-friendly event. Wicked-themed stations include wand-making, live magicians, a costume parade, live music and magic and wizardry workshops. All ages are welcome to this free event, which will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
It will be Wicked Day at Daley Plaza on October 30th at 11 a.m. October 30, 2005 will mark the six-month anniversary of Wicked in Chicago. Chicagoans are invited to come celebrate the musical phenomenon with a host of events: the Be Wicked singing finals, taking place from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; face painting from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.; and story telling from 4 – 4:35 p.m. and 6:15 – 6:55 p.m.
Wicked, currently playing at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., stars Saturday Night Live and Northwestern University alum Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba; Midwest native Kate Reinders as Glinda; and Chicago's own stage veterans Rondi Reed, Gene Weygandt and Heidi Kettenring as Madame Morrible, The Wizard and Nessarose, respectively.
Wicked, winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, 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.
The musical, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and a book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"). Wicked is directed by Tony award-winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune), with musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed…).
Wicked features set design by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods), lighting design by Kenneth Posner (Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King, Man of La Mancha). Stephen Oremus is the show's musical director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
The Chicago company of Wicked is now playing the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Please note: the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, October 16 will be signed interpreted for the hearing impaired.
Tickets for Wicked are currently on sale and range in price from $25 to $85 and are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more can receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.
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