To celebrate the third anniversary of the Broadway blockbuster Wicked, an entire week-long series of events will be held leading up to the anniversary on Sunday, October 29th.
The events will include the annual "
Wicked Day" Block Party; the Z100 "Be
Wicked" Singing Contest; a cast performance at Dylan's Candy Bar; a cast appearance at the NBC Experience Store at Rockefeller Plaza with
Ana Gasteyer and
Kate Reinders; an intimate autograph signing with members of the cast at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square; and "Give A Little, Get A Lot" Bloomingdale's Shopping Event at participating stores (for complete info, please visit:
www.wickedday.com).
Throughout the week and in honor of
"Wicked Day," the semi-finals for the Z100 "Be
Wicked" Singing Contest will be held at various locations in the tri-state area, including Garden City, NY; Livingston, NJ; and Manhattan. Finalists will be chosen at each event and will then participate at the finals in New York City (on "
Wicked Day"). The finals will be judged by
Wicked stars and other special guests. The Grand Prize will be: "The Ultimate
Wicked Package" in which the winner plus 3 guests will receive free tickets to
Wicked with an exclusive backstage tour, hotel accommodations, the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour, a personalized
Wicked platinum record plaque, a $500 Bloomingdale's gift card, treats from Fat Witch Bakery & Dylan's Candy Bar, and a selection of
Wicked merchandise.
The week's activities all lead up to the "
Wicked Day" Block Party, to be held on Sunday, October 29th. From 11 AM to 2 PM, in front of the Gershwin Theatre (West 51st Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue), the blow-out bash will offer face-painting, games, food and refreshments, and feature the finals of the "Be
Wicked" Singing Contest. The first 100 people to arrive in green face receive a free copy of "Son of a Witch," by
Wicked author
Gregory Maguire. Sponsored by Z100, Virgin Megastore, Bloomingdales, Decca Records, Dylan's Candy Bar, Regan Books and Fat Witch Bakery, the Block Party will take place rain or shine.
Based on the novel by
Gregory Maguire, the smash musical has music and lyrics by
Stephen Schwartz and a book by
Winnie Holzman. Directed by
Joe Mantello, with musical staging by
Wayne Cilento, the show is currently being presented on Broadway, on a national tour, and in a separate, open-ended engagement at
Chicago's Ford Center for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. The London production opened on September 27 and is currently playing to capacity crowds at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. A Los Angeles production will begin performances at the Pantages Theatre this February.
"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," state notes.
The performance schedule for
Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.) is Tuesday evenings at 7 PM; Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM; matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM; Sundays at 3 PM. The scale of prices is $50 - $110. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, 212-307-4100 (or you may visit
www.ticketmaster.com) or at the Gershwin Theatre box office. For more information, visit
www.wickedthemusical.com.
The calendar of events follows:
Saturday, October 21 (11:30 AM)
"Be
Wicked" Semifinal #2
Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City, NY
10:00 – 11:00 on site registration.
A random drawing will select 50 contestants from all eligible registrations.
Entrants must come prepared to sing a song from WICKED.
Accompaniment will be provided.
Tuesday, October 24 (4:00 PM)
CAST PERFORMANCE
Dylan's Candy Bar (Third Avenue at 60th Street)
Members of the cast will perform. The first 50
Wicked fans are invited to make free
Wicked sundaes.
Wednesday, October 25 (5:00 PM)
"Be
Wicked" Semifinal #3
Virgin Megastore—Times Square
3:30 – 4:30 on site registration.
A random drawing will select 50 contestants from all eligible registrations.
Entrants must come prepared to sing a song from WICKED.
Accompaniment will be provided.
Thursday, October 26
"GIVE A LITTLE, GET A LOT" SHOPPING EVENT
Participating Bloomingdale's
The Mall at Short Hills, The Shops at Riverside, Bridgewater Commons,
Willowbrook Mall, White Plains Mall, Roosevelt Field Mall, Walt Whitman Mall
Shop in the New View, and you could be eligible to receive a complimentary pair of tickets to see
Wicked on Broadway.
(One per household, while supplies last.)
Friday, October 27 (11:00 AM)
CAST APPEARANCE
with
Ana Gasteyer and
Kate ReindersNBC Experience Store, Rockefeller Plaza
Saturday, October 28 (5:30 PM)
CAST APPEARANCE
Paramount Hotel, 235 West 46th Street
An up-close and personal autograph signing with cast members.
Sunday, October 29
"Wicked Day" Block Party (11:00 AM-2:00 PM)
"Be
Wicked" Singing Contest Finals (12:30 PM)
(Rain or Shine)
Gershwin Theatre, 51st Street between Broadway and 8th Ave.
The first 100 people to arrive in green face receive a free copy of "Son of a Witch," by
Wicked author
Gregory Maguire
