Inside Broadway & WICKED to Welcome 3,000 NYC Students for 'Creating the Magic' Next Month

Inside Broadway's Executive Director Michael Presser has announced that on Thursday, May 7, the Gershwin Theatre (222 West 51st Street) will be visited by thousands of NYC public school students as the theatre arts and education organization presents its popular program Creating the Magic. Featuring the cast and production crew of the hit long-running Broadway musical Wicked, the 80 minute program will be offered at 10:45am and 1:15pm.

Providing a truly unique Broadway experience, Inside Broadway's free Creating the Magic program will be presented to over 3,000 New York City public school students who will get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner world of Broadway and learn about career opportunities in the theater. From exciting set, lighting and sound demonstrations, musical performances from the cast and a Q&A session, attendees will have a special behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway show featuring members of the Wicked cast and production crew.

Winner of over 100 major awards including a 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. Declared "The Best Musical of the Decade" by Entertainment Weekly and "A Cultural Phenomenon" by Variety, Wicked is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Joe Mantello with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.

Since 1982, Inside Broadway (Founder/Executive Director, Michael Presser) has impacted the lives of nearly one million New York City public school students with its one-of-a-kind theatre arts and education programs that enrich, educate and foster new generations of theatergoers.

"We are thrilled to offer a special behind-the-scenes look at the magical show Wicked to the students in our program. This show represents everything that makes our city and Broadway great" says Inside Broadway's Executive Director Michael Presser.

Inside Broadway was established in 1982 by Michael Presser. Today, Inside Broadway reaches over 20,000 New York City students each year and develops and produces touring Equity musical productions as well as a wide range of educational programs that allow participants to interact with professionals in the field and experience theatre hands-on in the classroom. For more information on Inside Broadway, please visit www.InsideBroadway.org.

Programs of Inside Broadway are funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Council, New York City Department of Education, and numerous foundations and individuals.