Photo Coverage: Jemma Rix, Suzie Mathers to Lead WICKED in Manila

Manila, Philippines, August 14, 2013--James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited, one of the lead producers of the highly-anticipated Manila premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's smash hit musical "Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz," introduced to the members of the press earlier today Australian theater actresses Jemma Rix and Suzie Mathers, who will play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, respectively.

Rix and Mathers began their stage tandem when the "hot ticket" musical kicked off its Asian tour in Singapore in December 2011.

At the press launch, Rix and Mathers, accompanied by musical director David Young on the piano, performed the songs "Popular," "Defying Gravity" and "For Good" from the show.

Winner of 50 major awards including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, "Wicked" tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, based on the 1939 film musical, "The Wizard of Oz," and on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," in a grand scale production: Long before Dorothy dropped in the Land of Oz, two other girls forge a heartwarming friendship: Elphaba, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood; Galinda/Glinda, is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. "Wicked" follows their remarkable odyssey and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch.

Playing its 10th year at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway, "Wicked's" North American and international productions have comulatively grossed more than $3 billion in ticket sales, and have been seen by nearly 37 million people worldwide.

"Wicked," produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, 105.9 Radio High and Concertus, in cooperation with Wicked Worldwide, will open in Manila next year, on Wednesday, January 22 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' main theater. Tickets (PhP 7000, 5800, 4500, 2250 and 1750) will go on sale at ticketworld.com.ph starting tomorrow.

For more information, visit wickedthemusical.com.ph.