WICKED to Become 11th Longest-Running Show in Broadway History, 9/4

The Broadway blockbuster WICKED will play its 4,093rd performance on Wednesday evening, September 4th, surpassing MISS SAIGON to become the 11th longest-running show in Broadway history.

As WICKED approaches its 10th anniversary this October 30th, there are currently 10 productions of the musical worldwide: New York, London, Japan (Tokyo), Australia/New Zealand (Auckland), Philippines (Manila-Jan. 2014), South Korea (Seoul), Latin America (Mexico City), a U.K. Tour and two concurrent North American National Tours, and has been Broadway's #1 show for an unprecedented nine consecutive years.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED 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. WICKED is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Winner of more than 50 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.

On Broadway, WICKED currently stars Lindsay Mendez as Elphaba, Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Derek Klena as Fiyero, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible, Tom McGowan as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond, and Michael Wartella as Boq.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com. WICKED is performed at the Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue.

Photo by Joan Marcus