Wicked Has Highest Box Office Gross for Any Show in History - $1,610,934

For the week ending January 1, 2006, WICKED, the musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, had the highest weekly box office gross of any show in Broadway history: $1,610,934 (the record was previously held by The Producers, which grossed $1,600,243 for the week ending January 4, 2004, during Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick's return engagement).

Called "Broadway's biggest blockbuster" by The New York Times and "a cultural phenomenon" by Variety, WICKED has been sold out at virtually every performance since having its official opening at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento, WICKED 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.

Shoshana Bean (Elphaba) and Megan Hilty (Glinda) currently star in the Broadway company of WICKED with Tony Award winner Ben Vereen (the Wizard), with Rue McClanahan (Madame Morrible) and David Ayers (Fiyero), Michelle Federer (Nessarose), Sean McCourt (Dr. Dillamond) and Robb Sapp (Boq). Beginning January 10, Eden Espinosa (Elphaba), Carol Kane (Madame Morrible), Derrick Williams (Fiyero) and Cristy Candler (Nessarose) join the Broadway cast.

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 performance schedule for WICKED at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.) is Tuesdays at 7 PM; Wednesday through Saturdays at 8 PM; matinees on Wednesdays & Saturdays at 2 PM; Sundays at 3 PM. The scale of prices is $50 - $110. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, 212-307-4100 (or www.ticketmaster.com) or at the Gershwin Theatre box office. For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com.