WICKED Kicks Off 10th Anniversary Tour in Melbourne Tonight

Prepare to be spellbound! The 10th Anniversary Australian tour of the international musical theatre blockbuster Wicked opens at Melbourne's Regent Theatre tonight 10 May in front of a star studded audience. Broadway's #1 show for an unprecedented ten consecutive years, Wicked has been declared "A Cultural Phenomenon" by Variety and "The Best Musical of the Decade" by Entertainment Weekly.

"It has been an amazing journey to bring Wicked to the stage, and as we undertake our 10th Anniversary Tour, we are very excited to come back to Australia where the reception has been so extraordinary," said Wicked producers Marc Platt and David Stone. "Australian audiences have embraced and celebrated Wicked's powerful storytelling and universal themes as warmly as those in North America, the UK, Japan, Germany, Holland, Singapore, Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines, and the Australian cast is second to none."

WICKED Australia Co-producer John Frost added, "I'm thrilled we're able to bring Wicked back to Australia as part of its 10th anniversary tour, and that audiences are again clamouring for tickets. This is one of the most lavish musical productions to have ever toured Australia, the full Broadway experience. You can see every dollar spent on the magnificent sets and lush costumes, a feast for the eye and the ear. If you missed it last time, come and see Wicked for the first time, and if you have seen it before, I know you'll want to come back and be spellbound all over again."

WICKED stars Lucy Durack as Glinda and Jemma Rix as Elphaba, both reprising the roles which shot them to stardom during the original Australian tour. Joining the Wicked Company in his first musical theatre leading role is Steve Danielsen as Fiyero, while doyenne of stage and screen, Maggie Kirkpatrick returns as Madame Morrible. Playing Doctor Dillamond is Nathan Carter, the role of Nessarose is played by newcomer Emily Cascarino, while Edward Grey is Boq. Rounding out the lead cast is musical theatre icon Reg Livermore who returns to the stage as the Wizard.

The award-winning musical is currently playing in nine productions around the world: New York, London, Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), Latin America (Mexico City), a UK tour, two concurrent North American national tours, as well as the Australian production. It has been seen by over 40 million people across the globe, grossing over $3.25 billion in worldwide box office.

When Wicked opened on Broadway, it worked its magic on critics and audiences alike. Winner of over 90 major awards including the Grammy Award, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards including Best Musical, 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.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Lisa Leguillou, based on the original direction by Joe Mantello. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, David Stone and John Frost.

Following the strictly limited Melbourne season, Wicked plays at Sydney's Capitol Theatre from September 20 and at Brisbane's Lyric Theatre from 15 February, 2015.

For more information, visit wickedthemusical.com.au.

SEASON DETAILS

MELBOURNE

Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne

Season: From 10 May, 2014

Performance Times: Wed-Sat 8.00pm, Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm, Sun 1.00pm and 6.30pm

Price: Tickets from $69.90*

Bookings: wickedthemusical.com.au or 1300 111 011

Groups 12+ save 1300 889 278

SYDNEY

Venue: Capitol Theatre, Sydney

Season: From 20 September

Performance Times: Tues 7.00pm, Wed-Sat 8.00pm, Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm, Sun 3.00pm

Price: Tickets from $69.90*

Bookings: wickedthemusical.com.au or 1300 723 038

Groups 12+ save 02 8240 2290

Travel Packages at wotif.com.au/wicked

BRISBANE

Venue: Lyric Theatre, QPAC

Season: From 15 February 2015

Performance Times: Tues 6.30pm, Wed-Sat 8.00pm, Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm, Sun 3.00pm

Price: From $69.90*

Bookings: wickedthemusical.com.au or phone 136 246

Groups of 12 or more 07 3840 7466

TICKETS ON SALE Monday June 23. *An additional transaction fee and/or a credit/debit payment processing fee may apply.