WICKED'S Schwartz Joins De Giere For Chicago B&N Signing 1/10

Two weeks before the Chicago production of Wicked ends its run at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts' Oriental Theatre, the musical's composer, Stephen Schwartz, will join author Carol de Giere for an evening at the Old Orchard Shopping Centre's Barnes & Noble.

The early-evening event is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2009, at 5:30 PM CST. Schwartz will discuss his work, answer questions and perform several of his tunes. He will also join de Giere, who is the author of "Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked," for a book signing. The composer will be available to sign other memorabilia as well.

"Defying Gravity," according to press notes, "takes readers behind the scenes for the making of Schwartz-related musicals from Godspell (1971) through Wicked (2003) and everything in between. The section completely dedicated to Wicked of the book spans 150 pages and covers the story of the show's developmental stages."

The hit Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical Wicked will play its final performance at Chicago's Ford Center January 25, 2009. When it closes, the musical will have played 1,500 performances and grossed over $200 million.

Old Orchard Shopping Centre's Barnes & Noble is located at 4999 Old Orchard Center in Skokie, Illinois.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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