Wicked Reaches 300th Performance in Chicago, Jan. 25

On January 25, 2006 at 7:30 p.m., Chicago's record-breaking Wicked celebrated its 300th performance in the Windy City.  

"The work that goes into keeping this first-class production up and running is truly remarkable," explains Eileen LaCario, vice-president of Broadway In Chicago. "Over two hundred people are practicing their craft on and off the stage to ensure every night remains just as spectacular as the one before it."

Some of the milestones and notable facts for Wicked's 300th performance:

--12,000 rolls of confetti have been shot from air charged confetti guns at the show's opening as Ozians celebrate the melting of the Wicked Witch of the West.

--6,000 pounds of liquid nitrogen and a whopping 39 tons of dry ice have evaporated into the air to create the smoke and fog illusions in the Land of Oz

--Elphaba's dramatic ascent at the end of Act I has now reached a total accumulated distance of 1.36 miles – approximately the same as a one-way broom flight from the Ford Center, Oriental Theatre to the ferris wheel at Navy Pier.

--Shiz University professor and rebel goat, Dr. Dillamond, has eaten 78 sheets of paper (roughly the equivalent of 10 term papers)

--2,660 loads of laundry have been washed – consuming 228 pounds of "Oxi Clean" and 80 gallons of liquid laundry detergent

--1,536 hours of wig-styling, 53 pounds of hairpins, 720 wig-caps and 10 gallons of shampoo have guaranteed there's never a hair out of place in Oz.

--8,056 hours of cleaning, steaming and ironing have ensured the 350 costumes and 140 pairs of shoes continue to sparkle.

--Over $37 million in tickets have been redeemed to date

--Over $16 million reported in advance ticket sales for future performances

 Some equally dazzling numbers can apply to the Wicked fans themselves:

--Nearly 150,000 people have traveled more than 200 miles to see Chicago's Wicked (approximately 20% of all audience members), including visitors from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and tour groups from as far away as Tokyo

--Fans from all 50 states have seen Wicked in Chicago

--Over 1,000 fans left Kansas behind and traveled to Oz

--Over 25,000 Wisconsinites and Michiganders have seen Wicked, proving Glinda is not the only good thing from the North

Wicked, which is playing at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts' Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street), now features Kristy Cates as Elphaba and Stacie Morgain Lewis as Glinda; they replaced Ana Gastyer and Kate Reinders. The show also features Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, Heidi Kettenring as Nessarose, Gene Weygandt as The Wizard, Telly Leung as Boq, Steven Skybell as Doctor Dillamond, and Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero.

Wicked, winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, 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 Witch."

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the show boasts music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin) and a book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life"). The show is directed by Tony award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out) with musical staging by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy). Wicked features sets by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (Sweeney Todd), costumes by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods), lighting by Kenneth Posner (Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King).

For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com/chicago.

 

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