WICKED Goes On Sale in Houston 4/7

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2005, 2007 and 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Houston at the Hobby Center, July 10 - August 11. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

In Houston, WICKED will play Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. An additional matinee is scheduled on Thursday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices start at $44.00. Tickets are available at the Hobby Center Box Office Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., all Ticketmaster outlets, and online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com/Houston, and www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (800) 982-2787. Orders for groups of 20 or more may be placed by calling 888-451-5986 or emailing houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.

"We are delighted to have WICKED return to Houston for its fourth engagement and be the finale of a successful 2012-2013 season for Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center," said Hobby Center President Fran Macferran. "The national tour is a spectacular production that has kept audiences spellbound by its talent and story and we're looking forward to experiencing the magic once again."

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, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.