It's Popular! West End's WICKED Will Play Its 5000th Performance Tonight

WICKED, the "gravity-defying Wizard of Oz prequel" (Time Out) that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will tonight (Thursday 9 August 2018) play its landmark 5000th performance at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre.

"The hit musical with brains, heart and courage" (The Sunday Telegraph) will celebrate its 12th birthday next month and is already the 14th longest running West End show of all time.

WICKED has now been seen by more than 9 million people in London alone and is the 7th longest running show currently playing in the West End (and the 5th longest running musical).

The London production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is the recipient of ten theatregoer-voted WhatsOnStage Awards (winning 'Best West End Show' on three occasions), two Olivier Audience Awards and an Evening Standard Theatre Award.

WICKED UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: "We are thrilled to be celebrating 5000 performances of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It is a testament to all of the incredible work that goes into maintaining this gigantic production that we have reached this remarkable milestone and we are greatly indebted to all of our production staff, cast members and musicians. London audiences have passionately embraced Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's extraordinary musical since its UK premiere in 2006 and we thank them all for their continued support."

WICKED currently stars Alice Fearn (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), David Witts (Fiyero), Melanie La Barrie (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard),Chris Jarman (Doctor Dillamond), Rosa O'Reilly (Nessarose), Jack Lansbury (Boq), Laura Pick (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie & Maria Coyne* (Standby for Glinda). *Maternity cover.

Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell; Disney's Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted and, for DreamWorks, The Prince of Egypt) and is based on the novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life). Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

WICKED is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe. Through its FOR GOOD programme and other charitable endeavours, Wicked is proud to support the remarkable work of the following UK charities: the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA); Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity), the National Literacy Trust and the Woodland Trust. Further information can be found at www.WickedForGood.co.uk