LOS ANGELES PRODUCTION OF
“WICKED”
AT PANTAGES THEATRE
Los Angeles is home to WICKED, the smash hit musical that the New York Times called, “one of the most successful shows in Broadway history.” WICKED, which was developed, written and had its earliest readings and workshops in Los Angeles, is continuing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. This open-ended production will celebrate it’s first anniversary in February, 2008.
This production of WICKED is mounted specifically for Southern California and stars Megan Hilty and Caissie Levy as Glinda and Elphaba. Both Hilty and Levy appeared in the Broadway production of WICKED.
Veteran stage, screen and television star John Rubinstein plays The Wizard. Among his many Broadway credits are the title role of Pippin, which he created, as well as starring in Children Of A Lesser God, for which he won a Tony and Drama Desk Award. One of America’s best-known comediennes, JoAnne Worley, appears as Madame Morrible. While best known for her television appearances, Worley has had an extensive career in musical theatre -- from the original national tour of Carnival to her recent co-starring role on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, and in the Encores! production of Follies.
Kristoffer Cusick plays Fiyero, a role he has played on Broadway and in Chicago. Marcie Dodd appears as Nessarose, a role she played in the National Tour of WICKED. Michael Drolet, who appeared on Broadway in Saturday Night Fever, plays Boq. Timothy Britten Parker plays Doctor Dillamond. He also appeared in the 2005 Pantages Theatre engagement, and in Chicago in this role, and was a member of the original cast of Rent.
WICKED began performances in Los Angeles on February 10, 2007. After opening on Wednesday, February 21 to critical acclaim, the Los Angeles Times said, “WICKED is a phenomenon that keeps growing. The witchcraft is as fresh as ever. Folks, WICKED is here to stay,” and the Orange County Register called it “America’s must-see musical. It delivers everything we expect of a big ticket musical-theater experience – spectacle, anthemic songs, a cathartic story – and makes the most of an irresistible theme: the indelible bond of friendship.”
WICKED, the highest grossing show on Broadway and across the country, currently has three other companies in North America: on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre; on a National Tour; and in a separate, open-ended engagement at Chicago’s Ford Center for Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre. There are also productions in London at the Apollo Victoria Theatre; Tokyo, Japan, and in Stuttgart, Germany. A fourth international production will open July, 2008 at Melbourne's Regent Theatre.
The seven productions here and around the world continue to defy gravity, cumulatively grossing $11.2 million for the week ending December 30, 2007. In North America, the musical broke its own box office records in each of the markets in which it is playing – Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and National Tour (currently in St. Louis, MO).
At the Pantages Theatre, the musical once again set a new record for the highest grossing week in Los Angeles theatre history ($1,949,968). It also set a new record for the highest grossing week in Broadway history ($1,839,950); highest grossing week in Chicago theatre history ($1,418,363), and the highest grossing week in North American touring history ($2,291,608 in St. Louis, MO).
The Los Angeles company of WICKED offers a rare insiders’ glimpse into the world of the blockbuster Broadway musical with “Behind the Emerald Curtain,” an exclusive look at the creative journey of WICKED, hosted by cast members in Los Angeles. “Behind the Emerald Curtain” takes place on Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m. at the Pantages Theatre.
This 60-minute experience gives audience members the unique opportunity to see what happens to make a big Broadway musical like WICKED come alive at every performance – everything from design and production to performance and marketing. Tickets for “Behind the Emerald Curtain” are $25 (and does not include admission to WICKED).
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. It is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. WICKED is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, 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 Witch.
Tickets for WICKED and “Behind the Emerald Curtain” are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, in person at the Pantages Theatre Box Office (opens daily at 10am), 6233 Hollywood Blvd., or at any Ticketmaster outlet. For groups please call 866-755-3075, or visit www.nedgroups.com. Details on the lottery, “Behind the Emerald Curtain,” D-scriptive, I-caption, ShowTrans, as well as general information, are available online by visiting www.wickedthemusical.com/LA.
A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of $25.00 front orchestra seats is held daily. 2½ hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Pantages box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of front orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. An ID is required to purchase the tickets.
D-Scriptive, I-Caption, and ShowTrans are also now available at all performances of WICKED at the Pantages Theatre. These are new state-of-the-art customer services that provides scene-by-scene dialogue and commentary of the production for hearing challenged (D-Scriptive), sight challenged (I-Caption) and translations for non-English speakers (ShowTrans) in Spanish, Japanese, French and Portugese.
More than a word-for-word translation, these three services give patrons the actual dialogue, as well as continual plot and descriptive information that enables them to follow the action, intention, humor, and emotion of the show. D-Scriptive, I-Caption and ShowTrans are available in the theatre lobby prior to all performances. It can also be reserved in advance by calling toll-free at (888) 876-0801.
WICKED and Los Angeles
In summer, 2005, WICKED first played Los Angeles as part of its national tour, and was completely sold out during its seven-week run at the Pantages Theatre. In 2006, WICKED returned to the area, and was completely sold out -- breaking the house record -- during a two-week engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Producer Marc Platt said, “The reception to WICKED in Los Angeles during its sold-out seven-week run in the summer of 2005 exceeded our wildest expectations. The enthusiasm generated by the audiences at the Pantages Theatre – just a few short miles away from my offices at Universal Studios where WICKED was created – was unlike the response in any other city that the show has played. It was during that run that we began to formulate the plan for a company of the show just for Los Angeles.”
Producer David Stone said, “After watching the excitement for WICKED at the Pantages in 2005, we felt that there would be a wide audience base in Southern California for a Los Angeles company. We are planning to make Los Angeles a home for WICKED as long as the public’s demand for our show will allow.”
Martin Wiviott, General Manager of Broadway/L.A. said, “WICKED has been one of the most popular musicals not just to ever play at the Pantages, but to have ever been performed in Los Angeles. We are thrilled that the producers of WICKED chose the Pantages for its home in Los Angeles, and we thrilled to have it here for a long run in Hollywood.”
Producer Marc Platt calls this current Los Angeles production, “a very exciting homecoming for WICKED.” WICKED began ten years ago when Platt was president of production at Universal Pictures. He had begun developing a film based on Gregory Maguire’s novel.
At the same time, Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz was introduced to the novel. His friend, author and Angeleno Winnie Holzman, coincidentally bought a copy of the novel and called her agent and asked how she could get the rights. Schwartz met with Platt to talk to him about doing WICKED as a movie. They quickly realized that the story might be better served as a Broadway musical.
Beginning in 1999, Schwartz, Holzman and Platt met together for a year at Platt’s offices at Universal, working out the story beat-for-beat. Then Schwartz went off to do the music and Holzman went off to write the first draft of the book.
The first reading, of just the first act, was in spring of 2000 at the Coronet Theatre. Work and readings continued in Los Angeles, and in February 2001, the first reading of the entire book and score was held. At that time, producer David Stone, director Joe Mantello and the rest of the creative team came on board. They began a year-and-a-half schedule of readings and workshops, primarily at Universal Studios.
On May 28, 2003, WICKED had the first preview of its out-of-town tryout at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre, where the show set box office records. Since having its official Broadway opening at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003, WICKED has been sold out at virtually every performance, breaking house records with box office receipts of over $1.3 million per week. It has been called “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” by the New York Times and “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety.
The Washington Post said WICKED is, “a breathtaking success story, of a magnitude the theater has not witnessed since the peak years of The Phantom of the Opera."
WICKED began performances in Los Angeles on February 10, 2007. After opening on Wednesday, February 21 to critical acclaim, the Los Angeles Times said, “WICKED is a phenomenon that keeps growing. The witchcraft is as fresh as ever. Folks, WICKED is here to stay,” and the Orange County Register called it “America’s must-see musical. It delivers everything we expect of a big ticket musical-theater experience – spectacle, anthemic songs, a cathartic story – and makes the most of an irresistible theme: the indelible bond of friendship.”
WICKED features set design by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee, costume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Meola. The orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.
The Grammy Award winning (Best Musical Show Album) original cast recording of WICKED has just been certified ‘Platinum’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of more than 1 million copies. Produced by composer Stephen Schwartz for Decca Broadway, the album has been the fastest selling original cast recording in years, and has regularly appeared on the list of Amazon’s top-selling albums. It is currently #1 on Billboard’s Top Cast Album Chart, the position it occupied when the chart debuted in January 2006.
About the cast of the Los Angeles production of WICKED
MEGAN HILTY (Glinda) is thrilled to be joining the Los Angeles company of Wicked after having previously played Glinda both on Broadway and on the national tour. She is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University and a proud member of Actors’ Equity. Other credits include the world premiere of Vanities - The Musical (MVPAC), Cafe Puttanesca (City Theatre), and Suds (Oregon Cabaret Theatre). Television: "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." Megan can also be heard as the singing voice of Snow White in Shrek the Third.
CAISSIE LEVY (Elphaba) is thrilled to be playing this beautiful role, joining this cast directly from the Broadway production. She made her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, a role she also played to critical acclaim on the first national tour, and performed in the original Toronto cast. Other credits include starring as Maureen in the national tour of Rent, and as Willis in the New York premiere of The Yellow Wood, directed by BD Wong. www.caissielevy.com
JOHN RUBINSTEIN (The Wizard) Broadway: Pippin, Children Of A Lesser God (Tony, Drama Desk Awards), Fools, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Hurlyburly, M. Butterfly, Ragtime. Off-B'way: Counsellor-At-Law (Lucille Lortel Award), Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. LA: Ragtime, Urinetown, Into The Woods, A Little Night Music, Metamorphoses, Sight Unseen, Counsellor-AtLaw (Ovation, LADCC Awards). Original Andrew in Love Letters. Films include: 21 Grams, Red Dragon, Mercy, Someone To Watch Over Me, Daniel, The Boys From
Brazil, Zachariah, Getting Straight. Over 200 TV appearances; starred in series “Family” (Emmy nomination) and “Crazy Like a Fox.” As a director, in NY: The Old Boy, Phantasie, Nightingale; LA: Guys And Dolls, The Rivals; TV: “A Matter of Conscience” (Emmy: Best Children's Special), “Nash Bridges.” Composed scores to films Jeremiah Johnson, The Candidate; TV: “China Beach,” “The Dollmaker.ˇ Proud father of Jessica, Michael, Peter, Jacob, and Max.
JO ANNE WORLEY (Madame Morrible) Broadway: The Drowsy Chaperone, Billy Barnes People, Hello, Dolly!, The Prince of Central Park, Grease. Off-Broadway: The Mad Show. New York: Follies for Encores!; On the Twentieth Century Actors' Fund Benefit. Tours/regional: Gypsy, The Wizard of Oz (NY and LA), Mame, The Pirates of Penzance, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, Grease, Annie, Call Me Madam, Carnival, Moon Over Buffalo, Steel Magnolias, The Odd Couple. Television: Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In"; numerous appearances on "The Tonight Show," "The Andy Williams Show," "The Merv Griffin Show" and many game shows. Film: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, A Goofy Movie, Belle's Magical World. Nightclub/concert appearances: Rainbow and Stars, Sands Las Vegas, Harrah's Atlantic City, Miami's Fontainebleau, and United States Air Force Band at Constitution Hall. Currently, President, Actors and Others for Animals, and is the owner of a rescue dog, Harmony.
KRISTOFFER CUSICK (Fiyero) creating the role of Fiyero for the Chicago company and playing the role on Broadway with the Original Cast. Bway/Tours: Saturday Night Fever OBC (Kenny, Gus u/s) and Rent (Angel) Film/TV: “Star Search,” “Big Break,” “After Hours” (pilot/ Comedy Central), “Pretty Cool” (HBO). Debut CD, My Greatest Desire and more information available at www.kristoffercusick.com
MARCIE DODD (Nessarose) is ecstatic to be coming home after traveling with the 1st National Tour of Wicked, where she covered and performed Elphaba and Nessarose. Recent credits: Hairspray (Louanne, Amber u/s), We Will Rock You (Scaramouche u/s), Grease (Sandy) and multiple projects with Disney Entertainment.
MICHAEL DROLET (Boq) Saturday Night Fever (Bobby C u/s). Regional: Peter Pan (Peter Pan) - Dorset Theatre Festival, West Side Story (A-rab) - Opera Grand Rapids, Seussical (Jojo) - MainStreet Theatre Company, Cyrano - Fulton Opera House, Thoroughly Modern Millie - Musical Theatre West. Graduate of The University of the Arts.
TIMOTHY BRITTEN PARKER (Doctor Dillamond) Broadway: Rent (Original cast, Obie award), The Innocents, Runaways, The Visit, Wicked (also National Tour). Off-Broadway includes Machinal (Public), Kenneth Lonergan's The Heartsick Pioneer (Drama-Logue award), The King of Connecticut. Founding member Naked Angels Theatre Company where performed in 40 productions. Film: Quiz Show, Gold Coast. TV: Recurring on “Law & Order” (Forensic Detective Hoeck), “NY Undercover.”
