Tickets for Charlotte Engagement of WICKED Go On Sale 3/19

Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Friday, March 19, with a special On-sale event from 7-10 a.m. at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office. In addition to the opportunity to purchase the best available seats, ticket buyers who attend the On-Sale Event can participate in live broadcasts from local radio and television stations and will be treated to food, fun, games and more. At 10 a.m., tickets also will be available on-line at www.BlumenthalCenter.org and by phone at 704.372.1000.

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 26 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.
Ticket prices start at $35 and performances take place each evening beginning May 19. Sunday - Thursday evening performances begin at 7:30 P.M., Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 P.M. In addition, there is a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Thursday, May 20 and each Saturday and Sunday (May 22, 23, 29 & 30; June 5, 6, 12 & 13).

FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 19 - 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, May 25- 7:30 P.M.
Thursday, May 20 - 2 P.M. Wednesday, May 26- 7:30 P.M.
Thursday, May 20 - 7:30 P.M. Thursday, May 27- 7:30 P.M.
Friday, May 21 - 8 P.M. Friday, May 28 - 8 P.M.
Saturday, May 22- 2 P.M. Saturday, May 29 - 2 P.M.
Saturday, May 22- 8 P.M. Saturday, May 29 - 8 P.M.
Sunday, May 23 - 2 P.M. Sunday, May 30 - 2 P.M.
Sunday, May23 - 7:30 P.M. Sunday, May 30 - 7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, June 1 - 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, June 8- 7:30 P.M.
Wednesday, June 2 - 7:30 P.M. Wednesday, June 9- 7:30 P.M.
Thursday, June 3- 7:30 P.M. Thursday, June 10- 7:30 P.M.
Friday, June 4 - 8 P.M Friday, June 11- 8 P.M.
Saturday, June 5 - 2 P.M. Saturday, June 12- 2 P.M.
Saturday, June 5 - 8 P.M Saturday, June 12- 8 P.M.
Sunday, June 6- 2 P.M Sunday, June 13- 2 P.M.
Sunday, June 6 - 7:30 P.M. Sunday, June 13- 7:30 P.M.

"We're thrilled to have a return engagement of WICKED in Charlotte," said Blumenthal Performing Arts Center President Tom Gabbard. "The show has an amazing story line, incredible songs and is one of the most visually impressive presentations that Charlotte theatre-goers will see. The response to the last tour in 2008 was unprecedented, with all of our seats selling out in only two hours, and we expect that the public will once again show us why WICKED remains the hottest ticket of any national touring show."

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.
WICKED has "cast quite a spell" (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few.

Called "a cultural phenomenon" by Variety and just named "the defining musical of the decade" by The New York Times, WICKED continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently eight productions of WICKED worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, San Francisco production, London production, a Japanese-language production, a German-language production and Australian production. A Dutch-language production of WICKED will open in 2011.

WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner EuGene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® nominee Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show's musical director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on to www.wickedthemusical.com.

Casting for the forthcoming national tour stop will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT THE CENTER
The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit BlumenthalCenter.org. The center receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. The center also is supported through the generous aid of its sponsors, including Presbyterian Hospital, the Official Healthcare Provider, and U.S. Airways, Official Airline of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.