David de Vries News

The production of WICKED that's currently playing the Fox Theatre delivers an enchanting experience to its audiences that dazzles and delights, filling the stage with jaw-dropping scenery and incredible special effects, as well as a host of wonderful performers. The plot based on Gregory Maguire's novel gives a back story to L. Frank's Baum's beloved Wizard of Oz, that is unexpectedly infused with a strong, positive message about accepting people for who they are inside And, while most musicals are guilty of utilizing a threadbare plot to hang a multitude of songs upon, this is not the case with Wicked, where the reverse is nearly true, with Winnie Holzman's clever adaptation providing a more than sturdy framework for Stephen Schwartz's catchy score.

The 2nd National Tour of Wicked will welcome a new Boq and a new Wizard beginning December 9 in Schenectady, New York. Don Amendolia will step into the role of Wizard following Tom McGowan's exit, while Zach Hanna assumes the part of Boq from Ted Ely.

Everything you've heard about Wicked is true; it's an awe-inspiring stage spectacle filled with special effects, gorgeous sets and lighting, exquisite costumes, an amazingly gifted cast, a glorious musical score and an immensely entertaining, yet slightly irreverent (and maybe even a little subversive) script. It also has plot points so broad that you could drive a freight train through them, but if you're willing to suspend disbelief and allow yourself to become totally immersed in the phenomenon, you can't help but walk away tremendously satisfied, humming those wonderful tunes and having a sort of 'which came first: the chicken or the egg' debate with your companions.

Wicked opened its run at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center Wednesday with a capacity crowd enjoying the performance by the Second National Touring Company in Andrew Jackson Hall. Opening night also featured the inaugural Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com First Night Theatre Event, with some 25 theatre devotees attending the show, with cocktails and hors d'oevres before curtain and a dessert/champagne reception afterward.

The 2nd North American tour of the worldwide smash WICKED will land at the Tulsa Chapman Music Hall from July 15-August 9, 2009.

The 2nd North American tour of the worldwide smash WICKED will land at the Tulsa Chapman Music Hall from July 15-August 9, 2009.

The 2nd North American tour of the worldwide smash WICKED launches at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, FL on March 7, and runs through March 29, 2009. A limited number of seats are still available for all performances and can be purchased at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or online at www.bbmannpah.com. Stephen Schwartz discusses the story behind the story of WICKED with Florida Weekly Online, you can read it by clicking here.

The 2nd North American tour of the worldwide smash WICKED launches at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, FL on March 7, and runs through March 29, 2009.

The 2nd North American tour of the worldwide smash WICKED launches at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, FL on March 7, and runs through March 29, 2009. A limited number of seats are still available for all performances and can be purchased at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or online at www.bbmannpah.com.

The Producers of the worldwide smash WICKED announced casting for the 2nd North American Tour today. The role of Elphaba will be played by Marcie Dodd and the role of Glinda will be played by Helene Yorke. Playing the role of Madame Morrible will be Marilyn Caskey and The Wizard will be played by Tom McGowan.

So far at this evening's Emmy Awards, theater stars Jeremy Piven, Dianne Wiest, Laura Linney, Dame Eileen Atkins and Zeljko Ivanek are among the winners.