WICKED Announces Lottery Policy for Providence Performing Arts Center Run

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which flies back to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) just in time for the holiday season: December 26 through January 12. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the PPAC Box Office (220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence) will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of 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. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.

WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Disney'sEnchanted, Academy Award® winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), is based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. The musical 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...). WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

WICKED celebrated its 10th Anniversary on October 30. There are currently nine productions of the musical worldwide: New York, London, Japan (Tokyo), Australia/New Zealand, South Korea (Seoul), Latin America (Mexico City), a U.K. Tour, and two concurrent North American National Tours. Broadway's #1 show for an unprecedented ten consecutive years, WICKED has been declared "A Cultural Phenomenon" by Variety and "The Best Musical of the Decade" by Entertainment Weekly.

Winner of over 50 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.

WICKED begins performances at the Providence Performing Arts Center Thursday, December 26 and runs through Sunday, January 12. Tickets are selling fast, but best choice of seating is still available for the following performances:

· Tuesday, December 31 at 1:00 PM & 7:30 PM

· Thursday, January 2 at 7:30 PM

· Friday, January 3 at 8:00 PM

· Wednesday, January 8 at 7:30 PM

· Thursday, January 9 at 7:30 PM

· Sunday, January 12 at 6:30 PM

Tickets to WICKED start at $53 and are available at the PPAC Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, by phone at (401) 421-ARTS (2787), and online at www.ppacri.org. Please note that all ticket prices are subject to change and include a $3 per ticket restoration charge.