Wicked 2007 - Articles Page 8

WICKED, the record-breaking hit West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, proudly welcomes Willemijn Verkaik to the role of 'Elphaba' from Monday 18 November 2013.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on a triple-threat Tony-winning talent famous for originating starring roles in two Broadway mega-hits, RENT and WICKED - Idina Menzel!

Beginning performances today, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Glenn Carter* (Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle down the Wind), Stephen Rahman Hughes* (Emmerdale, Dream Team, Bombay Dreams, West Side Story), David Thaxton (Passion, Les Miserables) and Matt Willis (Wicked, Flashdance, Footloose and BRIT award winning member of Busted), join the previously announced Lee Mead (Wicked, Legally Blonde, BBC Series Winner of Any Dream Will Do) to complete The West End Men. All four will be joined by special guest star Kerry Ellis* (Wicked, Oliver, We Will Rock You, Born Free Tour with Brian May) for the limited run at the Vaudeville Theatre from 25 May to 22 June.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2007 and 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Columbus' Ohio Theatre June 5-23. Tickets for the return engagement are on sale now.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Cast Recording of the musical DOGFIGHT with a digital release today, April 30 and the CD in stores on May 21. The show - which debuted Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre last year - features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (A Christmas Story), a book by Peter Duchan (IFC Films' Breaking Upwards) and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Glengarry Glen Ross). DOGFIGHT is based on the Warner Bros. film and screenplay by Bob Comfort.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Glenn Carter* (Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle down the Wind), Stephen Rahman Hughes* (Emmerdale, Dream Team, Bombay Dreams, West Side Story), David Thaxton (Passion, Les Miserables) and Matt Willis (Wicked, Flashdance, Footloose and BRIT award winning member of Busted), join the previously announced Lee Mead (Wicked, Legally Blonde, BBC Series Winner of Any Dream Will Do) to complete The West End Men. All four will be joined by special guest star Kerry Ellis* (Wicked, Oliver, We Will Rock You, Born Free Tour with Brian May) for the limited run at the Vaudeville Theatre from 25 May to 22 June.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Cast Recording of the musical DOGFIGHT with a digital release on April 30 and the CD in stores on May 21. The show - which debuted Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre last year - features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (A Christmas Story), a book by Peter Duchan (IFC Films' Breaking Upwards) and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Glengarry Glen Ross). DOGFIGHT is based on the Warner Bros. film and screenplay by Bob Comfort. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/dogfight.html.

Lee Mead (Wicked, Legally Blonde, BBC Series Winner of Any Dream Will Do) will be joined by special guest star Kerry Ellis for selected performances (Wicked, Oliver, We Will Rock You, Born Free Tour with Brian May) in The West End Men, running at the Vaudeville Theatre from 25 May until 22 June, with press night on 3 June 2013. The West End Men is directed by the award winning Mitch Sebastian (The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas) and produced by Milton Morrissey Ltd, Jason Haigh Ellery and in association with Paul Tyrer & Jamie Clark for The Booking Office. Further casting will be announced shortly.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2005, 2007 and 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Houston at the Hobby Center, July 10 - August 11. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m.

Happy Birthday, Stephen Schwartz! In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972) and Wicked (2003). He has also contributed lyrics for a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998; music and lyrics) and Enchanted (2007). Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards.

Mary Poppins will conclude Broadway run at The New Amsterdam Theatre today, March 3, 2013 after 2619 performances and more than six years. With attendance totaling nearly four million guests, the show has been seen by more people in the last six years than any Broadway show except Wicked and The Lion King. BroadwayWorld takes you back through the magical nanny's journey to Broadway below!

Ghostlight Records will release the Original Cast Recording of the musical, DOGFIGHT later this spring. The show - which debuted Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre last year - features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (A Christmas Story), a book by Peter Duchan (IFC Films' Breaking Upwards) and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Glengarry Glen Ross).

The Dutch production of WICKED, currently playing the Circustheater in Schevening, will close today, January 11, 2013 after about 400 performances.

Marty Thomas presents DIVA is a weekly show at Industry Bar in midtown Manhattan. Featuring a cast of Alexa Green (Wicked, Company), Kelly King (Babyface, Michael Bolton) and Marissa Rosen (My Big Gay Italian Wedding), it is hosted and produced by Marty Thomas (Xanadu, The Secret Garden and Wicked). DIVA celebrates fabulous female vocalists paying tribute to some of histories most over the top icons! The cast performs a brand new show every week with exciting new guests rotating.

After breaking Columbus box office records in 2007 and 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Ohio Theatre June 5-23. Tickets for the return engagement will go on sale to the public at 9am on Thursday, April 4.

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on New Year's Eve, and recently stopped by the KTLA studios to discuss the concert, her career and more - view the interview below!

As BroawayWorld previously reported, beginning performances on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, Willemijn Verkaik will make her Broadway debut as Elphaba in the blockbuster musical WICKED. An award-winning actress who has performed the role for more than 1,000 performances in Germany and Holland, Ms. Verkaik will perform the role for a special 15-week engagement. She is currently headlining the Dutch production of WICKED and will play her final performance there on January 11, 2013.

According to the show's twitter account, Dutch star Willemijn Verkaik will join the cast of Broadway's Wicked as 'Elphaba' beginning on February 12.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present its third annual Something Wicked This Way Comes - a one-night-only event - tonight, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. The event kicks off Halloween week and will be held at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. in Madison. Tickets are $32 and can be purchased online at www.ShakespeareNJ.org or by phone by calling the Shakespeare Theatre box office at 973-408-5600.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present its third annual Something Wicked This Way Comes - a one-night-only event - on Monday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. The event kicks off Halloween week and will be held at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. in Madison. Tickets are $32 and can be purchased online at www.ShakespeareNJ.org or by phone by calling the Shakespeare Theatre box office at 973-408-5600.

The Dutch production of WICKED, currently playing the Circustheater in Schevening, will close January 11, 2013 after about 400 performances.

Wicked, the smash hit musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, will play its 2500th performance tomorrow night (Saturday 8 September 2012 at 7.30pm) at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. The musical will celebrate its 6th Birthday on Thursday 27 September 2012.