Chicago Wicked Toasts First Year with 6/20 Festivities

With nearly 1,000,000 audience members having attended since it landed permanently in the Windy City, Chicago's open-ended production of Wicked celebrates one year of playing sold-out performances at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. In honor of the occasion, the Chicago company and Broadway In Chicago will host a public celebration at Water Tower Square Park (corner of Michigan & Pearson) on June 20 at 12:30 p.m.

"A coven of fans are welcomed to descend on the historic Water Tower park and encouraged to arrive 'greenified' and dressed as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. To recognize this group of ultimate Chicago fans, the first 365 witches in attendance – Wicked'ly dressed and fully greenified – will be honored with a special gift compliments of the Chicago company. The producers, in gratitude of Chicago's enthusiasm and support for Wicked, have made arrangements for each 'witch' to receive a pair of tickets to a future performance," state press notes.

"Festivities also include special appearances from the stars of the cast, including Chicago's own Elphaba Kristy Cates – they will lead a group sing-a-long of 'Defying Gravity' for all to show 'everyone deserves a chance to fly'. The finalists from the 2005 Be Wicked singing contest will also be on hand to perform their favorite Wicked songs.

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."

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the show boasts music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin) and a book by Winnie Holzman ("My So-Called Life"). The show is directed by Tony award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out) with musical staging by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy). Wicked features sets by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee, costumes by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Meola.

Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.) on Broadway (where it continues to be the top-grossing show) on October 30th, 2003 with Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as the respective green and pink witches. The hit Chicago production stars Cates and Stacie Morgain Lewis, while the Broadway company currently features Eden Espinosa and Kate Reinders as Elphaba and Glinda. Wicked will open in London this September.

Tickets range in price from $25 to $85 and are on sale at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more can receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.

For more information, including up-to-date plans in case of inclement weather on June 20, visit www.wickedthemusical.com/chicago.

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