Wicked Breaks Los Angeles Box Office Records

For the week ending Sunday, March 4, WICKED broke the house record at the Pantages Theatre – with a box office take of $1,768,110 – and became the highest grossing attraction in Los Angeles theatre history. The previous record holder was The Producers, June 2003 at the Pantages.  

      WICKED has three other productions in North America – Broadway, Chicago and National Tour -- and a production in London.  All of these productions set new box office records for highest weekly gross in each of their markets for week ending December 31, 2006.  

      In addition, when Ticketmaster released its list of the Top Ten Most Requested Events of 2006, WICKED was number one, marking the first time a theatrical production made the list, otherwise comprised of rock concerts and sporting events, and certainly the first time that one held the top position.

      After opening on Wednesday, February 21 to critical acclaim, the Los Angeles Times said, "WICKED is a phenomenon that keeps growing.  The witchcraft is as fresh as ever.  Folks, WICKED is here to stay," and the Orange County Register called it "America's must-see musical.  It delivers everything we expect of a big ticket musical-theater experience – spectacle, anthemic songs, a cathartic story – and makes the most of an irresistible theme: the indelible bond of friendship." 

      Called "Broadway's biggest blockbuster" by The New York Times and a "cultural phenomenon" by Variety, WICKED has been sold out at virtually every performance since opening at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway.  

      Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The musical is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.  The Grammy Award-winning original cast recording of WICKED, produced by Stephen Schwartz for Decca Broadway, has been one of the fastest selling Broadway recordings of recent years and has been certified 'Platinum' by the Recording Industry Association of America.

      Winner of 15 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 Witch.

      Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or www.BroadwayLA.org, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, in person at the Pantages Theatre Box Office, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., or at any Ticketmaster outlet.  Groups of fifteen (15) or more can call 866-755-3075 or online at www.nedgroups.com.  A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of $25.00 front orchestra seats is held daily.  2? hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Pantages box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of front 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.  An ID is required to purchase the tickets. 

      For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com.