Bette Midler Hosts NYC 'Wicked Day' 10/28; City-Wide Events

By: Oct. 17, 2007
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In honor of its upcoming 4th Anniversary on Broadway, the hit musical Wicked will host special "Wicked Day" celebrations in New York, Los Angeles,  Chicago, London, and Boston, where the national tour will be playing at the end of October.

"Wicked Day" has been held on the last Sunday of October since the musical opened in 2003 and has traditionally been celebrated with a free block party featuring games, activities, and giveaways for its fans.  This year, the Producers of Wicked have chosen to do something "For Good" by giving back to the communities in which the musical is playing and partnering with local non-profit organizations as well as educating its fans as to what they can do "For Good."

Below is a summary of "Wicked Day" activities happening across the country and in London.  For more information, please visit www.wickedday.com.

NEW YORK
In New York, the musical has announced a week's worth of free Wicked events, all culminating with the grand opening of "The Friendship Garden" on "Wicked Day," Sunday, October 28.   In partnership with the New York Restoration Project, Wicked is currently restoring a public community garden at West 150th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in upper Manhattan.  NYRP Founder and Chairwoman Bette Midler will host the opening ceremony, featuring a performance by the cast and a free block party for the community and Wicked fans.

Other Wicked-inspired events scheduled this month in New York City include:

A TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Friday, October 19 at 8PM

"A Tribute to Stephen Schwartz" concert on Friday, October 19 at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) will feature Karen Akers, Marc Kudisch, Liz Callaway, Jason Graae, Lisa Howard, and other Broadway stars.  This one-night-only concert will pay tribute to Wicked composer Schwartz and will feature songs from Wicked, as well as his other acclaimed scores, including Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, and Rags, among others.

MADAME ALEXANDER DOLL PREMIERE AND CAST PERFORMANCE
Tuesday, October 23 at 4:30PM

The exclusive premiere of new Glinda and Elphaba Madame Alexander Dolls will highlight this special signing and performance at FAO Schwarz (765 Fifth Ave. at 58th Street).  Cast members of Wicked will be joined by the creators of the hand-crafted Madame Alexander Elphaba and Glinda collectible dolls.

NBC EXPERIENCE STORE CAST SIGNING
Thursday, October 25 at 11AM

Wicked fans will have the opportunity to meet members of the current Broadway company at a meet, greet, and autograph signing with cast members at this popular Rockefeller Center store.

"WICKED DAY" BLOCK PARTY
GRAND OPENING OF "THE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN"

Sunday, October 28 - 11AM – 2PM

Join Wicked, Bette Midler and the New York Restoration Project in celebrating the opening of "The Friendship Garden" (West 150th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Harlem) and their shared commitment to keeping New York City's neighborhoods green. The free block party includes games, giveaways, and a costume contest, plus special exhibits with tips on how to live a greener life.  The opening ceremony, hosted by NYRP Founder and Chairperson Bette Midler and featuring performances by Wicked cast members, will begin at 12:30PM, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the official opening of "The Friendship Garden."

Designed by Wicked associate set designer Edward Pierce, "The Friendship Garden" will become a public green oasis in one of New York City's underserved neighborhoods.  The garden will feature elements inspired by Wicked, including a yellow brick road and likenesses of the musical's characters, as well as flexible space for use by the neighborhood and the New Heights Academy, a charter school adjacent to the garden.

"Wicked Day" official New York sponsors are 95.5 WPLJ, FAO Schwarz, M&M's World, Fat Witch Bakery, Serafina Restaurant, The Time Hotel and NBC Experience Store.

LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles production of Wicked is partnering with Heal the Bay to Adopt-A-Beach. On Wicked Day, cast members and fans will join in a coastal cleanup effort to help restore Los Angeles' Venice Beach.  Fans who participate in the Coastal Cleanup will receive Wicked gifts, and can enter to win a one-of-a-kind Wicked Surfboard.  On Tuesday, October 23, Wicked will host a special benefit performance for Heal the Bay.

Additionally, Wicked is launching a major partnership with L.A.'s Metro, the city's subway system, to encourage commuters to use public transportation.

BOSTON (NATIONAL TOUR)
In conjunction with the city of Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino will officially proclaim October 28 "Wicked Day."  The cast, as well as select members of the community, will be invited to create and plant a garden at the Boston Common in the area that is currently being landscaped.

CHICAGO
Now through "Wicked Day," Chicago's Daley Plaza is playing host to the "Haunted Village at Pumpkin (Daley) Plaza," hosted by Wicked Chicago, where visitors learn how to help the environment at the Wicked tent.  In the tent, Broadway in Chicago performers, with surprise visits from Wicked cast members, will read an original earth-friendly story that is interwoven with kid-friendly environmental ideas.  The tent will also include displays highlighting solar-powered ghosts, phantom loads, compact fluorescent bulbs and worm composting.

LONDON
The London production of Wicked will host "Wicked Day" festivities at Cardinal Place, with various Wicked-themed activities and giveaways, plus special appearances by members of the company.  The London production of Wicked is working with the Abbey Community Association Ltd. (ACAL) and its recently launched "Green Appeal" to create a community garden at the Abbey Center. Wicked has joined forces with the South Westminster Renewal Partnership and the charity Groundwork to help ACAL try to raise the funds needed to achieve their goal. Wicked will be planning a series of initiatives, some of which will be launched on "Wicked Day."

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.

Wicked opened on Broadway on October 30, 2003 and currently has productions in Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and on National Tour.  Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, and musical staging by Wayne Cilento.  The production is directed by Joe Mantello.

For more information on "Wicked Day" events in New York and in other cities, please visit www.WickedDay.com. For more information on Wicked, please visit www.wickedthemusical.com.

Photo of Bette Midler (2007) by Mark Rupp




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