West End Wicked Breaks UK Box Office Records

WICKED, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, went on sale to the general public yesterday (Sunday 5 March) at 9am and sold a record-breaking £100,000 of tickets in the first hour alone. Ticket buyers braved freezing temperatures and started queuing at the Box Office from 6.30am. The total advance now stands at over £1,700,000.

Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: "even with the phenomenal success of WICKED on Broadway, we really had no idea what to expect when tickets went on sale here. In over 20 years, I have never seen such an incredible reaction as this - from day one. It really does seem that the idea of a new twist on a story everyone has known and loved for years has truly captured the public's imagination".

WICKED will open at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre on Wednesday 27 September with previews from Thursday 7 September.

The top-selling musical on Broadway for the past two years, WICKED brings to life the captivating, surprising tale of how a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, orchestrations by William David Brohn, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Joe Mantello.

WICKED is presented in London by: Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. General Management: ACT Productions / Nick Salmon, Executive Producer: Michael McCabe.

APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG Performances begin Thursday 7 September London Premiere Wednesday 27 September For tickets call Ticketmaster: 0870 4000 751 (bkg fee) No booking fee for tickets booked in person at the Box Office Tickets £5-£45 (7-26 September) and £15-£55 (from 27 September).

Official UK site now live at: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk