Wicked to Open in Japan and Germany This Year

Wicked continues to go international, with upcoming productions planned for Japan and Germany.

The blockbuster musical will open at Tokyo's Dentsu Shiki Theatre on June 17th, while Wicked — Die Hexen Von Oz, will open on November 15th at the Palladium Theatre in Stuttgart, Germany.

The productions join a previously announced staging that will be presented in Australia.  Wicked currently runs on Broadway, in London, Chicago, Los Angeles and on national tour.

Wicked has been sold out at virtually every performance on Broadway, since having its official opening at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003.  Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the show has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.  Directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento, Wicked is also currently being presented on Broadway, on a National Tour, and in a separate, open-ended engagement at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre.  The London production opened on September 27 and is currently playing to capacity crowds at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

"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," state notes.

Visit www.wickedthemusical.com for more information.