STAGE TUBE: WICKED's Jemma Rix Performs 'Defying Gravity' on SUNRISE
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The 10th Anniversary Australian tour of the international musical theatre blockbuster Wicked opened May 10 at Melbourne's Regent Theatre. Wicked stars Lucy Durack as Glinda and Jemma Rix as Elphaba, both reprising the roles which shot them to stardom during the original Australian tour. Click below to watch a clip of Rix perform "Defying Gravity" on Sunrise!
Joining the Wicked Company in his first musical theatre leading role is Steve Danielsen as Fiyero, while doyenne of stage and screen, Maggie Kirkpatrick returns as Madame Morrible. Playing Doctor Dillamond is be Nathan Carter, the role of Nessarose is played by newcomer Emily Cascarino, while Edward Grey is Boq. Rounding out the lead cast is musical theatre icon Reg Livermore who returns to the stage as the Wizard.
The award-winning musical is currently playing in nine productions around the world: New York, London, Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), Latin America (Mexico City), a UK tour, two concurrent North American national tours, as well as the Australian production. It has been seen by over 40 million people across the globe, grossing over $3.25 billion in worldwide box office.
When Wicked opened on Broadway, it worked its magic on critics and audiences alike. Winner of over 90 major awards including the Grammy Award, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards including Best Musical, 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.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Lisa Leguillou, based on the original direction by Joe Mantello. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, David Stone and John Frost.
Following the strictly limited Melbourne season, Wicked plays at Sydney's Capitol Theatre from September 20 and at Brisbane's Lyric Theatre from 15 February, 2015. For more information, visit wickedthemusical.com.au.
