Chicago's 'Wicked' Raises $175K for Broadway Cares

Chicago's Wicked raised over $175,000 for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS this season, earning the top fundraising honor for the second year in a row at the 18th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition, a national effort on behalf of the charity.  

The awards ceremony, held December 5 in New York City, announced Chicago's Wicked as the top fundraiser in a category of productions outside of New York.

This marks the third consecutive win for Chicago's Wicked, which also took first in last December's campaign as well as the spring Easter Bonnet fundraising drive.  The Chicago company of Wicked has collectively raised over one-half million dollars for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS during its Windy City residence so far.

Over the course of almost two months, during a nightly curtain call appeal at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, Wicked's cast and crew raised over $175,000.  This donation has been generously shared again with Chicago House, a local non-profit organization picked by the company members for their ongoing work providing housing and supportive services to those impacted with AIDS and HIV.  Funds will also be donated to another local charity, Season of Concern, a Chicago counterpart to Broadway Cares, as well as the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked 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 currently presented in Chicago, on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre, on a national tour, and in London 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 odyssey and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The Chicago company of Wicked is now playing in an open run at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street).  The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 7:30 PM; Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 PM; Thursdays at 7:30 PM; Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 2 & 8 PM; and Sundays at 2 PM.

Tickets for Wicked are currently on sale at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at ticketmaster.com.  Groups of 20 or more may receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.  For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com/chicago

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