North American Tour Of WICKED Hosts 'Wicked Rocks' Event 12/7

On Monday, December 7, the North American Touring Company of WICKED will host WICKED ROCKS, a night of Rock and Roll Music. Held at the Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, the event will feature cast and crew members of the company in performances of classic rock songs. The net proceeds of this event will benefit the Brian Werbel Memorial Fund.

Produced by company members, the evening is an opportunity for them to step out of their roles in the musical and present an evening of rock and roll's greatest hits, including songs by The Beatles, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Tina Turner; and will feature company members including Richard H. Blake (Fiyero), Ben Liebert (Boq), Merideth Kaye Clark (Elphaba Standby), Randy Danson (Madame Morrible), as well as members of the ensemble and the touring staff. The evening will be hosted by Richard Kline (The Wizard) and Chandra Lee Schwartz (Glinda). The evening will also include live and silent auctions, including the opportunity to bid on a one-night walk on appearance in WICKED, onstage at the State Theatre. The musical is playing at the State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare through December 13. WICKED is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series at PlayhouseSquare.

Admission to WICKED ROCKS is by donation. Tickets are available in person at the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office, by calling 216-241-6000, or online at PlayhouseSquare.org.

WICKED ROCKS is part of an ongoing series of performances by the touring company throughout the country to support charitable causes which advance WICKED's theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical's message that people should not be judged on first impressions. The company believes that in these divisive times we must come together to support those in need throughout the country and around the world. In its 4 years on the road, the company has raised well over $500,000 in charitable contributions to a variety of causes.

The Brian Werbel Memorial Fund was established in 2007 to honor the memory of Brian, who passed away at the age of 29. The mission of the fund is to advance research on cancer-related initiatives, an area Brian was deeply involved in. It is the goal of the fund to sponsor one "Summer Fellow" (selected by a team of doctors at University Hospitals) who will receive a grant from the fund in order to conduct his or her research with the University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Research Program. The long-term objective is to sponsor many deserving researchers throughout the year, and not just one "Summer Fellow" a year.

University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center is part of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, dedicated to innovative treatment and promising research in the fight against cancer through ongoing studies aimed at cancer treatment and prevention.

One of only 39 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Ireland can offer cutting-edge treatments earlier than most other cancer centers. University Hospitals' affiliation with Case Western Reserve University provides ongoing studies aimed at cancer treatment and prevention.

To find out more about the UH Ireland Cancer Center, visit UHhospitals.org.

PlayhouseSquare is a not-for-profit performing arts center that presents and produces a wide variety of performing arts, advances arts education and creates a destination that is a superior location for entertainment business and housing, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the region.

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