WICKED Returns to Philadelphia's Academy of Music, Now thru 8/4

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Academy of Music beginning today, June 26 - August 4 as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The KimMel Center for the Performing Arts.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Tickets starting at $40 are on sale beginning on Friday, Apri 26. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the KimMel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts. (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts. (open during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.

Performances include: Tuesday - Thursday evening at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evening at8:00 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.Additional weekday performances will include: Thursday, June 27 at 2:00 pm and Monday, July 1 at 7:30 pm. No performances are scheduled for Thursday, July 4.

"We are thrilled to once again welcome the return of WICKED for a fourth engagement," said Matt Wolf, Vice President of Programming and Theatrical Presentations for the KimMel Center. "The popularity and success of WICKED's previous visits to the Academy of Music proves that Philly loves WICKED!"

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, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

WICKED has "cast quite a spell" (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few.