Interview: WICKED UK/International Tour's Jacqueline Hughes, Carly Anderson

By Meeko Angela Camba

Something green is flying back to Manila...

Manila, Philippines--Broadway and West End smash musical WICKED is set to defy gravity in a limited four-week-run with never-before-seen changes at The Theater at Solaire (Solaire Resort & Casino, Paranaque City) from Thursday, February 2, to Sunday, March 5, 2017 . The production is direct from a multi-record-breaking tour of UK and Ireland.

"There's going to be more flying; we've more magic. It's bigger and hopefully better," leading lady and WICKED veteran Jacqueline Hughes shared at the press launch.

The UK/International Tour production will feature an all-British cast led by Hughes as the iconic heroine Elphaba alongside Carly Anderson as the "good witch" Glinda.

"We've had so many women play these roles before, and so well and different. But we definitely bring our own flair to these characters, and that has a lot to do with rehearsing together," Hughes said.

"It's a very lovely feeling--[rehearsing and discovering how] we've been paving our own way to the show; so it's been so wonderful," she added.

The two leads treated producers, sponsors, and members of the press with a preview of some of the musical's hits, "The Wizard and I," sung by Hughes, and the crowd-favorite duet "For Good."

Furthermore, they sang a snippet of the Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" upon hearing of the distinct culture of Filipinos to start the Christmas season in September.

Manila is tentatively set to be the last destination of the UK/international tour production, which kicked off in Bradford, England last July, then off to Singapore end of this month and Hong Kong in December.

First brought to the Philippines in 2014, WICKED is a re-imagined story based on "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," created by L. Frank Baum, and follows the story of two sorcery students--the popular blonde girl Glinda and the misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba--who develop an unlikely but profound friendship.

"The thing about the story of WICKED is that whether you can relate to flying monkeys and dragons, everyone can relate to the story that lies in the heart of WICKED, and that's friendship," Anderson said.

"Everyone from every demographic can relate to [friendship]. I think it touches everyone from all walks of life, all ages, no matter where you come from," she added.

The musical features music and lyrics by multi-Grammy and Academy winner Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman based on the novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire, with direction by Tony winner Joe Mantello.

Grossing over 100 major awards including three Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, and two Olivier Awards, WICKED has captured an audience of more than 1.5 million around the world. It currently holds the record for being the 10th longest-running show in Broadway history and the 19th in the West End.

WICKED is presented in Manila by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila.

Tickets now on public sale at TicketWorld.com.ph.

Photos: Paolo Ruiz

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