UK theatregoers have voted the hit musical WICKED London's "Best West End Show" at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Awards. This special award, which asked the public to decide the best overall show from all the plays and musicals currently running in the West End, was presented in celebration of the Awards' 10th Anniversary.
This year, 46,000 theatregoers voted online and by text message across a range of categories. The other productions that made the initial shortlist of 10 in the "Best West End Show" category were Billy Elliot, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse and We Will Rock You.
Executive Producer Michael McCabe said in a statement: ‘It has been an incredible year for West End theatre, and the productions that made the shortlist for this special award are proof of the diversity and quality that have helped maintain London as the world leader for live entertainment. We are therefore truly honoured that the public has chosen Wicked as London's ‘Best West End Show', and our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who voted".http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/vote/
Winner of over 30 interNational Theatre awards, this "hugely popular show" (The Times) is now in its fourth year at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre and has already been seen by over 2.5 million people and taken in excess of £90 million at the UK Box Office. WICKED was recently named 'Best Musical of the Decade' by Entertainment Weekly and "the defining musical of the decade" by The New York Times.Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.ukVideos