Friday 15 August 2014

Preview: Wicked at Sunderland Empire



Wicked

Sunderland Empire
31 March to 25 April 2015


Wicked has already been seen by 42 million people worldwide and grossed in excess of $3.4 billion at the Box Office. It has won 100 international awards.

The global musical phenomenon has been performed in over 100 cities in 13 countries around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines and Mexico) and has been translated into five languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Korean. The original Broadway production remains "Broadway's biggest blockbuster" (The New York Times) after more than a decade at the Gershwin Theatre.

The London production premiered on 27 September 2006 and has now been seen by over 5.5 million people. Wicked has been hailed as "the biggest thing in musicals since The Phantom of the Opera opened" (The Times), "one of the biggest hits of our age" (The Observer) and "one of the most popular West End musicals ever" (London Evening Standard).


The Story

If you think you know the Wicked Witch of the West, think again...

When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire's "outstanding novel" (The Independent), 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West', ingeniously and wittily re-imagined the Land of Oz, creating a parallel universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' in 1900.

Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the Land of Oz.

Full New Cast Annunced For Record-breaking Wicked UK Tour

WICKED, the global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to announce that Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba), Emily Tierney (Glinda), Samuel Edwards (Fiyero), Marilyn Cutts (Madame Morrible), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Richard Vincent (Boq), Jacqueline Hughes (Standby Elphaba), Joe Atkinson, Joshua Berg, Chrissy Brooke, Ben Carruthers, Harrison Clark, Lauren Ellis-Steele, Oliver Evans, Victoria Farley, Natasha Ferguson, Zoe George, Natalie Green, Will Knights, Sophie Leigh-Griffin, Candy Marriot, Tom Mather, Brian McCann, Ashley Morgan-Davies, Stephanie Powell, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Elisha Sherman, Grant Thresh, Hannah Veerapen and Danny Whitehead will star in the record-breaking UK Tour from Tuesday 16 September 2014 at Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Acclaimed as "quite simply, the best musical I've ever seen" (Yorkshire Evening Post), the tour has already broken Box Office records and won multiple five star reviews across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The award-winning London production continues its open-ended run at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it is now the 10th longest running show in the West End. Around the world, Wicked has already been seen by 42 million people in 13 countries, and won 100 international awards.

In a brilliantly witty re-imagining of the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. Wicked is based on the international best-selling novel, 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West', by Gregory Maguire. Wicked is produced by: Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK): Michael McCabe.

Reaction to the Wicked UK Tour

The UK & Ireland Tour premiered in Manchester on 17 September 2013 (with previews from 12 September). This spectacular production has already broken Box Office records and been acclaimed as "so magical it defies belief" (Irish Daily Mail), "quite simply, the best musical I've ever seen" (Yorkshire Evening Post), "an evening of wall-to-wall musical perfection" (Sale & Altrincham Messenger), and "truly is a global phenomenon, and it deserves to be - the music is irresistibly catchy, the lyrics a perfect blend of poetry and wit and the plot, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, is remarkably clever" (Huddersfield Daily Examiner). The show has already won multiple 5 star reviews across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Critics also acclaimed the high quality of the production: "rest assured that this first touring production maintains the spectacular staging, costume=  design and magic of the original" (Manchester Evening News); "the production values are incredible - this is every bit the West End show" (The Public Reviews) and "this incarnation of the West End smash flew in and totally ripped up the rule book that states touring shows should somehow be second rate to London or Broadway. This interpretation is truly phenomenal" (Daily Record, Glasgow).

On The Web:

Tickets:
TUESDAY 31 MARCH - SATURDAY 25 APRIL 2015
Sunderland Empire, High Street West, Sunderland SR1 3EX
In Person: Sunderland Empire box Office
Telephone: 0844 871 3022
ATG Card members: 0844 871 3022
Groups: 0844 871 3042
Special rates available for groups and schools.

Performance Times
Monday-Saturday at 7.30pm, matinees Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm. Extra Easter matinee on Thursday 9 April 2015 at 2.30pm.

Wicked is suitable for a general audience. As a guide to parents and guardians, it is recommended for ages 7+. All persons entering the theatre, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Children under 3 years of age will not be admitted.

Tour
Birmingham Hippodrome (until 6 September 2014)
Liverpool Empire Theatre (16 September to 11 October 2014);
Southampton Mayflower Theatre (21 October to 15 November 2014); Edinburgh Playhouse (19 November 2014 to 10 January 2015);
Plymouth Theatre Royal (20 January to 14 February 2015);
Bristol Hippodrome (18 February to 21 March 2015);
Sunderland Empire Theatre (31 March to 25 April 2015);
Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre (5 to 30 May 2015)
The Lowry in Salford (3 June to 25 July 2015).

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