The biggest theatre hit of the decade will open in Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in September A breathtaking musical that manages to be comic, One of Australia’s leading theatrical producers whose dramatic, moving and exhilarating, WICKED will open Broadway productions have won two Tony Awards®, in Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in September, following its John Frost is accustomed to hits, but, he admits, triumphant Australian premiere at Melbourne’s Regent WICKED is something he has never experienced. Theatre on 12 July 2008. More than 600,000 theatregoers – more than a quarter of WICKED’s audience is from ‘WICKED comes with all the blockbuster bells and interstate or overseas – will have seen the musical when whistles, certainly,’ he says. ‘But aside from its spectacle, it takes its final curtain call in August. wonderful lyrics and score, its wit and warmth, WICKED also touches other, unexpected, and intriguing emotions. Now this extraordinary musical is coming to Sydney. WICKED will open at the Capitol Theatre in September. ‘This show brings in people who’ve never seen a musical; people who never thought they would go inside ‘WICKED is unique,’ says the Australian production’s a theatre. They all spread the WICKED word. This is a co-Producer, John Frost. ‘It’s a phenomenon, quite show that grows by word of mouth in a way and to a unlike any other musical.’ degree unlike any I know.’ NATIONAL PUBLICITY: Suzie Howie, Howie & Taylor Publicity Ph: 0416 066 507 E: [email protected] NSW PUBLICITY: Ian Phipps, IPpublicity Ph: 0419 977 649 E: [email protected] www.wickedthemusical.com.au Amanda Harrison is Lucy Durack is Elphaba, the ‘Wicked’ Glinda, the ‘Good’ Witch; Witch Born with emerald- pretty, perky, vain and very green skin, she is an popular. But Glinda is also outcast. Fiery, sensitive, vulnerable and kind hearted passionate, Elphaba has and ultimately she sees the potent inner beauty, rallies truth about Elphaba. for the underdog and has great talent for sorcery. Lucy Durack ‘is our fastest rising music theatre star,’ ‘No one in music theatre John Frost says. ‘Television in this country can give a viewers know Lucy as the role edge and attitude like lead, Cassie Bennett, in Amanda,’ John Frost says. ‘She was the spitfire wild child Oz, sexy Channel 7’s Headland, but to theatre audiences she’s racked up and vulnerable in We Will Rock You - she took out the Helpmann a remarkable series of principal roles. for Best Supporting Actor in the role - and in the original London cast, in the West End, she played the Teen Queen, Madonna. ‘Lucy was singled out for the highest praise in the national production of RESPECT The musical journey of women, and she ‘The year after her Helpmann, she was nominated for two Green played a series of principal roles for The Production Company, Room awards, for Ellie in Leader of the Pack and Ado Annie in co-starring with David Campbell in Carousel and Ian Stenlake in Oklahoma!’ Oklahoma!. In all of those shows she won high praise. She has played a number of roles for British television; on ‘But for me it was her performance as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Parkinson, Children in Need and in guest roles in Oscar Charlie, Street that said “A Star is Born”. Ironically, 42nd Street is Grange Hill and Casualty. And, like Lucy Durack, she performed best remembered for the immortal quote: “You’re going out a internationally on the BBC2’s Broadway Babies musical theatre youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star!” Lucy Durack is competition in Cardiff, in which they were both finalists, Amanda going out there a youngster, but there is no doubt WICKED has in the inaugural competition in 2000. made her a huge star.’ Bert Newton is the Wizard. Maggie Kirkpatrick is He tricks Elphaba, into giving his monkey Madame Morrible, the head servant wings so as to act as his spy. mistress of Shiz University, she takes He hopes to use Elphaba’s sorcery, but Elphaba under her wing, training her in their momentous meeting sets them on a sorcery. But as Elphaba changes so too fateful path. does Madame Morriible. Since television began in Australia, Bert Maggie created the international TV Newton, with his twin talents as a natural cult figure, the Freak in Prisoner and in comedian and compere, has been a Australian theatre she is among the elite favourite with the viewing public, visiting group of performers who enjoy near legendary status. She has public, visiting celebrities and critics alike. worked with all major Australian theatre companies. Rob Mills is Fiyero, the playboy Penny McNamee is Prince, seemingly shallow and self Nessarose. Crippled and in a absorbed. Glinda pursues him, but Fiyero wheelchair, she is Elphaba’s lonely, is much more intrigued by Elphaba. He younger sister, fooled into believing that joins her in her struggle. Elphaba and Madame Morrible Boq loves her and embittered when she learns the truth. On tour with GREASE – The Arena Spectacular (as the pop idol Johnny Penny’s musical theatre career began Casino) Rob first heard the music of with a role in The Witches of Eastwick that WICKED and determined he’d one day won her a MO Award nomination, and the be in the musical. A finalist in Australian Idol, Rob’s first single following year, 2003, she was cast as a supporting lead in Salem’s went Gold. Lot. How to get tickets to WICKED Rodney Dobson is Doctor Ticketmaster - 1300 723 038 Dillamond. A professor at Shiz University Dr Dillamond is also the sole Qantas Holidays - 131415 animal on the faculty - a goat. His downfall - taken away in custody - triggers the Land and Air packages battle between Elphaba and the Wizard. Showbiz - 1300 WICKED For almost 20 years Rodney Dobson has Premium Tickets, been performing in music theatre, and Dining & Hotel Packages won a Green Room nomination for his portrayal of Tobias in Gale Edwards’ Sweeney Todd. WICKED is Rodney’s ninth Australian premiere production. Glinda and Elphaba In the Emerald City. usby B Photos by Jeff Elphaba and Madame Morrible The Wizard Fiyero Long before Dorothy drops FACTS FILE in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and The Production and WICKED, says Technical Director misunderstood. The other its success Brian Downie, is ‘More complicated, is beautiful, ambitious and more sophisticated, with more lights, very popular. WICKED tells sound, scenery and sets than the WICKED had its Australian premiere at biggest musicals. Many of the props are the story of their remarkable Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on 12 July incredibly complicated. The sound rig is odyssey, how these two 2008. Having recently celebrated the 5th immense. There are speakers all round unlikely friends grow to Anniversary of its Broadway opening, the auditorium. It’s all state of the art. become the Wicked Witch WICKED’s four North American and four international companies have cumulatively of the West and Glinda the grossed over $1.35 billion and have been ‘Eugene Lee’s sets are very clever. They Good Witch. seen by 17 million people worldwide. engulf. It’s all about involvement. The whole set comes 15 metres out from the WICKED, one of the most successful stage around and against the walls so that The creative team and shows in theatre history, is the winner of 20 it draws the audience into the action. major awards including a Grammy® Award the Producers of and three Tony® Awards. Look out for: WICKED worldwide The Flying Monkeys. Highly skilled dancers controlled by operators with WICKED, with music and lyrics The Costumes and Wigs dual joy sticks so that they get vertical by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, and horizontal movement with hands. Pippin, Academy Award-winner Susan Hilferty designed the Tony Award for Pocahontas and The Prince winning costumes for the show, most of them The Time Dragon. Its eyes blaze, steam of Egypt) and book by Winnie gorgeous and unlike any you’ve ever seen hisses from its nostrils and its wings, six Holzman (My So Called Life, Once – and all of them conjuring up the fantastic metres wide, flap ominously.‘ And Again and thirtysomething) is world of Oz. Some need two dressers to lift. Produced by Marc Platt, Universal Glinda’s bubble machine. ‘Everyone Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B The costumes are complemented by should drive one,’ Downie says. ‘Burnished Platt and David Stone. 70 wigs with actors making up to eight aluminium. It shines. It delivers bubbles all changes from beginning to end. Custom round her, it glides in, it glides out, it goes In Australia, John Frost, Co- built, the wigs cost from $1500 to $2,500. 10 metres up, and it comes down.’ Producer of the Australian production of WICKED, is joined by The Wizard’s Head. A giant and imposing the U.S. creative team, Lisa Leguillo The Sets and Props puppet prop with all the bells and whistles. (Associate Director); Stephen Oremus (Musical Supervisor); WICKED has 54 scenes and locations, Mark Myars (Dance Supervisor); and each has its distinct light and mood. and Corinne McFadden-Herrera (Dance Assistant). “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster.” “Remember the last time an original – New York Times Broadway musical made you laugh, cry and think? WICKED is the most “A breathtaking success story of a complete, and completely satisfying magnitude that North America has not new musical in a long time.” witnessed since the peak years of – USA Today THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.” – Washington Post “Perfectly Entertaining “WICKED is a phenomenon and Perfectly Thrilling.” that keeps growing.” – San Francisco Chronicle – Los Angeles Times “Hooray! Broadway’s got a big new WICKED acknowledges the following musical that’s good enough to run for sponsors for the Sydney season: a decade or two! If it doesn’t please ANZ, Qantas, Accor Hospitality, you, you’re too tough to please.