Now in its 8th year, Wicked surpassed the run of the original production of EVITA on Wednesday 22nd August 2013 to become the 15th longest-running West End musical of the all time. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical, directed by Harold Prince, closed at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1986 having played 2,900 performances.
UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “This is a fantastic milestone for the London production of Wicked. We are incredibly grateful to all those who have supported and championed the show since 2006 and thank everyone at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for all their exceptional work and dedication in delivering 3000 absolutely superb performances”.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines 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 who become Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
On Monday (18th November 2013) new cast members will join the production, including international Wicked star Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba. She has previously played the role in Germany, Holland and on Broadway. She is joined by: Savannah Stevenson (Glinda), Jeremy Taylor (Fiyero), Sue Kelvin (Madame Morrible), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Paul Clarkson (Doctor Dillamond); Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Emma Hatton (Standby Elphaba) and Sophie Linder-Lee (Standby Glinda).
Wicked has also announced five additional Christmas matinees on 23rd, 27th, 29th, 31st December 2013 and 2nd January 2014, all at 2.30pm. You can view the full Christmas performance schedule below.
Wicked Christmas Performance Schedule 2013/14
Monday 23 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Tuesday 24 December – 2.30pm
Wednesday 25 December - no performances
Thursday 26 December – no performance
Friday 27 December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Saturday 28 December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 29 December – 2.30pm
Monday 30 December – no performance
Tuesday 31 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Wednesday 1 January 2014 - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Thursday 2 January - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Friday 3 January – 7.30pm
Saturday 4 January - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Andrew Tomlins