John Rubinstein to Play The Wizard in L.A. Wicked

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein will play The Wizard in the new sit-down production of Wicked that will begin performances at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre on February 10. The show will once again be directed by Joe Mantello, who helmed the Broadway production, the London production, and the national tour.

Rubinstein joins previously announced stars Eden Espinosa (Elphaba), Megan Hilty (Glinda), and Carol Kane (Madame Morrible). In addition, Kristoffer Cusick will play Fiyero, Jenna Leigh Green will play Nessarose, Adam Wylie will play Boq, and Timothy Britten Parker will play Doctor Dillamond.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s book of the same title, Wicked tells the story of how young Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and shows her rivalry and eventual friendship with the beautiful Glinda. The show has a book by Winnie Holzman, a score by Stephen Schwartz, and musical staging by Wayne Cilento.

Rubinstein received the Tony Award for Best Actor for Children of a Lesser God. Among his many other Broadway credits are Pippin, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, M. Butterfly, and Getting Away With Murder. His Los Angeles credits include Ragtime and Counsellor-at-Law.