Wicked to Play in Australia

A new production of the smash-hit musical Wicked will open in Melbourne, Australia at the Regent Theatre in July 2008.

This will be the fourth international production of the show; a London production opened in September 2006, and Wicked is scheduled to begin performances in June in Tokyo, Japan and in November in Stuttgart, Germany. In addition to the Broadway production at the Gershwin Theatre, the musical is also currently playing in Chicago at the Ford Center for Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre, and on national tour.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The show is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Casting details for the Melbourne company will be announced at a later date.