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A new sit-down production of the hit show Wicked will begin at Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre on February 9. Casting is currently underway and will be announced at a later date. The show will once again be directed by Joe Mantello.

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

The show played the Pantages last summer as part of its national tour, selling out its seven-week run. "After watching the excitement for Wicked at the Pantages last year, we felt there would be a wide audience base in Southern California," says David Stone, one of the show's producers. "It was during that run that we began to formulate the plan for a company of the show just for Los Angeles."

The Broadway production of Wicked opened on October 30, 2003 and has attracted sold-out audiences ever since. It received 10 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and won three Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Idina Menzel), Best Costume Design, and Best Scenic Design. A sit-down Chicago company opened at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on July 13, 2005 and is still running. The show's national tour continues to be a huge success and a London production will begin in September at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, with Menzel re-creating her Tony-winning role as Elphaba.

Tickets for the L.A. engagement are currently available to subscribers of the Broadway/L.A. series by calling 866-755-3075.