The Los Angeles production of Wicked will play its final performance on January 11, 2009 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Upon closing, the production, which is directed by Joe Mantello, will have played 791 performances and 12 previews.
The show is closing to allow the resumption of the Broadway L.A. Series, according to James M. Nederlander, chairman of the Nederlander Organization, which owns and operates the Pantages Theatre.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, and musical staging by Wayne Cilento.
In related news, Schwartz will receive a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Tuesday, April 8 and the cast of Wicked will perform in his honor.
