UA News

Broadway in Tucson and UApresents will co-present "WICKED" from Jan. 5-23, 2011, at Centennial Hall.

Broadway in Tucson and UApresents are proud to announce a new partnership to bring Broadway's biggest musical to southern Arizona. The two organizations will co-present "WICKED" from Jan. 5-23, 2011, at Centennial Hall on the campus of the University of Arizona.  

"The Nederlander Organization has been proud to host ‘WICKED' in its theaters in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles as well as to present it in many of its other markets around the country," said Jack Meyer, vice president of programming for Nederlander. "Tucson audiences have been asking for this show for years and we are thrilled to partner with UApresents on this premier engagement."

UA President Robert N. Shelton remarked, "I'm delighted that UApresents and Broadway in Tucson are collaborating to bring this wonderful production to Tucson and to the University of Arizona campus. I saw ‘WICKED' on Broadway and I can't wait to see it on the great stage at Centennial Hall."  

"WICKED" is the untold story of the witches of Oz.  Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz.  One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  "WICKED" tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

"WICKED" has captivated audiences throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Boston.

Called "a cultural phenomenon" by Variety and just named "the defining musical of the decade" by the New York Times, "WICKED" continues to thrill audiences around the world.

There are currently eight productions of "WICKED" worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, productions in San Francisco, London and in Australia, a Japanese-language and a German-language production. A Dutch-language production will open in 2011.

"WICKED," with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz ("Godspell," "Pippin," Academy Award winner for "Pocahontas" and "The Prince of Egypt"), book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), is based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. 

The musical is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello ("Take Me Out," "Love! Valour! Compassion!," "The Vagina Monologues") and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento ("Aida," "The Who's Tommy," "How To Succeed..."). 

"WICKED," winner of 26 major awards, including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.