Wicked - 08 July 2013 - Media Call Photos and Preview Article by Joe Calleri.

Melbourne, Monday, 8 July 2013

On a delightfully sunny, Monday afternoon, Melbourne’s Spring Street magically glowed a bright, emerald green, as the principal cast members of the mega-hit stage musical, Wicked, stepped off a specially liveried green tram, much to the delight of a large throng of awaiting media representatives and onlookers alike.

Wicked returns in May 2014 to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre as part of its tenth anniversary world tour for a strictly limited season, before touring to Sydney and Brisbane.

If you didn’t see Wicked when it debuted in Melbourne in 2008, this spectacular musical tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz – Glinda the Good (Lucy Durack) is blonde, and beautiful, while the green skinned Elphaba (Jemma Rix) is smart, fiery and misunderstood.

Durack and Rix will be supported by a talented cast that includes Edward Grey as Boq, Steve Danielsen as Fiyero, Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible, Glen Hogstrom as Doctor Dillamond, and Emily Cascarino in the role of Nessarose.

Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, boasts some highly impressive numbers – winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards; a total of 350 costumes worth in excess of US$3 million; 69 wigs; 54 scenes; 34 cast members; enjoyed by more than 36 million people worldwide, with a gross box office take exceeding US $2.9 billion.

 

This show thrilled me when I saw it in Melbourne in 2008, and after seeing the cast members this afternoon, I eagerly anticipate its 2014 return.

The special green liveried tram carries the cast member of Wicked

Cast members of Wicked make quite an entrance as they parade along Spring Street

Lucy Durack (as Glinda the Good) (L), with Jemma Rix (as Elphaba) (R)

Supporting cast members - and that green smoke!

Cast members pose with Producer, John Frost, OAM.

Victorian Arts Minister, Heidi Victoria, MLA, poses with the cast.

Some lucky tourists had their photo taken with Glinda!

 

Left to Right - Edward Grey (as Boq) Maggie Kirkpatrick (as Madame Morrible), Lucy Durack (Glinda), Jemma Rix (Elphaba), Steve Danielsen (Fiyero), Glen Hogstrom (Doctor Dillamond).