Wicked the Musical: Stars of TV and Stage In Support Roles

Stars of TV and Stage Announced In Support Roles

Stars of television and stage have been confirmed for support and ensemble roles in the Broadway blockbuster musical WICKED when it comes to Auckland in September.

Steve Danielsen – Offspring, Stingers, Blue Heelers and Neighbours – will play Fiyero, the playboy Prince, seemingly shallow and self-absorbed, who is pursued by Glinda but much more intrigued by Elphaba. Steve joins WICKED fresh from the multi-award winning Australian season of the stage musical, Legally Blonde.

Playing Doctor Dillamond, a professor at Shiz University and the sole animal on the faculty, a goat, will be Glen Hogstrom, a veteran of stage with credits including Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Cats, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia and Aspects of Love.

The role of wheelchair-bound Nessarose, sister of Elphaba, will be played by Emily Cascarino who was part of the stellar Jersey Boys cast to perform in New Zealand last year. Edward Grey, currently playing Kiki in Legally Blonde, will play Boq, the munchkin who is enamoured with Glinda.

With 800 performances across Australia and Asia under her belt, Jemma Rix returns to the role of Elphaba, the ‘Wicked’ Witch born with emerald green skin, and Glinda, the good witch, is played by Suzie Mathers, star of Mamma Mia!. Veteran actress Maggie Kirkpatrick – aka Joan “The Freak” Ferguson from Prisoner – will play prickly headmistress Madam Morrible while our own Jay Laga’aia – Star Wars, Water Rats, Play School, McLeod’s Daughters, Xena: Warrior Princess, All Saints, Home and Away and Street Legal, will play The Wizard.

Ali Calder (Legally Blonde) will be the Standby for Elphaba, and the members of the WICKED ensemble will be Daniel Assetta, Rachel Cole, Danielle Cook, Daniel Downing, Danielle Evrat, Tom Handley, Emma Hawthorne, Matt Holly, Angela Lumicisi, Katie McKee, Kassie Martin, John O’Hara, Deanna O’Leary, Joseph O’Sullivan, Justine Puy, Chris Scalzo, Pharic Scott, Ryan Sheppard, Ellen Sutton, Sophie Wright, Dion Bilios (who performed the lead role of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys) and Justin Anderson, Mitch Fistrovic and Monica Swayne from the Mary Poppins cast.

“If every musical had the brain, the heart, and the courage of WICKED, Broadway really would be a magical place.” Time Magazine

WICKED Australia Co-Producer John Frost said, “Right from the beginning this show has been an overwhelming hit everywhere it has played. WICKED is a phenomenon, the most beloved musical of the past decade, and appeals to everyone from 8 to 80. People love it for so many different reasons – some come for the engrossing story, some for the astonishing sets and costumes, some for the soaring ballads, some for the deeper messages, and some to see the life-affirming friendship between the two girls who grow up to be Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

“We have assembled an extraordinary cast for this 10th Anniversary tour. I’m thrilled to bring WICKED, in all her emerald beauty and with this stellar cast, to the wonderful Civic Theatre,” Frost said.

“The defining musical of the decade.” The New York Times

When WICKED opened on Broadway, it worked its magic on critics and audiences alike. Winner of 35 major awards including a Grammy®, three Tony Awards® and six Helpmann® Awards including Best Musical, 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.

Currently in its 10th year on Broadway, WICKED’s North American and International companies have cumulatively grossed over US$2.9 billion and been seen by nearly 36 million people worldwide. Since opening at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in October 2003, WICKED has regularly broken box office records, consistently grossing more than $US1.8 million a week. In the week between Christmas and New Year, 2012, it grossed a chart-topping $2.95 million, the highest grossing week in Broadway history.

In London, WICKED had the highest weekly gross in West End history (a record WICKED also holds on Broadway, as well as a North American weekly touring record in both the United States and Canada), and in Tokyo and Stuttgart it again set new box office records. During its three year tour of Australia, WICKED was seen by over 1.5 million people – which is equivalent to more than 1 in 20 Australians.

“A breathtaking success story of a magnitude that North America has not witnessed since the peak years of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.” Washington Post

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and a book by Winnie Holzman (My So Called Life, Once and Again and thirtysomething). The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Lisa Leguillou, based on the original direction by Joe Mantello.

www.wickedthemusical.co.nz

Performance Times: Tues–Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2pm and 7.30pm, Sun 1.00pm and 6.30pm
Price: From $54.90 (service fees will apply)
Bookings: www.buytickets.co.nz or phone 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842)
www.ticketmaster.co.nz or 09 970 9700
Groups 12+ call 09 357 3360
Premium packages visit www.showbiznz.co.nz

ENDS

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