Wicked is returning to Sunderland Empire for a four-week run in 2018
WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is ready to return to the follow the yellow brick road of touring back to the Sunderland Empire in 2018.
One of the most successful productions in the venue’s history, Wicked was previously seen by morethan 56,000 people during its celebrated engagement in March/April 2015. The musical will run for four weeks from Tuesday, September 4 to Saturday, September 29, next year. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, February 1, this year.
Executive producer Michael McCabe says: “We were overwhelmed by the incredible response from audiences and critics alike when we first brought Wicked to the Sunderland Empire in 2015 for our North-East premiere, and it is extraordinary to think that almost 60,000 came and saw us. Ben Phillips and his great team at the Sunderland Empire showed such tremendous enthusiasm and support, and we’re all really delighted to return to this magnificent venue.”
Sunderland Empire general manager Ben Phillips says: “We are delighted that the spectacular multi-award winning production of Wicked will fly back to our magnificent theatre in 2018. We relish the opportunity to host this magnificent production once again.”
The show tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students and their extraordinary adventures in Oz, which will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters originally created by L Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked has impressed millions, through its technical wizardry, stunning costumes and show-stopping songs by three-time Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz.
After a 15-city tour of the UK and Ireland, from September 2013 to July 2015, won five-star reviews at every venue, the show resumed touring in July 2016 taking in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Shanghai and Beijing, before opting for its 2018 return to the UK.
Wicked is already the 17th longest running show in West End theatre history and recently celebrated a decade of performances at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it continues an open-ended run. It has been seen by more than 50 million people in 15 countries, and earned 100 major awards.
The production was adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.
Casting for the 2018 tour is to be announced.
By the time this production returns to Sunderland it will have travelled almost 12 thousand miles (by road, sea and air) since its debut in Manchester on September 12, 2013.
Almost 1.5 million theatregoers have seen this production to date.
This “ultimate Broadway experience” (according to The Northern Echo) features 350 stunning costumes, 140 wigs, 244 pairs of shoes, 110 hats, 125 pairs of gloves and 30 prosthetic masks.
It takes 100 people, both on-stage and behind the scenes, to delivery every single performance of this gigantic touring production.
Wicked has been seen by more than 50 million people across at 100 cities in 15 countries. It's now one of the top five longest-running musicals currently playing in the West End. The show has recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in the West End, and has gone over the 4,000 performance mark at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Awards so far include three Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, two Olivier Audience Awards, nine WhatsOnStage Awards, plus an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Grammy Award.
Wicked was also recently named as the Best Theatre Production for Schools at the School Travel Awards.
Official website: WickedTheMusical.co.uk Twitter: @WickedUK Facebook: /WickedUK | Instagram: @WickedUK
- Runs September 4 to 29, 2018. Sunderland Empire, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3EX
Tickets available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844-871-3022 or online at ATGtickets.com/Sunderland
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