Smash-hit musical Wicked continues to defy gravity as it soars into its seventh year in the West End, announcing it has extended its booking period until November 2013.
The Olivier Award-winning production, which celebrated its 2,500th performance last month, tells the untold story of how two magical school friends grow up to become Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, which re-imagined the weird and wonderful characters found in L Frank Baum’s much-loved story The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, the global musical phenomenon has enchanted nearly five million theatregoers since it opened at the Apollo Victoria theatre in 2006.
While the Emerald City-set musical currently stars Rachel Tucker and Matt Willis, musical theatre star Louise Dearman will return to the show on 29 October, ditching her blonde Glinda locks to take on the role of green-skinned Elphaba, along with Katie Rowley Jones, who reprises her role as Elphaba’s younger – and less garish – sister Nessarose.
Also returning to the West End this month is Idina Menzel. Best known for originating the role of Wicked’s infamous green witch, both in the West End and on Broadway, the Tony Award-winning star will play a week of solo concerts at the Apollo theatre from 8 to 14 October.