Wicked has taken the first steps towards being the most successful musical ever staged in Australia after the all-important group booking figures exceeded expectations on Tuesday evening.
The show took $2.3 million in advance sales in just three hours, a new record for musical theatre in Australia.
The group bookers evening is always an important test for a production on how its initial promotion and marketing has been received and can often be the first indication of either success or disaster in the long term."It’s a tremendous sign that this musical is going to have a very long run at the Regent Theatre," said producer John Frost."Group bookers are the backbone of every successful musical, so I’m thrilled, of course. But I can’t say the advance sales came as a huge shock. Wherever it opens Wicked smashes box office records. At the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway alone it holds $40 million in advance bookings: an unheard of figure for a show that is now into its fifth year."The record-breaking night came just hours after Frost announced more details of the show's cast, confirming that Anthony Callea, Rob Guest, Rob Mills and Maggie Kirkpatrick would join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack in the musical, which is essentially the back story to The Wizard Of Oz.
The advance sales record on Tuesday beat the previous record holder - The Phantom Of The Opera - by a whopping 15 per cent."It has been a phenomenal response," Frost said."And I expect we’ll get another record breaking rush when bookings open to the general public on February 25."
It has been a month of record-breaking achievements for Wicked, with the production also announcing a $1 million 'presenting sponsor' deal with ANZ - the largest deal of its kind in Australian theatrical history.
Frost revealed on Tuesday that after securing the $1 million deal, he walked out of the meeting, purchased a bottle of French champagne and drank it at four in the afternoon, an indication of his excitement at the coup.
Aussietheatre.com
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
More Wicked castings announced
Rob Guest, Anthony Callea, Rob Mills and Maggie Kirkpatrick will star in the Australian production of Wicked that opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in July.
Guest will play the Wizard, Callea (pictured) is Boq, Mills is Fiyero and Kirkpatrick will play Madame Morrible.
They join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as well as Penny McNamee, who will play Nessa.
Also announced today was a $1 million sponsorship with ANZ, the biggest “presenting sponsor” deal in Australian theatre history.“This is a terrific day in what will be, I’m sure, the very, very long history of Wicked in Australia,” said producer John Frost.“I’m thrilled that the New York creative team who conducted the auditions with me have chosen Australian Idol’s standout stars – Rob Mills and Anthony Callea – both now firmly in the front ranks of our entertainers.
“Rob Guest is one of Australian music theatre’s most popular and enduring performers – he played the Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera for a record seven years in Australia and New Zealand.“And Maggie Kirkpatrick is one of our best loved stars. As The Freak in Prisoner, she remains a legendary, cult figure to television audiences internationally, but Maggie is also a renowned stage performer.”
Frost confirmed that rehearsals for the Australia production will begin on May 12 ahead of July 12 opening night.
Guest will play the Wizard, Callea (pictured) is Boq, Mills is Fiyero and Kirkpatrick will play Madame Morrible.
They join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as well as Penny McNamee, who will play Nessa.
Also announced today was a $1 million sponsorship with ANZ, the biggest “presenting sponsor” deal in Australian theatre history.“This is a terrific day in what will be, I’m sure, the very, very long history of Wicked in Australia,” said producer John Frost.“I’m thrilled that the New York creative team who conducted the auditions with me have chosen Australian Idol’s standout stars – Rob Mills and Anthony Callea – both now firmly in the front ranks of our entertainers.
“Rob Guest is one of Australian music theatre’s most popular and enduring performers – he played the Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera for a record seven years in Australia and New Zealand.“And Maggie Kirkpatrick is one of our best loved stars. As The Freak in Prisoner, she remains a legendary, cult figure to television audiences internationally, but Maggie is also a renowned stage performer.”
Frost confirmed that rehearsals for the Australia production will begin on May 12 ahead of July 12 opening night.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Penny McNamee to play Nessa in Wicked
Sydney-sider Penny McNamee has been cast as Nessa in the forthcoming Australian production of Wicked, which opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in July.
She joins previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack in the show, which is attracting unprecedented interest.
McNamee is expected to be confirmed as Nessa when additional cast members are officially announced next week at a special launch in Melbourne.
Nessa is Elphaba (Amanda Harrison)'s sister in the musical, with her standout number being 'The Wicked Witch Of The East' in the second act.
24-year-old McNamee appeared in the lack lustre Witches Of Eastwick in 2003, and has made numerous guest appearances on television programs, including All Saints and White Collar Blue.
AussieTheatre.com also understands that 2007 WAAPA graduates Liz Stiles, who is currently appearing in Hello Again at the Darlinghurst Theatre, and Suzie Mathers have been cast in the show's ensemble
Aussietheatre.com
She joins previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack in the show, which is attracting unprecedented interest.
McNamee is expected to be confirmed as Nessa when additional cast members are officially announced next week at a special launch in Melbourne.
Nessa is Elphaba (Amanda Harrison)'s sister in the musical, with her standout number being 'The Wicked Witch Of The East' in the second act.
24-year-old McNamee appeared in the lack lustre Witches Of Eastwick in 2003, and has made numerous guest appearances on television programs, including All Saints and White Collar Blue.
AussieTheatre.com also understands that 2007 WAAPA graduates Liz Stiles, who is currently appearing in Hello Again at the Darlinghurst Theatre, and Suzie Mathers have been cast in the show's ensemble
Aussietheatre.com
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Harrison's big break
For the last 15 years, Amanda Harrison has been a regular feature on the theatre scene both in Australia and overseas, but she feels she has finally “made it” after securing the coveted role of Elphaba in the upcoming Australian premiere of Wicked, which opens at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in July.
Harrison, a Helpmann Award winner and Green Room Award nominee, has most recently appeared as Ellen in Miss Saigon, a role she saw as an important lead-in to the demanding nature of Elphaba.“When Wicked was rumoured to be coming a few years ago I was really keen, but I wasn’t going to put my family plans on hold,” Harrison said.“I ended up having my daughter Grace, and then I returned to work doing Miss Saigon so the timing really is perfect.”
The 33-year-old, who is in New York with co-star Lucy Durack, found out she had been cast just before Christmas, but privacy agreements meant she couldn’t discuss the role with anyone.“I told my immediate family but that was it – I had to go to ground and turn myself into a hermit,” she said.
While Harrison has known since December that she would turn green every night from July, she had to watch as rumours about other performers constantly popped up. A strong one suggested that Pippa Grandison had been signed, sealed and delivered. Another said Idina Menzel would come to Australia to perform the first eight weeks of the Melbourne season, but there was no sign of such an announcement today, when the key casting was finally let out of the bag.“It’s going to be such a smash, it’s such an amazing show,” Harrison said.“We’ve seen it twice since being here in New York and have been totally blown away by it.”
Harrison believes playing the role will be one of the most defining periods of her career.“I’ve worked for 15 years in this industry and done some amazing things but this is it – this is the biggest thing I have ever done,” she said.“I’ve had plenty of mini-breaks but this is the big one.”
Wicked co-producer John Frost said he firmly believed Harrison and Durack would become household names thanks to the show.
Aussietheatre.com
Harrison, a Helpmann Award winner and Green Room Award nominee, has most recently appeared as Ellen in Miss Saigon, a role she saw as an important lead-in to the demanding nature of Elphaba.“When Wicked was rumoured to be coming a few years ago I was really keen, but I wasn’t going to put my family plans on hold,” Harrison said.“I ended up having my daughter Grace, and then I returned to work doing Miss Saigon so the timing really is perfect.”
The 33-year-old, who is in New York with co-star Lucy Durack, found out she had been cast just before Christmas, but privacy agreements meant she couldn’t discuss the role with anyone.“I told my immediate family but that was it – I had to go to ground and turn myself into a hermit,” she said.
While Harrison has known since December that she would turn green every night from July, she had to watch as rumours about other performers constantly popped up. A strong one suggested that Pippa Grandison had been signed, sealed and delivered. Another said Idina Menzel would come to Australia to perform the first eight weeks of the Melbourne season, but there was no sign of such an announcement today, when the key casting was finally let out of the bag.“It’s going to be such a smash, it’s such an amazing show,” Harrison said.“We’ve seen it twice since being here in New York and have been totally blown away by it.”
Harrison believes playing the role will be one of the most defining periods of her career.“I’ve worked for 15 years in this industry and done some amazing things but this is it – this is the biggest thing I have ever done,” she said.“I’ve had plenty of mini-breaks but this is the big one.”
Wicked co-producer John Frost said he firmly believed Harrison and Durack would become household names thanks to the show.
Aussietheatre.com
Durack: 'A dream come true'
26-year-old Lucy Durack says securing the role of Glinda in Wicked is a "dream come true" and has revealed she kept the news secret for some six weeks due to a privacy agreement with the show's producers.
Speaking to AussieTheatre.com from New York, where she and co-star Amanda Harrison have seen the Broadway version of Wicked twice in as many days, Durack said she found out she had won the role on December 17."Keeping it secret has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do," she said."Words cannot describe how excited I am by this whole thing. I feel so lucky being given this opportunity, it is something I have wanted to do for so long and I am so very grateful."
Durack, who has appeared in a number of musicals including Mamma Mia! and Respect, has previously starred with Harrison in a production of Oklahoma! presented by Melbourne's Production Company.
"That was a few years ago but I still have my notebook from that show and in the front it says 'Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison for Glinda and Elphaba'. I guess we can tick that box now."
Durack was always considered a favourite to secure the role of Glinda, though there was constant speculation that Helen Dallimore, who played the role in London, could return home to reprise it in Melbourne.
Durack said she is looking forward to starting rehearsals in May.
Aussietheatre.com
Speaking to AussieTheatre.com from New York, where she and co-star Amanda Harrison have seen the Broadway version of Wicked twice in as many days, Durack said she found out she had won the role on December 17."Keeping it secret has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do," she said."Words cannot describe how excited I am by this whole thing. I feel so lucky being given this opportunity, it is something I have wanted to do for so long and I am so very grateful."
Durack, who has appeared in a number of musicals including Mamma Mia! and Respect, has previously starred with Harrison in a production of Oklahoma! presented by Melbourne's Production Company.
"That was a few years ago but I still have my notebook from that show and in the front it says 'Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison for Glinda and Elphaba'. I guess we can tick that box now."
Durack was always considered a favourite to secure the role of Glinda, though there was constant speculation that Helen Dallimore, who played the role in London, could return home to reprise it in Melbourne.
Durack said she is looking forward to starting rehearsals in May.
Aussietheatre.com
Durack, Harrison win coveted roles
Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison have won the prize roles of Glinda and Elphaba in the forthcoming Australian premiere production of Wicked, which opens at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July.
There's been months of speculation over who would be cast in the coveted female roles, but in the end the creative team held back on any surprises, with both Durack and Harrison considered as favourites throughout the audition process.
Speaking to AussieTheatre.com from New York, Wicked co-producer John Frost said he was thrilled with the casting."There were other options, but you could see these two girls were the ones shining through during the audition process," Frost said."The great thing was that while people were talking about Lucy and Amanda for some time, the American creative team had not had a lot to do with them and hence the girls got the roles on their own merits and talents."Frost confirmed that due to the demanding nature of the show, there would be a "stand by" Glinda and Elphaba cast as well as general understudies.He also said the roles of Boq, Fiyero and The Wizard were yet to be cast.
A Helpmann Award winner, Harrison has appeared in countless major musicals, including We Will Rock You, Leader Of The Pack and Aspects Of Love.Durack has most recently been seen in the Australian tour of Respect and has previously appeared in Mamma Mia! and a host of shows for The Production Company, including 42nd Street last year.Durack said securing the role of Glinda, originated on Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth, was a dream come true."If somebody said to me I could only play one role for the rest of my life, I would choose this hands down," she told the Seven Network.
Aussietheatre.com
There's been months of speculation over who would be cast in the coveted female roles, but in the end the creative team held back on any surprises, with both Durack and Harrison considered as favourites throughout the audition process.
Speaking to AussieTheatre.com from New York, Wicked co-producer John Frost said he was thrilled with the casting."There were other options, but you could see these two girls were the ones shining through during the audition process," Frost said."The great thing was that while people were talking about Lucy and Amanda for some time, the American creative team had not had a lot to do with them and hence the girls got the roles on their own merits and talents."Frost confirmed that due to the demanding nature of the show, there would be a "stand by" Glinda and Elphaba cast as well as general understudies.He also said the roles of Boq, Fiyero and The Wizard were yet to be cast.
A Helpmann Award winner, Harrison has appeared in countless major musicals, including We Will Rock You, Leader Of The Pack and Aspects Of Love.Durack has most recently been seen in the Australian tour of Respect and has previously appeared in Mamma Mia! and a host of shows for The Production Company, including 42nd Street last year.Durack said securing the role of Glinda, originated on Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth, was a dream come true."If somebody said to me I could only play one role for the rest of my life, I would choose this hands down," she told the Seven Network.
Aussietheatre.com
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Wicked Cast to be announced Thursday
Australia will know who has been cast in the coveted roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the forthcoming Melbourne production of Wicked on Tuesday, with an announcement expected on morning television.
AussieTheatre.com understands that the two performers cast in the roles have been flown to New York, where the announcement will be made via satellite ahead of an official launch later this month.A production spokesperson confirmed that the "two leads will finally be confirmed on Tuesday" but would not confirm the announcement will be made on a morning television program, believed to be Sunrise.
The rest of the cast will be announced at the launch later this month. It is believed that the roles of The Wizard, Boq and Fiyero are yet to be cast, with negotiations and auditions continuing.
Wicked features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, and is loosely based on the best selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Macguire. The musical tells the “back story” to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on Glinda (the good witch) and Elphaba (the wicked witch of the west) and their unlikely friendship that developed long before Dorothy dropped in.It opens at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July.
Aussietheatre.com exclusive
AussieTheatre.com understands that the two performers cast in the roles have been flown to New York, where the announcement will be made via satellite ahead of an official launch later this month.A production spokesperson confirmed that the "two leads will finally be confirmed on Tuesday" but would not confirm the announcement will be made on a morning television program, believed to be Sunrise.
The rest of the cast will be announced at the launch later this month. It is believed that the roles of The Wizard, Boq and Fiyero are yet to be cast, with negotiations and auditions continuing.
Wicked features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, and is loosely based on the best selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Macguire. The musical tells the “back story” to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on Glinda (the good witch) and Elphaba (the wicked witch of the west) and their unlikely friendship that developed long before Dorothy dropped in.It opens at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July.
Aussietheatre.com exclusive
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