Broadway In Chicago Presents Return Engagement of WICKED; Runs Dec. 1, 2010 to Jan 23, 2011

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the return engagement of WICKED this fall, beginning Wednesday, December 1, 2010. The most successful show in Chicago history makes its triumphant return to the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for eight weeks only, December 1, 2010 to January 23, 2011. Tickets for WICKED will go on sale to Broadway In Chicago Subscription Series holders and groups in February, 2010. Individual tickets for WICKED will be available at a later date to be announced.

"We are thrilled to host the return of WICKED. The requests from our patrons for this show to come back to Chicago have been overwhelming," said Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 26 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

"We are absolutely thrilled to return to Chicago and play WICKED at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. For nearly four years, the Oriental Theatre was our home, but it is about much more than a building. It is really the City of Chicago and its audiences that are WICKED's home. And, of course, there's no place like home," said Producer David Stone.

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, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Called "the best musical of the decade" by Entertainment Weekly and "a cultural phenomenon" by Variety, WICKED continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently eight productions of WICKED worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, San Francisco production, a London production, a Japanese-language production, a German-language production and an Australian production. A Dutch-language production of WICKED will open in 2011.

WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner EuGene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® winner Kenneth Posner (Hairspray, The Coast of Utopia) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show's musical director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

The Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording is available on Decca Broadway.

Broadway In Chicago Season Series ticket holders will receive a multitude of special benefits, including the first chance to buy WICKED tickets, savings up to 30 percent on series shows, priority seating at each venue, ticket exchange privileges, pre-paid and discounted parking, access to gift cards to give tickets as gifts, as well as the first opportunity to purchase additional tickets to future Broadway In ChicaGo Productions, including those not currently listed in the Season Series. Tickets for WICKED will go on sale to Broadway In Chicago Subscription Series holders and groups in February, 2010. Individual tickets for WICKED will be available at a later date to be announced. Groups of 15 or more may receive a discount on most shows by calling (312) 977-1710.

Photo: Chandra Lee Schwartz and Donna Vivino / Credit Joan Marcus.