Can you believe it? Tonight (Tuesday 27 September 2016), WICKED marks ten thrillifying years in the West End! The team behind the show have been painting the town green this week, and we're feeling pretty green with envy that we aren't lucky enough to be in tonight's swankified audience to wildly applaud this achievement.
But in the spirit of #Wicked10, we are delighted to share these 10 milestone facts about the show with you. Do be sure to check out WICKED's #StageFaves page too. For tonight's gala, in addition to the show's official Twitter feed, we're pulling in all of your fan tweets on the #Wicked10 hashtag for posterity - and later this week, we'll be awarding #StageFaves prizes to our Top 10 #Wicked10 fan tweets!
The current West End cast for WICKED, who'll be defying gravity once again for tonight's gala, features: Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Suzie Mathers (Glinda), Oliver Savile (Fiyero), Anita Dobson (Madame Morrible), Mark Curry (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose) and Idriss Kargbo (Boq).
WICKED, the West End musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, celebrates an extraordinary 10 years at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre tonight (Tuesday 27 September 2016). Over the past decade, WICKED has attained many accolades and achieved numerous milestones to become “one of the most popular West End musicals ever” (London Evening Standard):
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It's already the 8th longest running show currently playing in the West End.
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On Saturday 12th November 2016 at 2:30pm, Wicked will become the 18th longest running show in West End theatre history, surpassing the run of the original production of Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
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It's one of only three Broadway transfers in West End theatre history to ever run 10 years or more (the two others being Disney’s The Lion King and the 1997 revival of Chicago).
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Already seen by nearly 8 million people in London alone, the production has employed over 1600 people, as well as multiple contractors and companies, since its London premiere.
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It's the first show in West End history to gross over £1,000,000 in single week (week-ending Saturday 1 January 2011). The production has gone on to break this record on many subsequent occasions, most recently during week-ending Saturday 2 January 2016.
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The multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour will return in February 2018, opening at the Bristol Hippodrome (with tickets on public sale from 1 February 2017). Further cities to be announced. The critically acclaimed production is currently playing at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and continues touring internationally until January 2018.
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Almost £1 million raised for charity through Wicked's FOR GOOD programme and many other charitable endeavours, including the planting of over nearly 35,000 new trees in support of The Woodland Trust.
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Launched in 2010 with the National Literacy Trust, the Wicked Young Writer Awards, spearheaded by Michael Morpurgo and Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, has inspired the writing of over 25,000 original stories from young people across the UK. www.wickedyoungwriterawards.com
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Winner of 2 Olivier Audience Awards, 9 WhatsOnStage Awards (including ‘Best New Musical’ and ‘Best West End Show’), a Visit London Gold Award, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and over 100 awards worldwide.
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In celebration of Wicked’s 10th birthday, theatre owner ATG has invested in the complete refurbishment of the Apollo Victoria Theatre auditorium and Front of House areas. All seats and carpets have been replaced with designs replicated from the original design of the Grade II* listed venue that first opened its doors, as the New Victoria Cinema, in 1930.
Commenting on the show's first decade in London, Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe said:
“On behalf of Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Stage Productions and all of the producers, I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to all of our casts, musicians and production staff who have worked so tirelessly, and with such diligence and dedication, in helping to achieve this incredible milestone. It continues to be an absolute privilege to work with so many exceptionally talented individuals and companies and we couldn’t be more proud of, and grateful to, every single one of you. And to our audiences, who have so passionately supported and championed WICKED over the past decade, we offer our deepest gratitude.”
