Picture: Matt Crockett
The full cast has been confirmed for the third UK and Ireland touring production of the multi -award-winning musical Wicked.
Due to fly into theatres in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland from early December, the production will feature the previously announced Laura Pick (Anyone Can Whistle, Union Theatre, The Sound of Music, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Elphaba alongside Carl Man (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Starlight Express, The Other Palace) as Fiyero and Simeon Truby (A Little Night Music, Storyhouse Chester, Blood Brothers, UK tour) as The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond.
They will be joined by Sarah O’Connor (Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre) as Glinda, Donna Berlin (The Clinic, Almeida Theatre) as Madame Morrible, Jed Berry (The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre) as Boq, Megan Gardiner (Allegiance, Charing Cross Theatre) as Nessarose and Casey Al-Shaqsy (SIX The Musical, UK tour) as standby for Elphaba.
The cast will also include Thomas Charles, Julie Cloke ,Charlotte Coggin, Freddie Conway, Áine Curran, Jade Davies, Kamau Davis, Russell Dickson, Maddison Firth, Lydia Gerrard, James Gower-Smith, Shoko Ito, Holly Lawrence, Nick Len, Stephanie Lindo, Will Lucas, Will Luckett ,Rozz Mbwembwe, Georgia McElwee, Conor O’Hara, Shereen Osman, Stuart Rouse, Christina Shand, Adam Stickler and Frazer Woolcott.
Laura Pick, Carl Man, Simeon Truby, Nick Len, and Will Lucas have all previously appeared in the West End production of Wicked, which continues its open-ended run at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre as it flies into its 18th year. Currently booking into June 2024, the production has now played almost 6,500 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Announcing the full cast, Wicked UK executive producer Michael McCabe said: “As we embark on this third tour of cities in England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, we’re delighted to announce a truly stellar cast of 33, led by Laura Pick and Sarah O’Connor as Elphaba and Glinda, who form part of the 100-plus company that will be delivering all the spectacle and magic of this gigantic production on stage and behind the scenes.”
The 2023/2025 tour will open at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 7 December 2023 until 14 January 2024. The tour will then visit the Bristol Hippodrome (23 January-25 February 2024), the Birmingham Hippodrome (5 March-7 April 2024), Bradford Alhambra (16 April-19 May 2024), Southampton Mayflower (23 May-16 June 2024), Liverpool Empire (20 June-14 July 2024), the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin (23 July-15 September 2024), Sunderland Empire (24 September-20 October 2024), the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff (24 October-23 November 2024) and Manchester Palace Theatre (3 December 2024-12 January 2025).
Over 100 people (including an additional 20 people who will be employed in each city visited) will be involved both on stage and behind the scenes in bringing the magic of Oz to ten venues. Pick is scheduled to appear at all venues.
Announcing the tour last year, McCabe said: “We’re delighted to be embarking on this third tour of the UK and Ireland and taking Wicked back to 10 incredible theatres in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland where sold-out audiences previously greeted us so ecstatically. We’re excited to have this opportunity to share once again the spectacle, magic and emotion that has created unforgettable memories for audiences everywhere.”
The multi-award-winning tale of the Witches of Oz has won over 100 major international awards including three Tonys, two Oliviers and 10 WhatsOnStage awards. The musical has been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the show’s Broadway premiere.
Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel which takes its inspiration from the creations of L Frank Baum brought to life in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, Wicked has music and lyrics by multi-Grammy and Academy award winner Stephen Schwartz (Disney’s Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame).
Adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman (cult TV series My So-Called Life), the show features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by double Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. Music arrangements are by Tony Award winners Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton) and Stephen Oremus (Disney’s Frozen).
Schwartz and Holzman are currently collaborating on the two-part Universal Pictures film version of Wicked, directed by Jon M Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
Angela Thomas
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