Wicked - National Tour?

Well I had heard a couple of months ago that after a minimum of 12month run in Melbourne, it would move to the Lyric Theatre at Star City Sydney but at this point who knows.

I heard on the grapevine that it will not be playing anywhere but Melbourne. It is a massive production & very expensive to stage. It would look fabulous in the Regent Theatre. If you have not been,it is well worth the visit just to see the theatre.

I heard on some television show a couple of months back that it would be staying in Melbourne so that it could be used to draw in audiences from around the country, a sort of "tourist destination", much like the lion king.

"...much like the lion king"??? But that DID tour.

I have read several reports that Wicked will NOT be touring. When it was initially announced that it would move into the Regent Theatre, Melbourne, the Producer stated that the Regent would be the home of Wicked in Australia. Wicked will be a tourist attraction and drawcard in itself to entice people to visit Melbourne..

hi, i want to tell you that the show here in nyc is still very popular after 4 years. so much that the tickets are still hard to get and still at full price. i am a broadway musical lover for many many years. i love to find out new and old facts about the shows in this country. i have just expanded my thirst for knowledge internationally. i hope some one in australia gets this message and could send me an e-mail reply. that would be so interesting to me. bye for now.

Wicked is being partly produced with the assistance of the Victorian Government - therefore they will be doing everything in their power to keep the show in Melbourne for as long as possible.

They will tell you that it will not tour in order to ensure as many people as possible fly to Melbourne to see it. That doesn;t mean it won't. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

I think if you can afford to go to Melb and see the show then go!! Dont forget to enjoy what the city has to offer including some great food! Wish I could go myself :D

Agree with tonymoore. Plus, the same thing was said years ago about "Cats" - it won't tour. Then it did. More than once.

It will last at least 18 months (that's how long most of the performers' contracts last), but the expectation at this stage from those involved is that we're looking at 2 years plus. It was a massive job for the crew getting the set, etc. into the theatre, they actually altered parts of it to fit the show, so I don't think a tour would happen very easily. Plus, like others have said, there's some serious support going on for Wicked in Melbourne... hell, the whole place has practically turned green (at least, the Town Hall has)! (In any case, it's absolutely worth travelling interstate to see it- awesome show)

The goss that I have heard is that when the excavated under the floor for of the Capital Theatre for Billy Elliot they made it just a little deeper than they needed it because they knew that Wicked was going to be there next. As for whether it’s going to Brisbane I don’t know but they need a very big stage as it’s a big show Went to the opening night in London, was amazing!!!

Hey All, I'm keen to hear from anyone who has seen/is going to see the Australian cast of Wicked. I've just come back to Australia from a theatre holiday (one week on Broadway, one on the West End) where I was lucky enough to see Wicked twice in two weeks with some phenomenal talent. I have to be honest, I'm having trouble conceiving how Rob Mills will manage to pull off the role of Fiyero. I'm not saying he can't; I'm not bagging a performance I haven't seen - that's more than a little unfair. I would just like to know how he goes. I saw two really different interpretations of the role while I was away (I must say, the posh English accent in London gave Fiyero a really different feel, one that I think worked extremely well) but from what I know of Rob Mills from his time on Idol (which isn't that much I admit) I can't see him creating a convincing Fiyero. So please, anyone who has seen the Australian production, please post some feedback on how the performers went with their respective roles (especially Fiyero). I genuinely want to know so that I can decide whether to put myself in yet more debt in order to go and see the show in Melbourne. I loved it soooo much both times while I was away that I would totally be willing to go see it in Melbourne - I just want to get some feedback from people who have seen it first ;) DazzaB

Chat to Sean B - he's seen it. (Find him in the members list) Moppet eyes now on sale at Puppets in Melbourne

Dobbed me in their Na, I'll just say Amanda Harrison is amazing. Her voice is just wow. I've heard so many screechy version of Defying Gravity that have turned me off Wicked, but hers was definitely not one of them. I had Lucy's understudy- and it was her first shot at the role and being on stage in Wicked- wouldn't have known the difference, she was great. Funny and bubbly really good performance by her. I've also heard Amanda's understudy is great too. Technically the show is great- sets and costumes amazingly lavish- costumes more than I thought they would be- and I loved a scene change (is that weird to come out of a show in love with a scene change) (PS: I don't know why they would deepen underneath the Capitol for WICKED...I'm not exactly sure what they store underneath the stage. I thought the majority of the set appeared to be brought in by by flys. I also know it to not be touring...and I believe there's two years contracts with the actors currently, if I can remember correctly from something I heard the other day) I think Mills will grow into the role as the season progresses. I found he had a fair bit of a difference between his 'acting' and his 'singing' voice and his accent was a bit shaky at times. But a duration of a long season will help him grow as a performer. We didn't have Callea at our performance either (there was the flu going round) but his understudy was good too. However you can't go past the leading ladies in this show- because it is mainly about them, and no matter who is playing them they seem to shine and get a great response from the audience. One thing that got me was the Wizard Of Oz- the booming head was something that scared me from the film version of the Wizard of Oz (I believe everyone has a childhood fear of SOMETHING from that film) and they managed to scare me again in Wicked with the Wizard. Sean ____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: 'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience For more details visit: www.freewebs.com/lazycreationsgroup

Hey guys I took the travel interstate (dragging a friend so willingly behind me) It's well worth the travel, believe me. I agree with what Sean said. And I don't see it touring any time in the next few years, at least. It's a huge drawcard for Melbourne. Everything there advertises WICKED. Even Phantom wasn't advertised that much when it was there last year. We had Elphaba's understudy. She was great. She apparently performed the role in the UK as well. But like Sean I'd heard many a screechy version of Defying Gravity and the night before we flew out someone sung it in a comp I was in and it made me worry. But I worried in vain really. She was amazing. We had Lucy Durak as Glinda. so. . .pink. lol. So bubbly and bright. A nice contrast to Elphaba. As for Rob Mills and Anothony Callea. Well I saw them in RENT a few years back and was not impressed. However, in saying this Rob Mills thoroughly impressed me as Fieyro. He met the bar that the other performers set. Callea on the other hand I felt was wooden in his protrayal of Boq and it felt like an inexperienced performance. (I've seen some amatuer/community performers sing and act better) and my friend seemed to agree. Set, costumes, lighting were absolutely brilliant. Beyond words. They blended so well and complemeneted each other nicely. I think I held my breath for the entire 2nd act. And if you go, try an Ozmopolitan cocktail in the awesome glowing cups (you get to keep the cups) so worth the $10. lol. My friend and I both agree the program from this show does it little justice. You need the atmosphere and to see the sheer scale of everyhing. It's immense. (Would have NO HOPE of fitting anywhere in Perth. No hope in hell.) Anyway my two cents worth. ~ Tari The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.

Sorry :) You're the only person I know who's seen the show already. Moppet eyes now on sale at Puppets in Melbourne

We saw Wicked on the preview Thursday so we heard all of the leads and saw the best show we have ever seen. Plot is weak but Wicked is a huge spectacle even before you enter the theatre as the whole street that the Regent theatre is in has green floodlights in all of the trees. Most of the trams and busses have Wicked advertising and there are banners around the city. The coloured martini glasses are a good marketing idea with their potions lit up in reds and greens. The programme is ok but better value is the book Wicked The Grimmerie A Behind The Scenes Look At The Broadway Musical which I bought in Melbourne for $50 at Dymocks. It even has the script in it. http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Grimmerie-Behind-Scenes-Broadway/dp/1401308201 The book looks ancient and damaged but it is the printing effects. The set is great as is all aspects of this show. The set extends into the auditorium. The stage boxes are used as balconies for the cast and monkeys and there are two followspot positions for some of the fast stage action. There are two huge wooden beams that are half way out to the dress circle and some of the flying monkeys are flown from these locations so they fly over the audience. The scenery is flown and trucked as the clockwork themed set moves in and out for scene chnges. There is a lot of detail in the set so if you go to see Wicked several times you will see more detail each time. There is Half Price Tix which will eventually get tickets later in the season. The highlight of the show is Defying Gravity. Elphaba is lifted on a cherry picker as a flying harness would not work for this effect and with the lighting, black drapes and smoke, it looks like she is hovering in mid air. There are a lot of articles on the web describing how the set was designed, lighting was programmed and effects evolved. Elpaba has a green followspot on her whenever she is on stage to accentuate her green makeup. But reading these articles beforehand did not spoil the show, they just give you things to look forward to. It was not an expensive week as we also saw Scarlett O'harra At The Crimson Parrot and Guys and Dolls so put Wicked high n your holiday wish list. ALIA were advertising that a lighting tour to Wicked was being planned so for the Melbournites keep an eye ontheir web site. You need to see Wicked from the dress circle because of the special clockwork gear gobos they use and from the stalls near the stage because of the amazing set and costumes. This is not great but it is a you tube Defying Gravity on Broadway to give you an idea of the set and lighting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGPuwrv3XWU

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I believe I will be making the pilgrimmage to Melbourne. It sounds to me as if the set is exactly the same as those used on Broadway and the West End - I imagine the show has a specific set design as most of the spectacular moments sound the same. For anyone who has seen it once and is figuring that is enough, well I have to agree with Don in that you need to at least see it from the stalls and the circle. My wife and I sat in the stalls at the Broadway show and in the circle at the West End show and each view gives you a different perspective on what is happening. I have to agree that the Wizard's head is definitely on the scary side! And for once, not overused, which made me happy :) Anyways, I look forward to seeing the Melbourne production, though I believe I will give Millsy a chance to settle into the role (and my bank balance a chance to recover a bit) - thanks for the tip Sean ;) DazzaB

The masking actually goes out further than any other production, and the 'beams' go out further into the auditorium, otherwise the set is the same. But these extensions made on the set to fit into the Regent really draw the audience into the show. The understudy for Elphie did the Japanese Theme Park version of Wicked- the half hour adaptation of the show. Now she gets to do the whole thing, and she loves it. :) Not a problem Dazza. And the flashy cups were available at Priscilla too- or you can get them at the Reject shop for $3 or something similar...so make up your own mind about merchandise Oh on that line. I think they should replace the conductor with 'another' merchandise stand. I just think they're missing out on prime marketing space at the front of the auditorium right there under the stage- I mean there seem to be merch stands everywhere else! You'll all understand when you see the show- especially from stalls. Stalls- another thing I'd like to comment on. I sat row Q on the very edge of OP side. I still had a fantastic view (even with the dress circle above) I didn't miss anything- even the flying things, which I did miss out on seeing in both Spamalot (went with a cheaper ticket for that one because of the people I went with) and Phantom (which really annoyed me because I paid A Reserve and couldn't see everything) So I was happy with the sight lines I had for Wicked- I'd never sat stalls before in the Regent only circle for Lion King and Priscilla. Of course if you're lucky there's the lottery of front row seats at $30. It's all getting so Broadway now! (YAY) ____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: 'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience For more details visit: www.freewebs.com/lazycreationsgroup

I've seen Wicked several times and was very impressed by the entire cast. It's a beautiful production. Both the lead women are excellent. Lucy has wonderful comic timing and Amanda's voice is just stunning. I too loved the fact that she could belt Defying Gravity without the strident screeching which I've hated in other shows. The supporting cast was as good as all the reviews have said. I don't understand the above criticism of Callea as Boq - if anything in his acting he was quite the opposite of wooden and will probably pull back a little as time goes on. He's an excellent dancer too, blended perfectly into the ensemble. I'd definitely like the name of the amateur singer who's better, as I'll go and hear him tomorrow! I thought he was very good in Rent and his singing was superb, as everyone said at the time. Even the most reluctant non-fans conceded that. If the criticism of Callea's singing is surprising, that of Rob Mills in Rent is even more puzzling as he has never performed in that show. I've never been a fan of 'Millsy' and I don't feel he's as wonderful as reviews suggest. He has a much meatier part than Callea in the very thin role of Boq, but I went with an open mind and he was enjoyable and convincing. His dancing is a little stiff and his voice, while he's obviously done a lot of work didn't match the power of the rest of the cast. I'd recommend it to anyone thinking of going to Melbourne. I doubt it will tour in a hurry because of the Victorian Government involvement. When I was there for about ten days there were Hose Full signs for every performance, but it's possible to get cancellations an hour before and they also have a lottery each day for some cheap tickets. marcie

I wish we could edit so I wasn't saying 'Hose Full', especially during a drought. I might also have finished some of the paragraphs. Despite not sharing the rave views of Rob Mills, I felt he acted well and was a lot better than expected.

I've seen the show a few times, and would recommend it to anyone. Thoroughly enjoyed all the cast, I was lucky enough to see both Amanda Harrison and her standby Jemma - they were both amazing - both stunning in different ways and both vocally fabulous! Loved Lucy Durak's comic timing, and her soprano has to be heard to be believed, a wonderful G(a)linda! Penny as Nessa was gorgeous, her scenes with Callea were teriffic and her transformation from act 1 to act 2 fabulous. Wish I could have heard more of her, she's definitley going to be a leading lady some day soon. Callea was better than I was expecting - he has the voice of course, but he also dances very well and acted convicingly - a very cute Boq. Mills was a better actor than he was a singer or dancer, not to say he was bad at all, he can sing quite well, but he is vocally 'light' compared to the rest of the cast and his dancing is not fluid - having said that, he was still enjoyable in a fun and flashy role. Maggie eats the scenery as Morrible, she's a fabulous actor and Rob G is a great Wizard, loved him - the ensemble are simply superb! Costumes and sets are out of this world, you can see where they spent all the money it took to bring it here.

Hi - thanks. I actually tried to join ages ago but couldn't fill the form in without making things up, which I didn't want to do. I wrote and asked about it but never received a reply. I'll try again.

You do realise you don't have to fill all the info in? You only need to add your desired username, an email address, real name and postcode. In fact, nobody says you have to use your real name and postcode, just that you can't register without filling out those fields. Finger puppets now on sale at Puppets in Melbourne

Just for clarification: no, I can't help with registering. The only person that can is Grant... but as I said, filling out the form doesn't actually require a lot of info. Finger puppets now on sale at Puppets in Melbourne

My review, I agree with you/ Rob Mills was not astonishingly wonderful or anything but he was alot better then when I saw him in RENT and by far outshone his Aust Idol counterpart. Just my opinion. ~ Tari The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.

Hey DazzaB I went down 3 weeks ago, and i thought it was unbelievable(A few mic problems at the beginner of Act 1),but other than that it was amazing. I was quiet shocked with Rob mills performance i thought he did a brilliant job. Honestly if the show was in Brisbane i would go at least 3 more times (IF not more)I'm hoping to save enough money to go back to Melbourne to see it once more before the end of the year. (I thinks it's worth it) Hope this helps Jubella

I think you're a bit mistaken there...Rob Mills never played in Rent, with Callea or otherwise.

I had the same doubts going to see Rob Mills. I've seen the show in New York and London, and now Melbourne - and I have to say I was prepared to 'get the tomatoes out' (so to speak) for Millsy, but my irritation lessened as the show went on. I read someone hailing him as the 'stand out' - but that in my opinion was not the case. Millsy played himself. He is Fiyero - particularly in Act I. A playboy - 'dancing through life'. My point is - he is certainly not a strong point of the show, his dancing and moving particularly lets him down - (his singing is suprisngly good) but the girls are FANTASTIC. Lucy Durack I think does a fabulous job - she oozes Kirstin Chenoweth-like enthusiasm for the role of Glinda. For me - it was up there with the Broadway performance. I hope it sticks around for a long time. And it's fabulous to see some new faces doing aussie theatre - not Todd McKenney & Lisa McCune. Make the investment - it's well worth it.

Yeah - i think you might have been talking about hair :)

It will most likley come to sydney not too sure about Brisbane though, but it will probably come to sydney at some point and will probably go to the Lyric Theatre, as in december High School musical willl be at the Capital theatre, as Billy Elliot is moving to Melbourne, and Guys and Dolls is come up here in February at the theatre Royal. Though it may not have the same cast. Shan

I don't know Shan, Idina Menzel does appear to be the face of Melbourne tourism of late! -the background to the anecdote. I found a Melbourne tourist brochure and on the front was a picture from Wicked, from before our production shots were taken. It's the same image used by the ANZ ads at Trains Stations (and elsewhere of course). 'The Official Bank Of Oz'... It definitely won't be December when it's in Sydney. Interesting point- (and sorry to kind of thread hijack) but Jersey Boys has been pushed back a month or so which should ease some of the worry for ticket sales from 'The Big Three' (Wicked, Billy Elliot and Jersey Boys) which were/are all going to clash. The extra month might do wonders for ticket sales for Jersey Boys, if not all shows. And it will be interesting to see the arrival date of Avenue Q. I'm assuming late '09 if not into 10.. 10... Are we that far into the 21st Century already? ____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: 'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience For more details visit: www.freewebs.com/lazycreationsgroup

Can I ask what you're basing that comment on? All indications appear to be that Wicked is in Melbourne for the long haul- the cast are all contracted for 2 years in Melbourne, the Regent Theatre itself was altered specifically to fit the show, and it is sponsored by the Victorian government. It wouldn't surprise me if, after the show has run its course in melbourne, they might then consider a touring version, but I think that's definitely a few years away.

Can anyone tell me how long the performance actually runs for - What time would the matinee finish?

As far as I know from talking to people on the show, it has no plans to go anywhere but Melbourne - reasons being: too big & too expensive.