Wicked To Cast Its Spell on Adelaide
Matt Byrne Media thrives on challenging projects and invariably the amateur company comes up trumps with the breadth and spectacle of its productions. This year MBM brings the SA amateur premiere of the magical Stephen Schwartz musical Wicked to the Adelaide stage. Lesley Reed reports.
The original Broadway production of Wicked premiered in October 2003 and succeeded in winning three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards. Since then, Wicked has played worldwide and won far more than awards; it continues to win the hearts of musical theatre lovers worldwide. It also celebrated its tenth anniversary on Broadway in 2013.
Wicked has had a long and highly successful professional history in Australia. Now South Australian audiences have the opportunity to attend the South Australian amateur premiere of this memorable musical. Not content to rest on its laurels following great success last year with Mary Poppins and Alfie, Matt Byrne Media will present Wicked at the Arts Theatre from July 7 to 16, 2016 and Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre from July 20 to 30.
Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz based the musical on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 best-selling novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which Schwartz discovered while on holidays. In 1998, following a good deal of negotiation, he persuaded the author to release the rights to a stage production.
And so Wicked was born. The dazzling musical, featuring magnificent music by Stephen Schwarz, a libretto by Winnie Holzman, orchestrations by William David Brohn and music arrangements by Alex Lacamoire and Stephen Oremus, has held the world spellbound since it opened on Broadway.
Wicked relates the untold story of the unlikely friendship at university between the Witches of Oz, the fiery emerald-skinned skinned Elphaba and popular rival Glinda.
MBM Producer/Director Matt Byrne describes Wicked as “stunning”.
“I’ve loved Wicked ever since I first saw it,” Byrne said. “It takes the story of the Witches of Oz to new levels of emotion and morality and we are reminded there are two sides to every story. A lot happened before Dorothy dropped in. The rebellious Elphaba is destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West and the ambitious Galinda becomes Glinda the Good, but they forge a friendship that will change them both forever.”
Byrne added, “Songs like Popular, The Wizard And I, What Is This Feeling, For Good and the musical’s defining number, Defying Gravity, have helped rewrite box office records wherever Wicked has played.”
The Matt Byrne Media production will co-star Dianne k. Lang as Elphaba and Kat Sachse as Glinda.
“Dianne is one of Adelaide’s finest leading ladies and starred in the title role in Evita for MBM and Kat was marvellous as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray for MBM and starred in The Voice,” he said.
Paul Sinkinson is Musical Director, Sue Pole the show’s Choreographer and Gordon Combes is Musical Supervisor.
Wicked will also feature Lisa Simonetti as Madam Morrible, Michael Bates as Fiyero, Sophia Bubner as Nessarose, Rick Williams as the Wizard, Zak Vasiliou as Boq, Neville Phillis as Dr. Dillamond and Thomas Phillips as Chistery.
USA Today said of Wicked, “Remember the last time an Original Broadway musical made you laugh, cry and think? Wicked is the most completely satisfying new musical in a long time.”
Adelaide audiences will surely embrace the opportunity to see yet another of Matt Byrne’s terrific musicals, so don’t miss your chance to be there when something Wicked this way comes.
WHERE AND WHEN:
Arts Theatre Adelaide from July 7 to 9 and 12 to 16 at 8 p.m. & July 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.
Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre from July 20-23 and 27 to 30 at 8 p.m. & July 23 & 30 at 2 p.m.
TICKETS:
$40 Adults and $35 for Concessions, with Group Discount prices of $38 /$33 for 10 or more. Wicked Cheap Nights - $30 for All Tix, on Tuesday, July 12 at the Arts and Wednesdays, July 20 and 27 at the Shedley.
BOOKINGS:
wickedsa.com, mattbyrnemedia.com.au, 8262 4906, BASS or dramatix.com.au
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