Wicked: NZers Set to Be Enchanted With Magical Oz

For immediate release
7 April 2007

Wicked: New Zealanders Set to Be Enchanted With Magical Oz

The green glow of Emerald City shimmered alongside Auckland’s waterfront last night for the local launch of Melbourne’s WICKED the Musical.

WICKED, which premieres at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on 12 July 2008, stars New Zealand’s Rob Guest as the Wizard of Oz and Australian talent Lucy Durack as Glinda the ‘Good Witch’ and Amanda Harrison as Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West.

The two witches enamored guests at the industry launch with their performance of the show’s smash hit “For Good”. The show’s enchanting musical score, combined with impressive set design, is expected to entice many New Zealanders to cross the ditch for their own taste of magical Oz.

Tourism Victoria’s Regional Manager New Zealand & South Pacific Margaret Spiro says the arrival of WICKED to Melbourne further cements the city as the region’s preeminent theatrical destination.

“Melbourne has always been renowned for hosting fabulous shows, and WICKED is set to turn the culture capital into Emerald City!”

“Visitor numbers to Melbourne and wider Victoria are on the increase, and we anticipate that many thousands of New Zealanders will visit Melbourne to see WICKED as part of their holiday experience.”

“The fact that Melbourne has also been announced as by SportsBusiness International as the World #1 sports city, demonstrates that there is something for everyone in Victoria – The show doesn’t stop with the show, so to speak!”

WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The show first began five years ago on New York’s Broadway. Its success has seen the show sweep across America, now performing in five US cities as well as London’s West End, Stuttgart in Germany and Tokyo, Japan.

Co-producer of the Australian production, John Frost, is excited that the show has a cast of such talented local performers.

“Rob Guest is one of Australasia’s most popular and enduring musical theatre performers – He played the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera for a record seven years across both countries.

“Our two witches were the final choices of exhaustive, talent-packed auditions and I’m also thrilled that the New York creative team, who conducted the auditions with me, has chosen Australian Idol’s standout stars Rob Mills and Anthony Callea.”

Rob stars as Fiyero, the wealthy handsome prince who captures the attention of both witches. Anthony is Boq, a quirky munchkin enamoured with the gorgeous good witch Glinda.

For further information on WICKED Travel Packages contact Qantas on 0800 767 400 or contact your local travel agent

ENDS

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