WICKED has been named ‘BEST WEST END SHOW’ by theatregoers alongside LES MISÉRABLES
Published Mon, 20 February 2017
WICKED NAMED ‘BEST WEST END SHOW’ BY THEATREGOERS ALONGSIDE LES MISÉRABLES. HONOUR MARKS THE MUSICAL’S 10TH WHATSONSTAGE AWARD
WICKED, the West End musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, has been named ‘Best West End Show’ by theatregoers for a third time at the WhatsOnStage Awards, tied with Les Misérables. The 17th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were presented on Sunday 19 February 2017 and marked the long-running hit musical’s 10th WhatsOnStage Award win (which include ‘Best New Musical’ in 2007 and ‘Best West End Show’ in both 2010 and 2011).
The award was accepted by current WICKED stars Willemijn Verkaik, Suzie Mathers and Oliver Savile. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe said in a statement: “It is an incredible honour to be named ‘Best West End Show’ by theatregoers, alongside the legendary Les Misérables. Audiences have passionately supported and championed Wicked since our premiere in 2006 and we remain exceptionally grateful to them and to everyone who voted.”
Acclaimed as “one of the West End’s true modern classics” (Metro), WICKED is already the 17th longest running show in London theatre history and has played over 4000 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre where it is now in its 11th smash hit year. The production recently welcomed its 8 millionth theatregoer.
WICKED currently stars Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba), Suzie Mathers (Glinda), Oliver Savile (Fiyero), Sue Kelvin (Madame Morrible), Mark Curry (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Sarah McNicholas (Nessarose), Idriss Kargbo (Boq), Alice Fearn (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie (Standby for Glinda).
Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted) and is based on the novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.
WICKED is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.
