So much happened before Dorothy dropped in

(Springfield, MO) Wicked, the musical, is set to make its Springfield, MO premiere at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts this February. Tickets are now on sale for this special two-week engagement.

Wicked, winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One of them was born with emerald green skin and is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. 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.

Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and a book by Winnie Holzman (My So Called Life, Once And Again and thirtysomething), is based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

Wicked has been declared “A cultural phenomenon” by Variety and “The best musical of the decade” by Entertainment Weekly. Since its New York premiere over a decade ago, Wicked has been performed in over 100 cities in 13 countries around the world. It has been translated into five languages.

The musical has grossed nearly $4 billion worldwide and has been seen by nearly 50 million people across the globe. Wicked currently has four productions around the world, in New York, London, a U.K. Tour, and a North American National Tour.

The production is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Wicked features set design by Tony Award winning Eugene Lee, costume design by Tony winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Tony nominee Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Meola. Stephen Oremus is the show’s music director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Wicked is a part of the 2015-2016 Broadway Season which includes Stomp, Ragtime and the Broadway bonus productions of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis and Disney’s Beauty And The Beast.

Wicked will be presented at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, on the campus of Missouri State University, for a limited engagement of two weeks February 3-14. The performance schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees. Prices start at $40.

Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased online at www.HammonsHall.com, by calling (417) 836-7678 or in person at the Hammons Hall Box Office. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more by calling (417) 836-8468. For more information about Wicked log on to www.wickedthemusical.com.

Beware of scalpers! Please note: HammonsHall.com and MissouriStateTix.com are the ONLY official online ticketing services for Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts events. Tickets sold online at any other web location may reflect inflated pricing and/or speculative seating options. Juanita K. Hammons Hall cannot assume responsibility for unauthorized ticket purchases.

The Gayly – January 29, 2016 @ 4:35 p.m.