Wicked Los Angeles and Stephen Schwartz events in LA

Wicked has closed in LA and is moving to San Francisco!

Wicked San Francisco Tickets and Info

Los Angeles January Stephen Schwartz Events

Stephen Schwartz and Friends concert in Malibu - January 18, 2009

If you haven't been to a Stephen Schwartz and Friends concert, you're in for a treat. These professional singers make Schwartz's songs sond even more wonderful. And there's nothing quite like watching the songwriter's busy fingers on the piano. He's got a good tenor voice as well. Stephen Schwartz and Friends | For a longer opportunity to meet with Mr. Schwartz while supporting the arts, attend the special benefit for the New West Symphony Stephen Schwartz and Friends New West Symphony reception

Stephen Schwartz Pippin celebration at Borders Bookstore - 7 pm on January 22, 2009

Stephen Schwartz will be speaking and signing the new career biography Defying Gravity and other Schwartz musicals items at Borders in Westwood, 1360 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

The event celebrates the opening of Schwartz's musical Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum. Pippin production in Los Angeles

Wicked History - Los Angeles Origins

Sometime in 1995 or 1996, Winnie Holzman was in Los Angeles writing for television when she noticed Gregory Maguire's book Wicked in a bookstore, and thought it would be an intriguing basis for a film adaptation. But she found out the rights were already taken (by Demi Moore's company, working in conjunction with Los Angeles-based Universal Pictures), and she dropped the idea.

When Stephen Schwartz heard of the book in December of 1996, he immediately recognized it as "the best idea for a musical I'd ever heard." He began working with producer Marc Platt, and planned to write the show's music and lyrics. Schwartz knew he wanted to team up with a woman to complete the libretto for a show that focused on women. Fortunately he thought of Winnie Holzman, and soon Platt, Schwartz, and Holzman were holding regular meetings in Los Angeles to plan the whole complicated story line.

But how were they to condense a 400+ page novel into a 2 1/2 hour musical? They had to reduce the number of characters, and crystallize the direction the story would take. Listen to our Podcast about Schwartz's decision to adapt Wicked the novel: The Schwartz Scene blog/podcast: Adapting Wicked for Stage

Read a full book about the development of Wicked: Wicked Grimmerie. Keep up with Stephen Schwartz and Wicked through free The Schwartz Scene newsletter. Read more about Winnie Holzman | Stephen Schwartz | Read about the characters used in both the novel and musical: Wicked's Characters | Go to our index of 50 pages about Wicked

Behind the Scenes Tour

BEHIND THE EMERALD CURTAIN
(an exclusive behind-the-scenes journey
through WICKED in Los Angeles)
Now Available at the
Pantages Theatre

“Behind the Emerald Curtain” is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at WICKED, run by members of the Los Angeles cast at the Pantages Theatre (Hollywood and Vine). As of January 1, 2008, "Behind the Emerald Curtain" is offered on Friday evenings at 6PM at the Pantages Theatre. The tours are ninety minutes long.

Participants visit the exclusive “Behind the Emerald Curtain” Museum, which includes a set model by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee and an up-close look at some of Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty’s costumes (with beautiful details that are not always visible from the audience), as well as some of the actual props and wigs from the show.

The tour also includes a question-and-answer portion with current cast members, and an opportunity to find out what’s in store for the mega-hit musical in Los Angeles, around the country and around the world.

Tickets for “Behind the Emerald Curtain” are $25. For tickets and more information visit the Pantages Theatre, call (213) 365-3500 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1132964

Groups of 15 or more – please call (866) 755-3075 or visit www.nedgroups.com.

Wicked Los Angeles Reviews

A wickedly good show begins long stay at the Pantages Theater From Posted March 8, 2007 ...."Wicked," the highest grossing show on Broadway, is now entertaining full houses nightly to the delight of Southern California audiences for the next year in an open-ended run.

Last Thursday, the audience rose to its feet, loudly applauding the cast during the curtain call. "Wicked" lived up to the hype with its spellbinding sets, spot on performances of the lead actresses and clever script....

Wicked Los Angeles review in LA Times Calendar Live 'Wicked' is almost sure to be evergreen. The hit musical makes L.A. its new Oz, with terrific lead performers who enhance the magic. February 23, 2007

Wicked Los Angeles review - The 'Magic' of Wicked ...The magic of "Wicked" is that it speaks to everyone - but to each person in a different way.

Eden and Megan - Wicked Los Angeles Review and photo on Theatremania

"Wicked" parked its theatrical sorcery at the Pantages on Wednesday, and don't expect it to vanish in a puff of smoke anytime soon....

Wicked Reviews of the LA production by Audience Members: Street Buzz

By Deanna O. of Visalia, CA

Wicked? There is not a greater musical out there. I have always been a fan of theatre and recently saw Wicked in Los Angeles. I was utterly spellbound...even though I had listened to the soundtrack for years.

By Laura H. of Santa Clarita

Just yesterday I was so very fortunate enough to experience Wicked at the Pantages, and even MORE fortunate to have incredible seats (I will NOT disclose to anyone how much I paid for 2 orchestra level seats row E dead center).

I've been telling everyone at my office this morning that in my opinion, Wicked is easily on the same level as Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera (and I have a large Phantom tattoo so for ME to say that anything is on the same level as POTO is pretty huge). I just loved the chemistry between Glinda ("The Ga is silent") and Elphaba...I had no idea how humorous the production would be, and yet so dark, and touching! The scenery and costumes were fab, the singing was sublime, the ensemble was incredibly talented. Funny how I found myself relating to Glinda and to Elphaba both. I guess that says something about the incredible character development and interpretation by the players. What a great day....I was buzzing all the way home! This evening may find me on Ticketmaster looking for another pair of tickets (but don't tell my husband....I have yet to pay the credit card bill for the FIRST pair of tickets)!

B. Scott's blog: Wicked: It's Magically Delicious This blogger says "...Last night’s performance far exceeded any of my expectations. Kudos to Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty for stepping into the shoes of the show’s original cast members, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth."

More Street Buzz - People's reviews of Wicked at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. "Cute story, good ending, performance fresh and snappy, a tad slow in a few parts, very nice costumes, ornate and not the typical. I liked it better than the performance I saw of Lion King. Definitely take a restroom stop before seating as it is a long time before intermission...." Yelp

Other Los Angeles Shows

Buy Tickets to the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles (premium or for sold out performances)

Find & Buy Broadway Show tickets, Sports Events & Concert Tickets in Los Angeles (Premium)

About Wicked in Los Angeles

Wicked producer Marc Platt has said, "The reception to Wicked in Los Angeles during its sold-out seven-week run in the summer of 2005 exceeded our wildest expectations. The enthusiasm generated by the audiences at the Pantages Theatre – just a few short miles away from my offices at Universal Studios where Wicked was created – was unlike the response in any other city that the show has played. It was during that run that we began to formulate the plan for a company of the show just for Los Angeles."

Producer David Stone comments: "After watching the excitement for Wicked at the Pantages last year, we felt that there would be a wide audience base in Southern California for a Los Angeles company. We are planning to make Los Angeles a home for Wicked as long as the public’s demand for our show will allow."

SETS AND COSTUMES AND LIGHTING, OH MY

In 2005, one LA critic described the Wicked Tour, saying it came "...complete with all the visual razzle-dazzle that garnered Tony Awards for Eugene Lee's phantasmagorical set designs, Susan Hilferty's whimsical costumes and a nomination for Kenneth Posner's spectacular lighting." Another said, "Lovers of spectacle won't be disappointed. Susan Hilferty's Tony award-winning costumes are practically their own character. The winged monkeys are pretty cool." Although these production elements are costly, the producers are committed to bringing Wicked in all its colorful glory to Los Angeles.

The Wicked Grimmerie includes sketches of original costumes and sets, showing how they sprang from the creative minds of their designers.

Keep up with Stephen Schwartz and Wicked through free The Schwartz Scene newsletter