This marks the Canadian premiere of the show by composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and librettist Winnie Holzman (based on the novel by Gregory Maguire). The booking is the first stop on the North American tour of the show.

Producer David Stone told the Toronto Star that principal players on the tour will include David Garrison as the Wizard, Carol Kane as Madame Morrible and Derrick Williams as Fiyero.

Block will play the misunderstood Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The actress played Liza in Broadway's The Boy From Oz. Garrison appeared in Broadway's Bells Are Ringing and Titanic, and is known for TV's "Married...With Children." Kane is known for TV's "Taxi" and Hollywood's "The Princess Bride." She stepped into Broadway's Sly Fox before it closed last summer. Kassebaum recently appeared in the company of Assassins, staged by Wicked director Joe Mantello.

The run at the Canon has been announced for seven weeks only.

Mantello directs and Wayne Cilento choreographs, as they did on Broadway. Tickets range $26-$110 (Canadian) at the Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria Street. Performances will play Tuesday Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

Call TicketKing at (416) 872-1212 or toll-free at (800) 461 3333. Visit www.mirvish.com.

Wicked began performances on Broadway Oct. 8, 2003 at The Gershwin Theatre. The cast recording available on Decca Broadway.

Wicked is being produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

"Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz," according to production notes. "One, born with emerald-green skin, 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 Witch."

For more information about Wicked visit www.wickedthemusical.com.