Mackey, who was previously seen in the touring production of the Stephen Schwartz musical, joins a cast that includes Kristy Cates as Elphaba, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, Gene Weygandt as The Wizard, Heidi Kettenring as Nessarose, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Adam Fleming as Boq and Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond. Dee Roscioli is the standby for Elphaba.

The company also features Brad Bass, Nicholas Belton, Justin Caster, Dioni Michelle Collins, Jason Davies, Delandis, Jennifer DiNoia, Jeremy Duvall, Peter C. Ermides, Steve James Ewing, Kristina Fernandez, Jacqui Graziano, Jill Hayman, Colleen Hieber, Jeremy Kocal, Kate Loprest, Vanessa McMahan, Don Richard, Rozlyn Roberson, Alexander Selma, Ryan Weiss, Dan’yelle Williamson and Neka Zang.

The open-ended Chicago production of Wicked began performances at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts' Oriental Theatre June 24, 2005, and officially opened July 13. The original Chicago company included Ana Gasteyer and Kate Reinders as, respectively, the green-faced and "Popular" witches.

Based on Gregory Maguire's novel, which turned every Oz myth inside out, Wicked explores the early life of the witches of Oz: Glinda and Elphaba. The two main characters meet at Shiz, a school where both hope to take up sorcery. Glinda is madly popular and Elphaba is, well, green. By a misunderstanding, they wind up roommates and, after an initial period of mutual loathing, begin to learn something about each other. Their life paths continue to intersect through a shared love, entry into the Emerald City and interaction with the Wizard himself. Eventually, their choices and convictions take them on widely different paths.

Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre is located at 24 West Randolph Street. Tickets for Wicked are available at all Broadway in Chicago box offices (22 W. Monroe Street, 24 W. Randolph Street and 151 West Randolph Street) or by calling (312) 902-1400. For more information about Wicked visit www.wickedthemusical.com.