As previously announced, the tour of Wicked will begin March 8 at Toronto's Canon Theatre, where it will play through April 24. Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts will then host the hit musical from April 29 to June 12.

Wicked will make a stop at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre, playing June 17-July 31, and is also scheduled to play San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre Aug. 4-Sept. 11.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Buell Theatre will offer Wicked Sept. 15-Oct. 2; a Dallas engagement at Music Hall at Fair Park is set for Oct. 5-23.

Stephanie J. Block and Kendra Kassebaum, will play, respectively, the wicked and popular witches in the upcoming tour of Wicked. Block, who was part of the out-of town San Francisco tryout of the musical, will play the green-faced Elphaba with Kassebaum as the golden-locked Glinda. The cast will also include David Garrison (the Wizard), Carol Kane (Madame Morrible), Derrick Williams (Fiyero), Jenna Leigh Green (Nessarose), Logan Lipton (Boq) and Timothy Britten Parker (Dr. Dillamond). The Wicked ensemble comprises Katie Adams, Timothy Anderson, Terra Lynn Arrington, Aaron Albano, Peter John Chursin, Matt Clemons, Nicholas Drommard, Laura Dysarczyk, Maria Eberline, Brooke Elliott, Lori Holmes, Adam Lambert, KW Miller, Kristen Oei, Chris Peluso, Don Richard, Emily Rozek, Chris Russo, Brian Slaman, James Tabeek, Barbara Tirrell, Brooke Wendle and Nicole Winhoffer.

Based on 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. Wicked began previews on Broadway Oct. 8, 2003, with an official opening Oct. 30, 2003. The Broadway company — directed by Joe Mantello, who will repeat his duties for the tour — continues to play the Gershwin Theatre. Tickets for Wicked's national tour are available by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1400.

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