By Andrew Gans
25 Jan 2009

Dee Roscioli in Wicked.
photo by Joan Marcus

The Chicago production of Wicked, which began its Windy City run June 24, 2005, plays its final performance at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts' Oriental Theatre Jan. 25 at 2 PM.

When it closes, the musical will have played 1,500 performances and grossed over $200 million.

The cast currently features Dee Roscioli as Elphaba, Annaleigh Ashford as Glinda, Barbara Robertson as Madame Morrible, Gene Weygandt as The Wizard, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Ted Ely as Boq and K. Todd Freeman as Dr. Dillamond.

In a previous statement producer David Stone said, "Of all the companies performing around the world, we have been most proud of the success and accomplishments of Wicked in Chicago, because it had been decades since a dedicated Broadway company was created for this wonderful city. From the moment we decided to make Chicago our home, the entire city has truly embraced and welcomed us. We thank Mayor Richard M. Daley and Broadway In Chicago for their tremendous support and leadership. Chicago is renowned as a world-class city for theatre, and we have been honored to be a part of the city’s vibrant and growing Downtown Theatre District. Chicago will always have a very special place in Wicked's heart."

The Oriental Theatre will host several shows within the next few months, including the tours of Chicago, A Bronx Tale, Rent, A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde the Musical.

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.

Wicked features a score by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, direction by Joe Mantello and musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The creative team also includes scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Meola, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, music supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by William David Brohn and dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

The Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre is located at 24 W. Randolph Street in Chicago, IL. For more information visit www.wickedthemusical.com/chicago.