The hit Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical, originally scheduled to end its engagement at the Canon on Nov. 26, will now play an extra month, running through Dec. 31. Shoshana Bean and Megan Hilty currently head the cast of the Wicked tour as, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda. Toronto marks the last of a three-stop tour for the two actresses. A spokesperson for Wicked said new casting for the lead roles will be announced shortly after Thanksgiving.
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.
The Broadway company, directed by Joe Mantello, plays the Gershwin Theatre.
For more information visit www.wickedthemusical.com.