STAYING PUT

Wicked has no plans to depart the Regent

Wicked will stay in Melbourne for all of 2009 and is making no plans to come to Sydney, producer John Frost has confirmed.

Despite rumours the show was planning a run at the Capitol Theatre from late next year, Frost says no plans have been made for a Sydney season and there is a major focus on keeping the show in Melbourne for as long as possible.

"We haven’t even talked about what we’re doing or where we are going after this," Frost said.

"I can’t see it moving from Melbourne inside the next 12 to 18 months. At the moment we are purely focused on reaching our first anniversary in July next year."

Despite tough economic times, Wicked continues to do big business at the box office with only limited tickets – if that – available for most performances.

"It has exceeded my expectations," Frost said.

"I think it has become very settled now and we’re getting the types of audiences who only go to the theatre once or twice a year. We’re also seeing a lot of return business."

Frost said there was a conscious effort to make the hit musical "Melbourne-centric".

"We are aggressively out there trying to be part of the Melbourne infrastructure as such," he said.

"Therefore we are seeing not only a strong response from locals but also a very good base of ticket-buyers from interstate."

Frost said Bert Newton’s arrival to the show as the Wizard had been warmly received by the cast, even though it was in tough circumstances following the loss of Rob Guest.

"Bert’s interpretation is different to everyone else and I think it’s been a shot in the arm for the cast," he said.

"I’m also excited about Stuart Fisher joining us as Boq. That said we would like to see Anthony come back and join the show again at some point in the next few years – he’d certainly be welcome."

Frost said the remainder of the principal cast are on long-term contracts and will certainly be with the show beyond the six month mark.

The American creative team arrive back in Melbourne next week to tighten up the show and ensure all is running smoothly.

- Troy Dodds

It's Enough To Make Anyone Green With Envy

Anthony Callea and Kate Law reunited backstage.

Kate Law loves nothing more than to sing. So the Vision Australia client was very excited when she found out that she was going to see the Broadway musical Wicked in Melbourne with mum and dad.

Kate's trip from her Geelong home to one of the most popular productions in Melbourne became a day to remember when she was also given the opportunity to be reunited with Vision Australia's 2007 Carols by Candlelight Carols Ambassador and Aria Award winner, Anthony Callea.

Kate, along with her brothers Jacob and Nicholas, spent a lot of time with Anthony Callea in the lead up to last year's Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, but they have not seen each other since Christmas Eve.

So Kate was understandably excited when Anthony took time out of his busy schedule to say hi and pose for a few photos backstage before the show.

Kate was also among a number of Vision Australia clients who took advantage of the audio description service for this show.

Clients were also given the opportunity to take part in a tactile tour of the costumes and stage.

"I was lucky to spend so much time with Anthony last year so it was very nice to meet him again. I really liked Anthony's character in the show too - he made me laugh," she said.

Due to popular demand Vision Australia will provide another audio description of Wicked on Saturday 10 January at 2pm at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne.

For more information or to book tickets please contact EASE Ticketing, on 03 9699 8497 or email ease@artsaccess.com.au

source - Vision Australia Website

A Wicked Bond

Kate's mate Anthony

Blind Geelong girl Kate Law has been re-united with former Australian Idol singer Anthony Callea as a special backstage guest at the musical Wicked.

Kate, 8, and her mother Jayne have both been vision-impaired since birth.

They first met Callea at Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight where he was an ambassador last year.

Kate who loves drawing and singing, soon fell in love with the singer and they formed a strong bond.

Last Saturday, Callea invited Kate and Jayne to the backstage of his current hit show Wicked.Callea and Kate spent their reunion by chatting and taking a photo.

New Wizard Ready To Cast His Spell

Bert Newton shows stage magic
November 09, 2008 12:00am

TV LEGEND Bert Newton will again tread the boards as the Wizard of Oz when he joins the cast of Wicked this week.

Newton will make his debut in the stage show on Thursday night. He replaces Rob Guest, who died last month after a stroke.

Co-producer John Frost is expected to make the official announcement on Tuesday. It will see Newton reprise the role he played on stage 17 years ago in the stage production of The Wizard of Oz. Wicked has grossed $25 million since opening in July and is expected to play for at least the next 12 months.

The move also means Newton will take the stage at this year's Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight with the entire cast of Wicked.

They will be joined at the Christmas Eve event by David Campbell, Hi-5, Marina Prior, Ian Stenlake and Anthony Callea. Georgie Parker and Tim Campbell will make their Carols debut, while Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson will host the night.

Wicked Tops $30 Million At The Box Office

Lucy Durack and Anthony Callea in Wicked

Sunday, November 2

Hit musical Wicked has now taken more than $30 million at the box office and is showing no signs of any serious slow-down at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.

The record-breaking production, which opened in July, stars Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack and has become a huge success, with more than 320,000 tickets already sold.

There are consistent rumours, however, that the show could move to Sydney next year and open at the Capitol Theatre.

Interestingly, 20 per cent of Wicked's ticket sales in Melbourne have come from interstate visitors.

Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. 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.

In his review of Wicked for AussieTheatre.com, Troy Dodds said, in part: "Wicked’s spectacular costumes and contemporary staging are the real stars of the show, and the gasp of wonderment from the audience when Elphaba (Amanda Harrison) flies into the air at the spectacular conclusion to act one embodies the incredible connection this show builds with an audience throughout. And such gasps keep coming, whether it be at one of the many hundreds of wonderful outfits or the strong, action-packed script that has so many surprises along the way that it almost makes Wicked a show you need to see two or three times to really take it all in."

This week, Harrison and Durack will sing the National Anthem at Oaks Day, part of the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne.Meanwhile, the Wicked cast met at the Regent Theatre late last month to discuss their producer’s request to re-use publicity footage at the Spring Racing Carnival, the ANZ website, the Regent Theatre website and Showbiz websites.

Troy Dodds - Aussietheatre.com

Bert Newton The New Wizard

Moonface Bert Newton dances into Rob Guest role in Wicked

November 03, 2008

MOONFACE Bert Newton has stepped in to play the Wizard in Wicked after the sudden death of star Rob Guest.

While producers have refused to confirm the 20 to 1 host, his co-star Rob Mills said the cast were excited to work alongside the industry veteran.

Newton was a good friend of Guest, who passed away suddenly last month following a massive stroke.

Mills said Newton was coping well with the physical role. "From what I hear he's doing really well with the dancing," the former Idol singer said.

Special Service For Rob Guest

castmates from WICKED sing 'For Good'

Terry Brown
October 14, 2008 12:00am

A GIANT metal dragon rears above the Regent Theatre crowd. For five days a week the theatre is a place of fantasy - an escape from the world for $100-plus a seat.

At a Monday matinee that nobody hoped for, the tickets are free.

It is 11 days since Rob Guest died from a stroke that wasn't remotely in the script.
For one show only, the Regent becomes a place where reality is inescapable and hits hard enough to make grown men weep.


About 400 performers, stage crew and fans come for the memorial service.

Some look dressed for a theatre show, with their cocktail wear and sequins.
And they all bring memories of a man who owned the spotlight.

TV and theatre veteran Bert Newton is in attendance with wife Patti.
Marina Prior is there to speak, and Anthony Callea to sing.

Most faces in the audience, however, would be unfamiliar to other than keen theatre-goers.
Rows are filled with performers from the many shows Guest put his stamp on; Les Miserables, Jolson and, of course, Wicked.

Callea shared a dressing room with Guest.
He sings, almost hauntingly, the song Now That You've Gone.
"I know you had a good life. It doesn't make it any easier," he sings -- and tears well because for many there it is so true.

Slide shows mix respect and gentle ridicule.
To fond applause, Guest is shown in his New Zealand pop star days, with hippy hair, a banjo and even mingling with a Playboy bunny.

Performers who worked beside Guest in Les Miserables walk slowly on to the stage in a kind of funeral procession.

Some sob. One man weeps into his hands.

They struggle through the show's anthem, Do You Hear The People Sing? , then salute a huge picture of Guest behind them.

Speakers recall the practical joker who used a Bert and Patti Newton LP as a cheeseboard; who locked a castmate in a dressing room and then pumped theatrical smoke through the vent.
Prior remembers warming her icy feet on Guest in the backstage Green Room, and him pretending to mind.

"As his leading lady you felt cherished, gifted, supported and special," she says.

The real-life leading lady, Guest's partner Kellie Dickerson, feels more special still.
"I loved you and you knew it. You loved me and I knew it," she says to the man she lost.
"There's nothing left unsaid," she adds, then recites a litany of memories that live with her.
"Thank you for holding hands as we just walked down the street, just being happy," she says.

Guest was never happier than when he was on stage -- and took a lot of getting off.
Understudy Rodney Dobson jokes: "It seems we finally found out what it takes for Rob Guest to miss a show."

Speakers at the memorial aren't keen to vacate either.
The show must go on -- and it certainly does.
A running sheet has it pegged for an hour. After a series of actors and theatrical workers say their bit, the service nudges 2 1/2 hours.

Then the Wicked cast sing For Good.
In the show it is a duet between witches. For Guest, it is a hymn they struggle to force through tears.

"I have been changed for good," they sing.
"I do believe I have changed for the better because I knew you . . ."
It's an epitaph that fits perfectly as the stage lights dim for Rob Guest.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24491953-662,00.html