The Los Angeles non-touring production of Wicked, now playing at the Pantages Theatre, will play its final performance on Jan. 11, 2009.

Producer Marc Platt said,

“Wicked has been one of the biggest hits in Los Angeles theatre history and we are thrilled that theatergoers here have embraced the musical and welcomed us so heartily. Our run at the Pantages has been a joy for the entire company and will place Wicked alongside only two other shows in recent memory that have successfully called Los Angeles home for an extended stay – The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera.”

James M. Nederlander, Chairman of the Nederlander Organization, also spoke,

“Wicked is by far the most successful musical that we have hosted in the 100-year history of the Nederlander Organization. It has been playing to sold-out houses since it opened four and a half years ago at our Gershwin Theatre in New York, as well as for the past two and a half years at our Oriental Theatre in Chicago, where it recently became the longest running show in Chicago theatre history.

“Although Wicked could continue to run for some time in Los Angeles, the Pantages Theatre is also home to Broadway L.A. and its subscription series. And, while we’ve been happy to send our subscribers to other venues during Wicked‘s run, we felt it was time to bring them back to the Pantages for our upcoming productions. So it is with reluctance, but great pride with both the success of Wicked and the strength of our subscription base, that Wicked will conclude its run in January 2009.”

At closing the Los Angeles production will have played 791 performances, not counting 12 previews before opening to the public. The Los Angeles production of Wicked began previews on Feb. 10, 2007 and officially opened on Feb. 21, 2007. The original cast included Eden Espinosa as Elphaba and Megan Hilty as Glinda, and currently features Caissie Levy as Elphaba and Megan Hilty as Glinda.

Press notes describe 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.

You can purchase tickets in the following ways:

1. Visit the Ticketmaster website: www.ticketmaster.com/wicked
2. Call (213) 365-3500 or (714) 740-7878
3. Visit the Pantages Theatre box office (opens daily at 10 AM), at 6233 Hollywood Blvd.

Official website: WickedtheMusical.com.

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