WICKED, the record-breaking hit West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, proudly welcomed its 5 millionth theatregoer to London's Apollo Victoria Theatre on Saturday 30 March 2013. Stewart Lyons, together with his partner Cristina Kane, from Kirkcaldy in Fife, attended the sold out matinee performance and were invited backstage to meet the cast after the show. Asked how it felt to be the 5 millionth theatregoer, Mr Lyons said "It feels fantastic. We loved the show and even though it is our first visit to Wicked, it won't be our last."

Wicked has also just been shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award - the only Olivier Award to be decided solely by public vote. Named 'Best Musical of the Decade' by Entertainment Weekly, Wicked continues its open-ended run as "one of the biggest hits of our age" (The Observer):

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: "All long-running shows depend as much on audiences coming back for more as they do on first-time visitors, and Wicked is no exception. We have been swept along to the incredible milestone of 5 million visitors by passionate fans and incredible word-of-mouth that inspires new ticket buyers every day. We are truly grateful to everyone who continues to make Wicked such a popular and enduring success and to all those who supported Wicked in the public vote for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award. We are all delighted to be shortlisted for this very special Olivier Award for a third time".

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi GRAMMY® and Academy Award® winner Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner and Olivier Award nominee Joe Mantello. Wicked is based on the acclaimed novel, 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West', by Gregory Maguire.

Wicked is produced by: Marc Platt, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK): Michael McCabe.

TICKETS ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE TO SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2014

Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations.

We couldn't be happier to announce that Ben Freeman (Fiyero), Louise Plowright (Madame Morrible), Sam Lupton (Boq), Hayley Gallivan (Standby Elphaba) and Lucy van Gasse (Standby Glinda) will all join the Wicked London cast from Monday 29 October 2012, together with Katie Rowley Jones who will return to star as Nessarose... the role she originated in 2006!

The new cast members will join the previously announced Louise Dearman, who will rejoin the cast to star as Elphaba having played Glinda to huge acclaim, as well as Gina Beck, Keith Bartlett and Christopher Howell, who will continue in their current starring roles as Glinda, The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond

From Monday 29 October 2012, Wicked will star: Louise Dearman (Elphaba), Gina Beck (Glinda), Ben Freeman (Fiyero), Louise Plowright (Madame Morrible), Keith Bartlett (The Wizard), Christopher Howell (Doctor Dillamond), Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Hayley Gallivan (Standby Elphaba), Lucy van Gasse (Standby Glinda), Florence Andrews, Gemma Atkins, William Bozier, Oliver Brenin, Lauren Brooke, Philip Catchpole, Aisling Duffy, Chlöe Hart, Jacqueline Hughes, Robert Jones, Sophie Linder Lee, Tania Mathurin, Marc McBride, Stacey McGuire, Tom Muggeridge, Sean Parkins, Michelle Pentecost, Stuart Ramsay, Lindsay Taylor, Paulo Teixeira, Justin Thomas, Hannah Toy, Matt Turner, Oliver Watton and Jason Winter

Wicked, the hit musical, is proud to announce that Louise Dearman, who played 'Glinda' to huge acclaim from March 2010 to December 2011, will return to star as 'Elphaba' from Monday 29 October 2012. It is the first time that a leading lady will have starred in both roles in the nearly decade-long history of the global musical phenomenon.

Louise Dearman is a musical theatre star, recording artist and presenter. In addition to 'Glinda' in Wicked, her major musical theatre roles have included: 'Eva Peron' in Evita, 'Grizabella' in Cats and 'Sarah Brown' in Guys and Dolls. She has released two albums, including the recent 'Here Comes The Sun'. For further information see attached editors notes or visit: www.louisedearman.com.

Louise Dearman commented: "As an actress, you strive to challenge yourself to play as many diverse roles as possible throughout your career, and right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the history of musical theatre. I still can't quite believe that in two months' time I'll be back in Wicked, but this time I won't come and go by Bubble, I'll be on a broomstick!"

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: "From her wonderful performance as Glinda, audiences already know that Louise possesses a stunning voice and remarkable acting abilities, so we are genuinely excited to now welcome her back to Wicked as Elphaba. We have all been awestruck by the way Louise has channelled her incredible talents to inhabit this iconic role, and I've no doubt that audiences will be equally thrilled".

The multi award-winning Wicked has already been seen by over 4.5 million people since its West End premiere in 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It is now one of the Top 20 longest-running musicals in West End history.

Wicked, the hit musical now in its sixth year at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, is pleased to welcome Keith Bartlett as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from Monday 30 July.

Desmond Barrit will play his final performance as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on Saturday 7 July. From Monday 9 July until Saturday 28 July, Christopher Howell will play the role.

An acclaimed classical actor, Keith Bartlett will make his West End musical debut in Wicked. He previously starred in Stephen Schwartz's musical Godspell, as John The Baptist, in Basingstoke in 1998. His many celebrated appearances with the RSC include Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 and Richard III, as part of 'The Histories' season at Stratford-upon-Avon and The Roundhouse, The Winter's Tale, The Tempest and Pericles. His numerous other theatre credits include, for Headlong: Romeo & Juliet; for Shakespeare's Globe: King James Bible recital and A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine; for the Donmar Warehouse: A Lie of the Mind, The Front Page and Glengarry Glen Ross; for the National Theatre: Mary Stuart, The Crucible, Piano and Murmuring Judges, and, for Cheek By Jowl: Macbeth, Philoctetes, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and The Cid. His television and film appearances include: Silent Witness, New Tricks, The Bill and Truly Madly Deeply.

London's "hugely popular musical" (The Times) has won numerous major UK awards since its West End premiere in 2006 including the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Night Out, the 2010 Oliver Award for Most Popular Show, 8 Whatsonstage.com Awards including Best New Musical (2007) and Best West End Show (in both 2011 and 2010) and the 2009 Visit London Award for Best Family Fun.

There are 7 productions of Wicked playing concurrently around the world, including the original production in New York where it remains "Broadway's biggest blockbuster" (The New York Times) after more than 8 years. Wicked has been seen by 30 million people worldwide and grossed almost $2.5 billion.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maquire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by Joe Mantello.

HIT MUSICAL TO PERFORM THROUGHOUT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Wicked, the smash hit West End musical now in its sixth spellbinding year at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, is pleased to announce the opening of its 13th new booking period, with tickets now on sale until Saturday 27 April 2013.

Easily accessible at the heart of London's "Royal" district of Victoria, being 1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground stations and a short walk from Victoria Coach Station, the "hugely popular show" (The Times) will perform throughout the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations (Saturday 2 June - Tuesday 5 June 2012), and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with an extra matinee added on Thursday 26 July 2012 at 2.30pm in place of the Friday 27 July 2012 evening performance.

2011 proved to be the hit musical's highest grossing year to date, continuing its pattern of year-on-year growth at the Box Office since opening. Also during this landmark year, Wicked welcomed its 4 millionth theatregoer, celebrated its 5th birthday and became one of the Top 20 longest-running West End musicals of all time.

Wicked continues to be the top choice of West End theatregoers having been voted Best Night Out (Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2011), Most Popular Show (Olivier Awards 2010) and Best West End Show (Whatsonstage.com Awards in both 2011 and 2010).

Wicked currently stars Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Gina Beck (Glinda), Matt Willis (Fiyero), Desmond Barrit (The Wizard), Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Lillie Flynn (Nessarose), Christopher Howell (Doctor Dillamond), Adam Pettigrew (Boq), Nikki Davis-Jones (Standby Elphaba) and Chloe Taylor (Standby Glinda).

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe commented: "This is an incredible landmark for all of us involved in Wicked and we couldn't be more delighted to have become such a popular, long-running hit. We are also proud that our continued success has enabled us to support so many charitable projects though our on-going 'For Good' programme. Our heartfelt thanks go to every single person who is part of this extraordinary production and to the millions of theatregoers who have been so supportive of the show since our very first performance five years ago."

Wicked, the smash hit musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to announce that Rachel Tucker will continue in her acclaimed starring role as Elphaba into 2012. Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Nikki Davis-Jones (Standby Elphaba) and Chloe Taylor (Standby Glinda) are also all continuing in their roles.

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe commented: “Since first joining our cast in March 2010, Rachel has thrilled audiences and critics alike with her powerful and passionate performance as Elphaba. We are all absolutely thrilled that Rachel has now decided to continue leading the company with her extraordinary professionalism and great dedication to the role - we couldn't be more proud of her success“.

Louise Dearman (Glinda), Mark Evans (Fiyero), Clive Carter (The Wizard), Julian Forsyth (Dr Dillamond), Zoe Rainey (Nessarose) and Ben Stott (Boq) will all play their final performances on Saturday 10 December 2011.

Wicked recently celebrated its landmark 2000th performance at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. This “hugely popular musical“ (The Times) has now been seen by almost 4 million people and grossed in excess of £135 million at the UK Box Office since its West End premiere in 2006.

Acclaimed as “the hit musical with brains, heart and courage“ (The Sunday Telegraph) Wicked has won multiple awards including the 2010 Olivier Award for Most Popular Show and the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best West End Show in both 2011 and 2010.

Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by Joe Mantello. Wicked is based on the novel, Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.

Wicked, the long-running hit musical at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, is pleased to announce that former cast member Mark Evans will return to the show on Monday 7 February 2011 in the starring role of Fiyero opposite Rachel Tucker (Elphaba) and Louise Dearman (Glinda).

Since March 2010, Mark Evans has been starring as 'Curly' in a major UK tour of Oklahoma! with Marti Webb. In 2009, he was a finalist in Eurovision - Your Country Needs You (BBC1) and is shortly to begin filming a new Children's series for Welsh television. His other credits include: 'Troy Bolton' in High School Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo, 'Brad Majors' in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show and 'Caleb' in the UK tour of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Mark was a member of the 2007/08 London cast of Wicked. To find out more about Mark Evans visit: www.markevansonline.co.uk

From 7 February 2011, Wicked will star Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Louise Dearman (Glinda), Mark Evans (Fiyero), Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Clive Carter (The Wizard), and Julian Forsyth (Dr Dillamond).

Winner of the 2010 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Most Popular Show', the Whatsonstage.com Award for 'Best West End Show' and the BroadwayWorld.com UK Award for 'Best Long-Running West End Show', Wicked has now played over 1700 performances and grossed in excess of £117 million at the UK Box Office since its West End premiere in 2006.