WICKED in LONDON

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 7:49pm

Just read on "dressciricle" that the show is opening at The Apollo Victoria Theatre in London May 2006 ... Fantastic if its true! Anyone else know about the transfer ?

[sassypanz]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 9:05pm

Not surprised at all. New it would happen eventually.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 9:08pm

DAMN IT! it should be JANUARY 2006! i'll be there from like Dec 29th or something to April 29th or something! ahhhh

I was just thinking that I would love Wicked to be in London while I'm there too!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 9:10pm

Is the Apollo Victoria Theatre where Patrick Stewart is currently playing?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 11:46pm

this was obviously going to happen. it was just a matter of when. everyone i know in england really wants the show to come there. they're all really looking forward to it. i wonder who they'll get for elphie and glinda... steph, maybe you'll get to see some previews?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 1:37am

yeah that's what i was thinking apdarcey, Stephanie, you might get to catch some early previews, depending on when in May they deciede to open it.

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 3:12am

To FOAnatic, the Apollo Victoria is currently housing Saturday Night Fever - it's a huge space. Patrick Stewart is performing in a much smaller theatre.

Mary P x

[Sant]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 5:39am

Apollo Victoria is the theatre where STARLIGHT EXPRESS played for 14 years. The auditorium is huge, just like Gershwin.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 8:17am

Not only is the auditiorium huge, but the stage area is pretty sizeable too. What's more, they only have two levels for seating, which is a rarity in London theatres. And this makes it the best possible venue for Wicked in those terms. The location may work against it though.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:32am

PCB,
If I recall, it's a bit removed from 'Theatreland" correct?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:34am

Exactly. And given the producers of Wicked's apparent reluctance to bring the show over as they are unsure of how successful a UK run would be, putting it in a venue that is so resistant to pulling in crowds.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:36am

They may be better to put Wicked in the more accessable Palladium and Spamalot which is sure to draw huge crowds at the more remote Apollo Victoria.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:44am

That would prove more sensible, I think. We'll see.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:49am

From what I recall though, the theatres in London's West End are far more spread out then they are in the theatre district on Broadway. I remember it took me quite some time to find the Adelphi and when I finally found it, I thought, "It's way over here?"

[Justin D]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:55am

Funny how I totally Forgot about the Apollo Victoria when i was thinking about what theatre would suit wicked best (because of the front of house sets)

that just goes to show you how out of the way the Apollo Victoria and Victoris Palace are.

But still Victoria Station is popular for tourists coming into Gatwick, and they would just need a good P.R. Blitz with lots of posters in the West End. Afterall Starlight Express did run for ages.

I just hope too that they do a cast recording

[Justin D]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 10:57am

Then again, since ALW had such luck with Starlight there, he should do Sound of Music there instead, leave Paladium for Wicked.

Mind you, Paladium is also kinda hard to find since it is not on a main street and also kinda out of the way

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 12:54pm

All the theatres in London are spread out. STARLIGHT played the Appollo forever and BOMBAY DREAMS lasted a couple of years there, so I don't think the theatre's locale is cursed.

For whatever reason, THE SHAFTSBURY is where American musicals (RENT/BAT BOY/MILLIE) go to die in the West End.

It will be interesting to see how WICKED plays in the UK, though. The show seems to have the potential to be a much bigger ticket across the US than other recent hits like THE PRODUCERS and HAIRSPRAY, and I'm sure it will be a sensation in markets like Japan and Germany.

Can't wait to see what kind of cast they come up with for the West End...

Updated On: 5/19/05 at 12:54 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 1:04pm

well a lot of brittons are really excited for wicked. more so than other recent american hits.

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 1:31pm

I think the APollo Victoria will be the best place for the show, its a big venue and the Palladium wouldnt suit the show, thats much fither out of the way than the Apollo V. Plus the theatre is right by Victoria Station so it will get lots of passing trade and close to the station for people to grab a train home, a next to Billy Elliot which will be a big hit.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/19/05 at 1:50pm

Actually...the producers of Wicked decided to go with a better known venue to ensure maximum bucks.

Updated On: 5/19/05 at 01:50 PM