WICKED Begins Tonight At SD's Civic Theatre, Plays Through August 30

WICKED, the smash-hit musical, returned to SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE on July 29 as a Broadway/San Diego - A Nederlander Presentation, once again breaking box office records and receiving rave reviews. San Marcos native Chandra Lee Schwartz will step into the role of Glinda tonight, Friday, August 21; as Broadway's biggest blockbuster continues at San Diego Civic Theatre through Sunday, August 30.

Chandra Lee Schwartz was last seen locally in 2007 as Sharpay in the National Tour of High School Musical; she played Penny in Hairspray (Las Vegas and 1st National Tour). Broadway credits include Gypsy with Bernadette Peters (Agnes, cast album), Hairspray (LouAnn); Off-Broadway: What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling; Damn Yankees (Encores!); NY Musical Theatre Festival: Go-Go Beach and But I'm A Cheerleader (Awarded Best Actress in a Musical). Philadelphia Theatre Co.: Nerds (Barrymore nom, Best Actress in a Musical). Chandra is a graduate of AMDA NYC and a member of Actors Equity. A San Marcos HS grad, her family still lives there; local credits include starring in The Little Mermaid at Theatre West in North County and lead singer in the ska band The Fabulous Rudies; she received her dance training at Louis McKay's Dance Arts studio in Del Mar.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues, 9 to 5) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 20 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

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, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The role of Elphaba will be played by Donna Vivino . The role of Glinda will be played by Chandra Lee Schwartz. Playing the role of Madame Morrible will be Myra Lucretia Taylor and The Wizard will be played by Lenny Wolpe.

The company includes Richard H. Blake (Fiyero), Ben Liebert (Boq), Amanda Rose (Nessarose), Paul Slade Smith (Dr. Dillamond) and Merideth Kaye Clark (Standby for Elphaba). Rounding out the cast are Todd Anderson, Terra Lynn Arrington, Kevin Aubin, Luis Avila, Antonette Balestreri, Stefanie Brown, Dominic Giudici, Brenda Hamilton, Courtney D. Jones, Spencer Jones, Ryan Pat Rick Kelly, Renee Lawless-Orsini, Philip Dean Lightstone, Marissa Lupp, RJ Marshall, Lauren Masiello, Lesley McKinnell, Kevin McMahon, Robert Pendilla, Christopher Russo, Adam Sanford, Robert Spaniolo, Stephanie Torns, Shanna VanDerwerker, Jessica Walker, Betsy Werbel, B Ryan West, Blake Whyte, and Samantha Zack.