WICKED WELCOMED NEW CITIZENS TO OZ

 

SOUTH FLORIDA’S CHRISTIAN

 

 

THOMPSON as FIYERO

 

And

TIMOTHY SHEW (THE WIZARD), BOISE HOLMES (DOCTOR DILLAMOND), TARA KOSTMAYER (NESSAROSE), KYLE McARTHUR (BOQ)

 

JOINED THE NATIONAL TOUR ON FEBRUARY 7

 

West Palm Beach, Fl., (Thursday, February 23, 2023) – WICKED welcomed new cast members to the National Tour on February 7. WICKED is coming to West Palm Beach for a limited two-week engagement.  Broadway’s most popular musical will play at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from March 29 to April 9, 2023.

Tickets for the premiere engagement of WICKED start at $63*. To purchase tickets, visit the official Kravis Center website www.kravis.org,  call (561) 832-7469 or visit the Box Office during regular box office hours Monday through Saturday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Performance Schedule:

Week One:

Wednesday, 3/29/2023 @ 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, 3/30/2023 @ 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Friday, 3/31/2023 @ 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, 4/1/2023 @ 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, 4/2/2023 @ 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Week Two:

Tuesday, 4/4/20223 @ 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 4/5/2023 @ 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, 4/6/2023 @ 8:00 p.m.

Friday, 4/7/2023 @ 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, 4/8/2023 @ 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, 4/9/2023 @ 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m

Photo courtesy from Phillip Aleman (WICKED Tour)

Christian Thompson is living out his childhood dream by joining WICKED and playing Fiyero.  Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, he has appeared in Thoughts of a Colored Man, Ain’t Too Proud (Original Broadway Company and First National Tour), and toured in the Rent 20^th Anniversary Tour (Benny and Roger understudy). His Regional credits include the world premiere of The Devil Wears Prada and Catch Me If You Can at Arena Stage.

Photo courtesy from Phillip Aleman (WICKED Tour)

Timothy Shew (The Wizard) is new to the WICKED family.  He was in the original company of Les Misérables, and played Jean Valjean for six years both on Broadway and in Australia.  Timothy has had numerous leading and/or featured roles in Funny Girl, The Visit, Evita, Bye Bye Birdie, Wonderful Town, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sunset Boulevard and Guys and Doll.  On tour, he has appeared in The Light in the Piazza and Hello, Dolly! Timothy was a soloist for the Grammy®-nominated Bernstein Mass Project at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and The Vatican.  He has had guest starring or recurring roles in “Madame Secretary,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “FBI: Most Wanted” and “Ryan’s Hope.”

Boise Holmes (Doctor Dillamond) is a Los Angeles actor, singer, writer, voiceover artist and licensed minister.  His Broadway and National Tour credits include Tonton in Once on This Island and Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King (Germany).  Boise can be seen and heard on television and radio as Exxon Mobil’s “Mr. Supremium.”  Some of his television credits include “NCIS,” “Law & Order,” “Chicago Fire,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Blackish.”  Boise is a NAACP/Ovation Award winner.

Photo courtesy from Phillip Aleman (WICKED Tour)

Tara Kostmayer will be joining the National Tour of WICKED as Nessarose, after recently touring in Disney’s Aladdin.  Off-Broadway, she was in the NYCC Encores! production of A Chorus Line.  Tara has also appeared in Chicago (The MUNY), Pride and Prejudice (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley) and Ojo (La Jolla Playhouse).

Kyle McArthur (Boq) is thrilled to be joining his first National Tour. He originated the role of Simon in the Off-Broadway musical Superhero at Second Stage and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.  His television credits include Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” as Brian Koenig and HBO’s “The Deuce.”

Photo courtesy from Phillip Aleman (WICKED Tour)

They join a cast which currently includes Lissa deGuzman as Elphaba, Jennafer Newberry as Glinda, Natalie Venetia Belcon as Madame Morrible, with Emily Kristen Morris, Alexia Acebo, Jennifer Mariela Bermeo, Remmie Bourgeois, Kyle Brown, Anthony Lee Bryant, Matt Densky, Marie Eife, Jenny Florkowski, Sara Gonzales, Chelsea Cree Groen, Courtney Iventosch, Kelly Lafarga, Marina Lazzaretto, Ryan Mac, Brittany Marcell Monachino, David Scott Purdy, Jackie Raye, Andy Richardson, Jenna Nicole Schoen, Derek Schiesel, Wayne Schroder, Paul Schwensen, Ben Susak, Brion Marquis Watson and Justin Wirick.

ABOUT WICKED

Currently the 5th longest-running show in Broadway history, WICKED is the winner of over 100 international awards including a Grammy Award and three Tony® Awards.  Since opening in 2003, WICKED has been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland and China) and has thus far been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese. WICKED has been seen by over 60 million people worldwide and has amassed over $5 billion in global sales.

In addition to the Broadway production, WICKED in North America has enjoyed unprecedented record-breaking sit-down engagements in Chicago, where it ran for nearly four years; Los Angeles, where it ran for two years; and San Francisco, where it ran for nearly two years, as well as two North American Tours.

 

The Broadway sensation WICKED looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle.  Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade,” and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.”  NBC Nightly News calls the hit musical “the most successful Broadway show ever.”

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman.  The production is directed by Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello with musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento.  WICKED is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

For more information about WICKED, please visit www.WickedTheMusical.com.

Follow WICKED on Twitter: @WICKED_Musical, Instagram: @wicked_musical, TikTok: @wicked_musical, and Facebook.

 

About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:

The Center’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality, by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. For information, please visit kravis.org

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit kravis.org for up-to-date information.

 

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of

Miami-Dade County

 

presents

 

AILEY II, THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE

 

LED BY FRANCESCA HARPER IN HER

 

SECOND SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

 

 

Featuring Miami dancer, Andrew Bryant, in his inaugural season

 

Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m.

Tickets: $30, $45, $55, $65*

Knight Concert Hall

 

MIAMI – January 31, 2023 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to present AILEY II (@aileyii), the next generation of dance,  for one night only at the Knight Concert Hall on February 25 at 8 p.m. AILEY II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers. The critically acclaimed ensemble will inspire audiences with performances of  Andrea Miller’s Psūkhe, William Forsythe’s  Enemy in the Figure  and Francesca Harper’s Freedom Series .

 

Tickets to AILEY II are $30, $45, $55 and $65, and may be purchased now at arshtcenter.org or at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722.

 

AILEY II, the celebrated second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to expand the bridge from the studio to the stage for talented young performers from The Ailey School under the wings of Artistic Director Francesca Harper, who took her first dance steps at the school where her mother was director from 1984-2010.

 

 

This season, eight new dancers, including Miami native, Andrew Bryant, along with Spencer Everett, Jaryd Farcon, Maya Finman-Palmer, Patrick Gamble, Kali Marie Oliver, Tamia Strickland and Maggy van den Heuvel, who all trained at The Ailey School—join the five returning members Nicholas Begun, Meagan King, Travon M. Williams, Amar Smalls and Rachel Yoo.

Andrew Bryant (Miami, FL) began his formal dance training at the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre in his hometown, under the direction of Traci Young Byron. He received his BFA from Towson University where he studied under renowned artists Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Vincent Thomas, and Runqiao Du. After graduating, Mr. Bryant trained at The Ailey School as a scholarship student where he performed works by Alvin Ailey, Bradley Shelver, and Rebecca Margolick. This is his first season with Ailey ll.

“I am excited for audiences far and near to experience the power and grace of these 12 superbly gifted dancers in remarkable works by a variety of powerful choreographic voices,” said Artistic Director Francesca Harper. “It’s an honor to lead Ailey II into its next era, keeping Alvin Ailey’s legacy of artistry and generosity moving forward while nurturing the next generation of performing artists on a journey of discovery.”

Andrea Miller, artistic director of Gallim Dance, is known for visceral, imaginative work and her Ailey II debut, Psūkhe (pronounced ‘pSEE-hee’) is no exception. This energetic full company work features unexpected partnering and complex solos set to the electronic music of Nicolas Jaar. The title is an Ancient Greek word meaning ‘life’s breath, spirit, and soul’ and is the origin for the English word ‘psyche.’

Enemy in the Figure (excerpt) is the propulsive central section of William Forsythe’s eponymous work. Originally created in Germany (1989) for his ensemble, Ballet Frankfurt, the full work has been performed in major venues across the globe. Thom Willem’s percussive electronic score was an inspiration for the work’s choreographic invention and the radical use of light and shadow in the original stage design. This excerpt puts the formidable dance skills of the Ailey II dancers on fine display, giving their craft and vitality an invigorating framework.

Francesca Harper’s Freedom Series travels through a landscape of memories creating a series of vignettes that embody and imagine a hybrid world where memory strives to influence the future. Depicted through this futuristic lens, and developed in collaboration with the Ailey II dancers, Harper’s work examines identity and community. With costumes by designer Elias Gurrola and a score featuring a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, Freedom Series’ unexpected twists and turns bridge tender moments to its intrinsic ferocity.

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations. 

About Us

Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world, innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami children each year.

Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 60,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTEA LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.

About Ailey II

Ailey II—Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s second company—is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as a bridge between The Ailey School and the professional dance world, Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular dance companies in the country under the leadership of Sylvia Waters from 1974-2012, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. With Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, Ailey II continues to thrive as she brings a fresh dimension to this beloved company. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org/ailey-ii.