Witches of Oz - Wicked Week Activities Announced

Celebrate Wicked Day on October 29th, but don't miss other events going on all week long starting on October 23rd including performances by the Broadway cast.

A "Wicked Day" Block Party and the Z100 "Be Wicked" Singing Contest are just two of the many events that will help celebrate the third anniversary of the Broadway musical Wicked, which occurs Oct. 29.

The Z100 "Be Wicked" Singing Contest — held at various locations in the tri-state area — will require entrants to sing a song from the hit Stephen Schwartz musical. Finalists will be chosen at each location, and Wicked stars and other special guests will judge the final competition at the "Wicked Day" Block Party Oct. 29. The Grand Prize winner will receive three tickets to the musical, hotel accommodations, the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour, a Bloomingdale's gift card and Wicked merchandise.

The week will also include a "Give a Little, Get a Lot" Shopping Event Oct. 26 at several Bloomingdale's stores, where shoppers will be eligible to receive a complimentary pair of Wicked tickets. Participating stores are located in The Mall at Short Hills, The Shops at Riverside, Bridgewater Commons, Willowbrook Mall, White Plains Mall, Roosevelt Field Mall and the Walt Whitman Mall Shop in the New View.

Members of the Broadway cast of Wicked will perform at Dylan's Candy Bar (Third Avenue at 60th Street) on Oct. 24 at 4 PM. Two other Wicked cast appearances are scheduled: Oct. 27 at 11 AM at the NBC Experience Store at Rockefeller Plaza and Oct. 28 at 5:30 PM at the Paramount Hotel at 235 West 46th Street. The latter two events are meet and greet autograph sessions.

The week of events concludes Oct. 29 with the "Wicked Day" Block Party. Held in front of the Gershwin Theatre, the event runs from 11 AM to 2 PM. In addition to the singing contest finale, the three-hour event will include face painting, games, food and refreshments. The first 100 people to attend in green face will receive a free copy of Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" sequel, "Son of a Witch."

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.

Wicked, with a book by Winnie Holzman, began previews on Broadway Oct. 8, 2003, with an official opening Oct. 30, 2003. The Broadway company — directed by Joe Mantello — continues to play the Gershwin Theatre. Tickets are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

For complete details about the week of Wicked events, visit www.wickedday.com.