Assuming San Francisco will close in the next 2 years and that it will transfer to another city, where do you think it will head? Maybe a return to Los Angeles, or perhaps a Canadian production (with Natalie Daradich as Glinda). I would personally LOVE it if it came to DC, because I live REALLY close to there, and I would be able to lotto it.

I think if anywhere, it will be Toronto. But most likely no where. I hate to say it but Wicked is at it's international peek, everywhere. Like Phantom, that's all it had Bway, couple tours, Chicago, LA and SF. Skipping 15 or so years ahead, Las Vegas happened Which Wicked will most likely open. If nothing else were to open in the US after SF, I would not be surprised. Wicked is great but this economy doesn't help it grow.

I definitly want a Toronto production too. They've been talking about it on and off and I always read about in the papers but nothing ever happens. Maybe it will come between 2010-2013?

It's weird cause when I think about shows like Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King they all came to Toronto a couples years after the shows opened on Broadway: Phantom-1989, Beauty and the Beast-1996?, and The Lion King early 2000's???

And it's been a good couple of years since Wicked has opened now. Anyways at least Toronto launched the First National Tour and it's returned once already.

It would be nice if it came for a sitdown production here.

I, like inick, have been thinking about Wicked going to Vegas. But right now, people aren't going to Vegas. I do believe there is a good possibility of a Wicked, Las Vegas open end at some point in the future, but I think it will be several years because it will be awhile before Las Vegas' economic woes go away.
I would bet that Vegas would love to have Wicked there right now however.

I notice that every US production has been planned before the economy tanked so, if SF closes and nothing else opens... that's probably just because the producers are just playing it safe and not rushing into anything.

Very much agreed....

I wouldn't be surprised if it opened in Chicago and or LA again. It was doing great in both places they just wanted to quit while they were ahead if that makes sense....

I think it is more likely to return to LA than Chicago, because this production started in LA to begin with. So, coming to Chicago wouldn't really be a "return"? But I've heard that Wicked may be coming back to Chicago as part of the 1st National Tour, but they may do something like they did in 2006 with Shoshana and Megan in the Northwest and Toronto, and bring Dee and Erin to the Chicago stop.

Fingers crossed for Toronto. One perk of living in Michigan...Canada isnt far! Just a hop, skip and a jump away!

no no no no no no no no NO!

EDIT: They are both very talented and lovely women I just want to see someone else. I know most of my Chicago friends would go broke if they came back, but I just don't see how someone would desire to see the same two people over and over and over again. On the other hand, I suppose that there are people who can't see why I would see the same show over and over again.

Sorry for being so OT.

What about some place down south? Texas, New Orleans, Miami, Atlanta?

If this were on Facebook, I would "like" it.

Has anyone been to a stand-up show...?

lmao I really needed that laugh! lol

How about Boston? Maybe? No? Hey. I tried.

Boston would be good, but a bit too close to NYC. But so is DC. and that's where I think the next sit-down should be (for selfish reasons, though).

I think that leave the "inevitable" Vegas. I just don't want the show to deflate in time and inflate in price like Phantom. I mean 90 minutes for $145 and thats a regular seat, not recession friendly no matter how popular the show may be. Apparently they also give only 7 or maybe 9 minutes for intermission. I think Wicked isn't fit for that but it deserves at least some sort of engagement in Vegas, even the tour could pop by for the holidays of 10-11.

Either Vegas, or somewhere in the South. Somewhere Wicked really has never had a production. Even wicked can't hold an open-ended engagement really anywhere else then chicago, los angeles, san francisco, and toronto.

Somewhere in the Southeast would be nice.

Obviously being a GTA-er, I'm biased and want a production here as well .

I think the thing is though, is that in 05/06 when the national tour came, Dancap didn't exist. It launched in 07. Aside from the fact that Dancap is clearly Mirvish's biggest rival around here, and they would be fighting over it anyways (if Jersey Boys can manage to last 2 years now, Wicked would just go on and on and on - not that that's a bad thing), Aubrey Dan who runs Dancap used to work with Mirvish. He also happens to have money in Wicked. So the question remains, who gets the production? I'm not just talking about the next sit-down, either (although there are rumours that when the SF production runs its course, it may transfer to Toronto). It's been in the papers for a few years now that David Stone wants to bring Wicked's tour back to Mirvish (this year, in fact), but nothing has come to fruition. Now, though, I'm hearing that it might be part of Mirvish's 10/11 season, so we'll see...

Now that San Fran is closing September 5, 0r so, anyone else wonder where it will go next?

TORONTO PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Toronto. It's been rumoured for quite a while. Either the Canon or the Princess of Wales could easily take it, although it would more likely go to the Canon. That is, IF Mirvish picks it up. The only place I can see Dancap (because Aubrey Dan has money in Wicked) putting the production is in the Toronto Centre for the Arts after Jersey Boys closes in May.

I guess it won't be LA Pantages since Phantom is coming in November unless the sit down will be after that.

^ I don't think it's going to return to LA as a sitdown, but even if it where to return as a sit down, It doesn't neccesarily mean it has to be at the pantages. It could be at the ahmanson theater (which I perfer to the pantages) or any other diffrent theater.

I really like the idea of toronto. Caissie (extream wishful thinking), Natalie, and Nic should lead. That would be amazing.

I think SJB or Carmen could be good candidates for Toronto but I know they are both busy. I'd get my tix in a heartbeat

If it’s in Toronto for an extended period, they have to hire a certain amount of Canadian actors. When Les Miserables was there for six months, half the leads were Canadian (not to mention the Canadian ensemble members). I don’t think Stephanie J. Block or Carmen would get it due to this reason.

Caissie is yeah, wishful thinking.
I can't help but wonder if there might be new blood in a Canadian production? After all, the Toronto theatre scene is very in-your-face about having our natives in shows. I know Elicia Mackenzie has expressed interest in wanting to play role. That would be after she's been in TWO back to back Mirvish sitdowns though, Sound of Music and this April's Rock of Ages.
I wouldn't mind Janna Polzin as Elphaba either, also known from How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
This is based on vocals only.

You can hear Janna's DGs here - http://www.jannapolzin.com/audio.htm
and Elicia's here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LaF4BUxW9o (legal recording, from her website)

Anyway, I pity an American actor who would have to Wicked here. Our cell phone bills are ridiculous

EDIT: Quackgirl beat me to it in essence.

Caissie & Natalie are Canadian, though, correct? Though I honestly don't see Caissie returning.

^ yes, they both are, as is Nic dromard. and I can't see Caissie returning, either, but that would be amazing.

Caissie, Natalie, and Helene (I assume she still has her Cdn citizenship, she's a Vancouverite) are all Canadian.

Well in that case, I could see any of them opening the production - but they may not recycle (ha!) - who knows.

There's a rumour that if Mirvish picks it up, they want it in the Princess of Wales as opposed to the Canon.
I could see Natalie opening a TO sitdown, especially since she used to live there and likely still has family ties in the city. Even moreso if she ends up staying with SF through the end of the run.

Your right! I learned in one of my lectures at school (I'm an acting major) that usually when shows open in Toronto they can have American leads but as the show moves on it has to have more Canadians added into the production.

I hope it would back to the Cannon. But it would work just as good in the Princess fo Wales if that`s true.

I`m not too sure who`d I`d like to see as a lead. I know Elicia Mackenzie wants to play Elphaba. You can actually hear her sing Defying Gravity on her website if anyone wants to take a listen. I`m not sure of her though. But I loved her in The Sound of Music and I sure she`ll be great in Rock of Ages.

Posted a link to her DG a few replies back.
I just don't know if I'd like to see her in THREE back to back Mirvish sitdowns. I feel like there are other great actors out there who would be great for the role. I wouldn't be OPPOSED to having Elicia as Maria, though.

I think the producers would kind of want "seasoned" Elphabas and Galindas. Meaning Americans, mostly, so I know for a fact that Canadian open runs have opened with Europeans and Americans leads so Carmen or SJB could very well open it. The only factor left is the actor/esses response which is prolly a "no". Sadly.
Oh btw, Helene is Canadian.

If toronto opens i would love nothing more than to see some of the canadian talent in the roles. Valerie Stanois and Erica Peck both from We Will Rock You (toronto) could do some serious damage. In a good way of course!

you probably,as do most people, don't know that Natalie is leaving the SF production tommorow.

Oh sorry, I do vaguely remember reading that. Vague being the operative word here. I can be a big ditz sometimes

Ha, I wouldn't sweat it. It all came up very quickly...

maybe now that the san fran production is closing, this will give the West Coast more opportunities to see both tours.

As much as I would like the show to travel back to Toronto, didn't the producers say that the show would return to LA after San Fran ran it's course? Or whats the deal with that?

Mirvish has a weekly e-newsletter called eStage that comes out every Tuesday. Needless to say, tomorrow is the first chance to bust some rumours (although I doubt anything will be said so early in the game). However, Mirvish needs to announce its' season soon: The National Ballet announced theirs today, Dancap has revealed quite a few tidbits (South Pacific and Miss Saigon this summer, a Jersey Boys extension), so the heat is on. Last year, Mirvish announced their season the 17th of February, with an email out to eStagers and subscribers on the 27th of January to come hear the announcement. At the very latest, I would expect an invitation to the new season's announcement by the end of the month. So we'll have some truth to this rumour soon enough. However, the TOUR has been rumoured to make a return engagement for just about 2 years no, so we'll see.

In response to someone liking the POW better than the Canon for Wicked...Oh, I do too. Mainly because when I saw RENT at the Canon a few weeks ago, they didn't have Ed Mirvish theatre mints, and when I was at the POW for tSoM, they did

I actually work at the princess.. It is a much better theatre for Wicked and the Backstage is the best out of all of the Toronto theatres.. My hopes are on POW if they sit down!

I also have heard not from work though, that people are rumouring a Sit down of Legally blonde within the next few years, They wouldnt stick it back on broadway but i think it would be a great idea.. People for the states would come over and alot of people here would love it.. The tour comes in a few months thru toronto so we'll see how it goes!

A non-eq tour is also starting for Legally Blonde within the next few months though, so maybe not :/
Anyway, Wicked has been reported to be coming to Toronto October 20th through November 28th, which is only 6 weeks. So my hopes aren't as high for a sitdown anymore, but there's a sneaking suspicion in the back of my mind that maybe Mirvish is just gauging the public's reaction to the show, seeing as it has been 4 years.
I just don't know if it WOULD go in the Princess, what with Priscilla doing their pre-Bway thing here in October for 12 weeks and Billy Elliot going into the POW February '11.

It has been announced that the national tour will be going to Toronto from Oct. 20-Nov. 28.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2010/...to.html?ref=rss

That Being said...I doubt the city will be getting a sit down very soon. If it doesn't return to LA, I'm guessing it will probably just close out, or return to Chicago in a couple of years. Or after the tour visits like the first time. IDK. Just throwing my opinion out there. Take what you like from it.

Kinda agree... it's financially wise to close while your on top. There doesn't need to be a new sit down. For example, if Toronto were to open a sit-down, it would do well for sometime then die down and gain a reputation of being overdone so if the producers were to just keep 2 tours active, they could settle into places for a long time while it is still popular.

Here's to hoping that after SF closes, Wicked returns to the west coast (preferably SoCal) soon enough, as we're craving it right about now.

I could see them doing six months in Toronto if they don't want to do another sit-down. They'd have to hire a certain number of Canadian leads, and that would give them publicity.

Are we still 100% Sure that San Francisco is closing? It could be possible that if the summer tourist season goes good, it could end up staying, atleast till 2011, if that works. I see it opening back up in Chicago a couple of months/years after the 1nt stop. Chicago seemed to be the only place that could hold great sales, even at the weakest moments. Or back to LA, but I don't see that happening seeing as new seasons have been announced for all theaters there.