The national tour of the international hit musical Wicked announced April 30 that it has raised more than $7 million for Broadway Cares.
This fundraising achievement was made possible by both current and past Wicked tour company members, and has helped provide over 2.8 million meals and more than 200,000 doctor visits to individuals across the country living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses.
The Wicked tour is also recognizing company member Justin Wirick, whose commitment and enthusiasm have fueled the tour鈥檚 fundraising campaigns year after year. Wirick, currently the longest-contracted member of the tour, has been one of the company鈥檚 Broadway Cares leaders since January 2010. Over the years, he has led and performed in 45 benefits in support of the organization.
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鈥淎t its heart, Wicked is a story about compassion鈥攔eminding us that empathy, strength, and the power to create change exist within us all,鈥� said Danny Whitman, executive director of Broadway Cares in a statement. 鈥淲e are profoundly grateful to Broadway Cares trustee David Stone and the Wicked鈥擬unchkinland tour for reaching this incredible $7 million fundraising milestone. The company鈥檚 generosity is transforming lives, providing meals and medication, health care, and hope to millions of individuals in need across the country. They prove that when we come together for good, anything is possible.鈥�
Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
Wicked began previews on Broadway October 8, 2003, with an official opening October 30. The original cast included Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda. Currently the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history, the production celebrated its 20th anniversary in October 2023.
Wicked won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Susan Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee).
The hit Broadway production continues at the Gershwin Theatre, while
the first half of the two-part film adaptation recently won two 2025 Academy Awards.
The musical, which reopened on Broadway September 14, 2021, following the pandemic shutdown, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.
Broadway Cares is one of the nation鈥檚 leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
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