Two summers ago I was in Chicago during a heat wave. Trying to escape the inferno, I ducked into Borders Books and Music on State Street.
They were having a drawing for $25 tickets for the musical WICKED. I put my name in, got lucky, and not only did I escape the searing heat but I was able to see this dazzling production.
Now visitors to Los Angeles can enjoy the Tony Award-winning musical along with a stay at one of LA’s top hotels. The dozen hotels include: Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Marriott Los Angeles Airport, The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hils, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Sheraton Universal Hotel, Sofitel LA, Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel and Wilshire Grand Los Angeles.
The LA production is at Hollywood’s historic Pantages Theater and stars Eden Espinosa as Elphaba and Megan Hilty as Glinda. Both actresses appeared on stage in their respective roles in the Broadway production of WICKED.
The WICKED packages are available through LA INC, the city’s official tourism marketing organization. For more details, go to their website, click on Visitor Information and look for the WICKED logo. The packages are valid through March 2008 and range from $149 at the Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel to $625 at The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills.
Photo: Ford Performing Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theater, Chicago. Photo by Sue Frause.