JoAnne Worley is Next Morrible in 'Wicked' LA, Jan.9

Comic actress JoAnne Worley will be the next Madame Morrible in the Los Angeles production of Wicked, beginning performances January 9, 2008.  

Worley joins the cast at the same time as other new principal actors.  Eden Espinosa departs December 30 and Caissie Levy assumes the role of Elphaba on January 1, 2008.  Marcie Dodd is now playing Nessarose, and Michael Drolet begins as Boq also on January 1, 2008.

While best known for her television appearances, Worley has had an extensive career in musical theatre – from the original national tour of Carnival to her recent co-starring role on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, and in the Encores! production of Follies.  She also appeared on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!, Grease, and The Prince of Central Park, and off-Broadway in The Mad Show.

Worley became one of America's best-known comediennes when she was one of the regulars of Rowan And Martin's "Laugh-In," as well as numerous appearances on "The Tonight Show," "The Andy Williams Show," and "The Merv Griffin Show," and was a popular celebrity game show host.

The record-breaking Los Angeles company of Wicked is now performing at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.  It is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.  The musical is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.  The Grammy Award-winning original cast recording of Wicked, produced by Stephen Schwartz for Decca Broadway, has been one of the fastest selling Broadway recordings of recent years and has been certified 'Platinum' by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz.  One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Tickets for Wicked are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, in person at the Pantages Theatre Box Office (opens daily at 10am), 6233 Hollywood Blvd., or at any Ticketmaster outlet.  For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.com.