"Wicked" Was All the Rage

Due to its immense popularity the Broadway hit "Wicked" will return to the Bluff City for an encore performance.

Wicked was such a success in Memphis, producers are bringing it back next fall. This is great news for not only the "Wicked" fans, but for the downtown businesses who welcomed the huge theater crowd all month.

The three week run at the Orpheum shattered box office records.

"We had almost 58,000 people here to see the show," says Pat Halloran, President and CEO of The Orpheum. "That's like filling the FedEx Forum three times."

"Wicked" dazzled Memphians, and after the first week, nearly every single show was sold out. "Wicked" raked in $4 million in ticket sales alone. An estimated $7 million was infused into the surrounding economy.

"In this tough economy, we've proven that people want to get out, they want to go see quality theater," says Halloran.

The show was such a success, The Orpheum is proud to announce the production is coming back to Memphis in the fall of 2010. And it's not just "Wicked" fans who are excited to hear the news.

"I went into a restaurant last night and all the waiters applauded," says Halloran. "I thought I was the star of the show."

Restaurants near the Orpheum, like Pearl's Oyster House, were packed every night "Wicked" was showing.

"From the same period last year, in July, sales were up 25%," says David Glover, General Manager of Pearl's. "Much of that we attributed to Wicked being in town."

"'Wicked' was like, just awesome, just awesome," says Pearl's Bartender Teresa Davis.

Bartenders like Davis could pull in enough in tips to pay their car note in just one night's work.

"You could make anywhere from $300 to $450 a night on an event like that," says Davis. "Just waiting tables."

The restaurant industry, The Orpheum, the fans, all say, the sooner the better for the return of Wicked.

"It will sell out again and it will give another shot in the arm of the economy," says Halloran.

The exact dates haven't been set yet, but The Orpheum says Wicked will be back no later than fall 2010.