‘Wicked’ wizard set for Pantages

John Rubinstein, who made his Broadway debut 35 years ago in the title role of Steven Schwartz’s “Pippin,” is reuniting with the composer: He’ll play the wizard in the new production of “Wicked” that opens Feb. 10 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

He joins a cast that includes Eden Espinosa as Elphaba, Megan Hilty as Glinda and Carole Kane as Madame Morrible. The musical is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.”

Despite having opened on Broadway in 2003, “Wicked” is hotter than ever. In the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the show set a Broadway record by taking in more than $1.8 million at the Gershwin Theatre. It also set house records in three other cities where productions are playing: In London, the musical took in $1.69 million, Toronto $1.56 million and Chicago $1.37 million.

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Groundlings leader: Dan Fishbach, chairman of performing arts at L.A.’s Harvard-Westlake School, has been named executive director of the Groundling Theater. He’ll oversee daily operations of the company’s stage presentations and classes in improvisional acting.