Showbiz, Official Partner of the Hit Broadway Show Wicked Gets Ready For On-Line Pre-sale Ticket Rush

Melbourne, Feb 13, 2008 (ABN Newswire) - The Australian season of 'Wicked', the smash hit Broadway musical, officially launched in Melbourne today. The hottest musical in the world will open at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July 2008 and Australia's Showbiz International has been appointed the official VIP, Corporate Hospitality and Travel Packaging Partner for this stunning show. The ticket rush begins today with pre-sale tickets available from Showbiz from the 13th to the 25th of February.

Wicked, co-produced in Australia by Tony Award winning producer, John Frost, is the winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. The spectacular production reveals the untold story of the witches of Oz, long before Dorothy drops in! The show tells the story of two other girls who 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, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

"Wicked is more than a hit Broadway musical, it's a worldwide phenomenon." Says Craig McMaster, CEO of Showbiz International. "With productions across the US, London, Europe and Japan, and combined ticket sales of more than $US 1/2 Billion, Wicked has already become one of the most successful shows in history." He added. "Showbiz is extremely proud to have been appointed as Official VIP, premium ticket and packaging partner to Wicked in Australia, and from today will be offering Australian customers pre-sale access to great premium seats, travel and corporate hospitality packages guaranteed to make the 'live' experience at Wicked truly unforgettable. Showbiz is the market leader in premium packaging in entertainment in Australia, and our official appointment with Wicked builds on our more than 20 years of connecting customers to great shows and seats"

Pre-sale ticket packages are available through the website (www.showbiz.com.au) or by calling the Showbiz Wicked Hotline on 1300 WICKED (1300 942 533).

About Wicked

Wicked opened on Broadway in October 2003. Since then over two and a half million people have seen Wicked in New York and just over another two million have seen the North American touring production. The smash-hit musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (My So Called Life, Once And Again and thirtysomething) is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire.

Official Wicked Ticket and Show Package Enquiries :
Tel 1300 WICKED (1300 942533) or Book online at www.showbiz.com.au/wicked

Press Release Distribution : OzMedia Pty Ltd

About ShowBiz International

Showbiz is Australia's leading premium ticketing and entertainment packages provider, and is the first choice of Australian producers and promoters for specialized ticketing and event package marketing and services. Showbiz prides itself on providing customers preferential access to outstanding live entertainment experiences, premium seating and a unique range of accommodation, dinner and corporate hospitality packages including, VIP & Premium Ticket Packages, Stay & See (r) Accommodation Packages, Dinner & Show Packages and Corporate Hospitality Packages.

Showbiz's leadership position in entertainment packaging has been developed from more than 20 years experience in the ticketing, travel and hospitality industries and is proudly supported by leading major Australian hospitality brands including Accor Hotels and Resorts and Qantas Airlines, the official hotel and airlines partners to the Australian production of Wicked.

Showbiz is also proud of its array of program partners including Qantas, MasterCard, AMEX, NRMA, Lexus and has been the official ticket packages partner for many other great shows such as The Lion King, U2, Cirque du Soleil's Varekai and Robbie Williams.