DUBAI: The musical “WICKED” is heading to Saudi Arabia this December, with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Broadway Entertainment Group announcing a run of the popular show from Dec. 3-20 in Riyadh.

The event will be staged at the King Fahad Cultural Center, from where the iconic musical will launch a Gulf tour.

Billed as one of the most popular musicals ever staged, various productions of “WICKED” have been watched by 65 million audience members across 130 cities in 25 countries. This new production features 100 performers, crew, and orchestra members, 350 costumes, and the ever popular musical numbers “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good.”

Inspired by the classic story “The Wizard of Oz,” the musical is set in a hidden fairyland called Oz. “It’s the story of two remarkable young women — one, misunderstood but brilliantly talented and born with emerald-green skin; the other, beautiful, ambitious, and admired. What begins as an unlikely friendship soon becomes a riveting rivalry that shapes their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West,” the show’s logline reads.

“This new production brings its own vitality and creativity, while continuing to tell our story of friendship, love, and having the courage to be true to yourself and stand up for what you believe in,” Stephen Schwartz, the musical’s composer and lyricist, said in a released statement.

In 2024, “Wicked” was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the lead roles. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film went on to win two Academy Awards.