The untold story of the unlikely friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the South will be told in China next year, as the global musical phenomenon “Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz” will tour in Beijing (May 21-23), Shanghai (April 11-21) and Guangzhou (June 18-27).

    Theater-goers can now buy 20-percent-off tickets for the June 20-22 shows at juooo.com or through hotline 400-185-8666. Discounts for shows on other dates will be announced later.

    The musical, written by Stephen Schwartz, is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” an alternative telling of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” and L. Frank Baum’s classic 1900 story, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

    The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy’s arrival in Oz from Kansas, and it includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum’s novel.

    The China shows star Jacqueline Hughes as Elphaba, Carly Anderson as Glinda and Bradley Jaden as Fiyero. The musical tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (whose name later changes to Glinda the Good Witch), who struggle through opposing personalities and their viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard’s corrupt government and, ultimately, Elphaba’s public fall from grace.

    With direction by Joe Mantello and choreography by Wayne Cilento, the original production of “Wicked” premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater in 2003. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, while its original cast album received a Grammy Award.

    According to Anthony Field, the manager for the China tour, the whole musical features 54 scenes with spectacular special effects, 350 gorgeous costumes, catchy songs and slick dance routines.

    Time: June 18, 20-27, 7:30 p.m.; June 24-25 also at 2:30 p.m.

    Tickets: 144-944 yuan (discounted prices for shows June 20-22), 180-1,180 yuan (full prices)

    Booking: juooo.com

    Venue: Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院)(SD News)