"Wicked: For Good" fever hits Cleveland
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Let's get wicked! Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Clevelanders will have plenty of chances to defy gravity over the next few days.
Why it matters: "Wicked: For Good" is set to take over movie theaters with several Northeast Ohio events planned to celebrate its arrival.
Zoom in: Phoenix Theatres Great Northern is hosting a 33-hour marathon that starts at 2pm Thursday.
Zoom out: Other events include a dance party at Twist Social Club Friday night and a soundtrack listening party at The Vinyl Groove Records on Saturday.
- Great Northern Mall is hosting a "Wicked" Dessert Party on Sunday, while Playhouse Square is sponsoring a screening at Cinemark Valley View on Monday, Dec. 1.
The big picture: "Wicked: For Good" is the sequel to last year's blockbuster "Wicked" and is based on the second act of the "Wizard of Oz" inspired stage musical.
- Fun fact: Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, was originally portrayed by Cleveland's Margaret Hamilton in the iconic 1939 film.
What they're saying: "'Wicked: For Good'" has the highest presales of any movie in the entire history of our company," Phoenix Theatres owner Cory Jacobson tells Axios.
- "It's the type of movie that demands this type of fanfare, with a cultlike following where fans really get into the aesthetic of it."
Between the lines: Jacobson says the Great Northern Mall location, which opened in June 2024, has become the company's No. 1 earner out of its nine locations around the country.
- The Michigan-based group recently hosted a special screening for "Bugonia" and partnered with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for a "Superman" premiere in July.
What's next: Phoenix Theatres is in the process of adding 70mm projection screens to Great Northern before director Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" arrives next July.