KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For 11 days, the Tennessee Theatre hosted Wicked, one of the most popular performances to come off of Broadway. At around the same time, the Knoxville area was buffeted by a historic winter storm that brought more than a season's worth of snow and froze roads over with a glaze of ice.
That didn't stop Wicked fans, though. They went to the theater in droves, around 25,400 in total arriving at the theatre to watch the performance. Only 7,155 of those attendees were from Knox County. The rest braved the winter storm to see the performance, representing 65 different counties and 32 states, according to a release from the Tennessee Theatre.
There were 16 performances in total during a run lasting from Jan. 10 through Jan. 21. It was also the first time Wicked performed in Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace, according to the release. Because of the winter storm, the theatre said it brought on larger crew to help accommodate performers and attendees and keep the theatre safe.
“The remarkable story of WICKED has changed theatergoers ‘For Good’ and Knoxville has proven no different as we have welcomed thousands of patrons to the Tennessee Theatre and downtown, generating tremendous economic impact for the entire Knoxville region," said Becky Hancock in the release, the Tennessee Theatre's executive director.
The release also noted between the holidays and Valentine's Day, businesses in downtown Knoxville usually experience a lull. One business owner said because of the performance, more people stopped by and helped them make more money.
