WICKED Announces Charity Partnership

The Broadway musical phenomenon WICKED, now playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, today announced that the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation would be the Official Charity Partner of the Australian production.

The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) is a national charity seeking to assist people in our most marginalised communities to gain vital language, literacy and communication skills. ALNF’s specialised, innovative and proven programs address the needs of a diverse range of individuals and communities – specifically targeting First Nations, refugee and other vulnerable Australians. ALNF believes that literacy is freedom – literacy allows individuals to access education, participate meaningfully in our society and to have a voice. It is a basic human right.

As part of the Charity Partnership, WICKED will raise money for ALNF through bucket collections at selected performances, raise the profile of this vital charity and will work with ALNF to bring students from schools which are part of ALNF’s Subtext: Art for Literacy program to attend a performance of WICKED and a post-show Q&A tailored for the students. WICKED will also explore the opportunity for cast and company members to participate in relevant ALNF outreach programs.

WICKED Australia Co-producer John Frost said, “The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation is the perfect Official Charity Partner for WICKED as it aligns with many of the themes of the show – Inclusion and helping others achieve their goals. I’m thrilled that we can partner with the ALNF and assist them in their very valuable work.”

Kim Kelly, ALNF Co-Founder and Executive Director, said, “We are truly excited to be partnering with WICKED, an iconic production that champions inclusivity, self-belief and finding your voice, values that drive our work here at ALNF. We know that engaging with the arts has proven social and cognitive value, playing a vital role in fostering spaces for creativity and self-expression while connecting individuals to community. Through our partnership with WICKED, we hope to amplify the importance of the arts in empowering young people from marginalised communities with the language, literacy and communication skills they need to thrive. “