Musical on Oz's famous witch is set for its China debut

The Broadway show The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is touring China, with a cast starring Jacqueline Hughes and Bradley Jaden.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Schwartz, 68, has had a career in musicals spanning 40 years. He has won three Grammy Awards, three Oscars and the Isabelle Stevenson Award, an honorary Tony Award.

Universal Pictures announced in June that the Wicked movie musical was "in the works" and scheduled to be released in 2019. Schwartz said during last year's San Diego Comic-Con that there will be at least three new numbers in the film. The film's cast has yet to be revealed.

The Broadway production's tour in China will feature Jacqueline Hughes, Bradley Jaden and Carly Anderson, who recently visited China for promotional events.

Hughes has played Elphaba in the first British tour production.

She describes her role as "confident, powerful, loyal and impulsive", and "that's what makes her attractive and beautiful".

In the play, Elphaba has to overcome obstacles, misunderstandings and injustice because of her unique green skin and unusual talent for sorcery.

Since 2015, AC Orange International has invested in six productions of Broadway shows, including American Psycho and Sunset Boulevard.

"On Broadway, we were hoping that when our investment reached a certain level, we would be able to initiate direct communication with lead producers and investing producers, and be involved in the whole producing process," says Lee.

"After some collaboration, we built a partnership with them. What China's musical industry needs the most is experience."