Defying Inequality

With Wanda Sykes
on hand to lend her support and a trio of Wicked
divas whose careers have taken off because of composer
Stephen Schwartz’s runaway smash-hit musical,
the cast of the Los Angeles production of
Wicked descended on West Hollywood hotspot the
Factory Monday night to raise money for a slew of gay
charities.

Eden Espinosa and
Shoshana Bean (two big-voiced, soulful belters who have
alternately played Elphaba on Broadway and in Los Angeles)
were joined by big-voiced, busty blond Megan Hilty
(Glinda in L.A. and on Broadway) and a slew of
Wicked castmates for the one-night-only event.

Like the L.A.
cast, Wicked casts in New York, Chicago, and
Louisville also performed in their respective cities to
raise money for Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality
California, Garden State Equality, and Vermont Freedom
to Marry -- four charities working to legislate
equality and protect civil rights for gays and lesbians.

The event drew a
unusual crowd to the Factory, typically WeHo’s
after-hours dance club. Wicked fanatics joined
theater queens on what usually serves as the
club’s dance floor to enjoy two hours of
nonstop music, fun, and blow-the-roof-off vocals.