Wicked Director Reveals Intense Schedule For Those Surprise Cameos

As a theater enthusiast who has witnessed countless productions over the years, I can confidently say that the cameo appearances of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in “Wicked” were nothing short of enchanting. The way they seamlessly slipped into their iconic roles, even for just one magical night, was a testament to their enduring talent and the undeniable impact they had on audiences when they first graced the stage as Elphaba and Glinda.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for special cameo appearances in Wicked.*

One enchanting scene from the musical “Wicked” was captured during a single rain-soaked evening, when the original Broadway performers, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, made their surprise visit to London to appear in a special performance.

In simple terms, Director Jon M. Chu revealed that they had only a few hours to film the famous duo’s cameos in the movie’s “One Short Day” scene. While they were in the Emerald City, Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) went to see a musical named Wizomania, which was a propaganda production about the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). It’s during this performance that their surprise appearances take place.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chu shared that one evening, from 7 PM until 6 AM, happened to be a rainy night. “When they performed their songs and captured their memorable moments during that time,” he said, “it was truly captivating.

The solution emerged organically: “Let’s make them the biggest stars of Oz. Let’s make them this iconic legends of Oz on the stage show, and let them present the history of Oz. They would be the wise women of Oz,” Chu shared. The emotional impact resonated deeply. “What was cool about the day was, I think it was really healing for everybody.”

The series features Menzel and Chenoweth prominently as legendary figures, portraying the importance of the Grimmerie – a revered text, foretold to be read only by the individual who will save Oz at its most critical moment. These talented actors also had the opportunity to draw from their past roles, with Menzel delivering Elphaba’s iconic “Defying Gravity” passage and Chenoweth striking one of Glinda’s distinctive high notes.

Chu addressed the original stars, saying, “We’re dedicating this film to you. Our entire journey in making this movie is our tribute to you, as we aim to recreate for you the same wonder and excitement we felt when we first saw it – back before it moved from the theater to Broadway – that moment when Elphaba and Glinda captivated our hearts. You’ve never had that experience, but now, we get to bring that magic to you.” He also mentioned that both Grande and Erivo were emotional throughout the filming process, and there was a palpable sense of love on set that day.

The scene includes additional Easter eggs for theater enthusiasts, featuring appearances by other former stage Elphabas and Glindas, including Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington. The creative team also joined in, with book writer Winnie Holzman appearing as an Emerald City resident saying, “He must be a wizard!” while Schwartz plays a palace guard announcing, “The Wizard will see you now!”

Coordinating the schedules of Menzel and Chenoweth was tricky, as they were both gearing up for their separate Broadway shows – “The Queen of Versailles” for Menzel and “Redwood” for Chenoweth. Holzman referred to their joint appearance as a “minor miracle.” The occasion carried extra weight due to Grande’s long-standing relationship with Chenoweth, which started when she met her backstage at “Wicked” when she was only 10 years old.

According to Schwartz, the entire night was spent weeping during the filming, as he pointed out in USA Today. This underscored the heavy emotional impact of watching the original and new cast members together.

2024-11-24 02:10

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