“Wicked” Defies Gravity by Going from Stage to TV Screen

Ariana Grande joined them for a concert taped a couple of weeks ago at the Marquis Theatre a large venue turned into Oz for the occasion amp160The day before the taping the stars chatted with MediaVillage about what Wicked means to them amp160Although it was a day of rehearsals Chenoweth top left in skinny jeans and a Tshirt that read amp8220Overdressedamp8221 still managed to be fancy by accessorizing with hot pink stiletto booties silver glitter around her eyes and a custommade beaded purse that spelled out amp8220Popularamp8221 on one side and showed the white witch on the otherHaving won a Tony before she descended from the rafters as Glinda Chenoweth knew Wicked would be a hit amp8220as soon as I heard amp8216Popularamp8217amp8221 she recalledamp160 amp8220Then I heard amp8216Defying Gravityamp8217 amp160Shoot I should have had a piece of the showamp8221At the first reading amp8220there were tearsamp8221 she said amp160amp8220I bawled my head offamp8221Menzel top right had not read the script before she learned what would become her signature song amp8220Defying Gravityamp8221 amp160amp8220I felt like crying when I sang itamp8221 she revealed amp160amp8220I really wanted to book it amp160I knew I really needed to do it amp160I didnamp8217t know it would become the phenomenon it is amp8220Both women reflected on opening night Oct 30 2003 when it was a clear a spell had been castquotImagine Madonna 1986 Madison Square Gardenquot Chenoweth suggested amp160quotIn my mind that is what it wasquotSome critics disagreed but the mixed reviews never hurt the production amp160And for those who think it all began when Dorothy Gale was knocked out or ended when she came to Wicked is the larger story of Oz before that girl from Kansas dropped by amp160Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz had read Gregory Maguireamp8217s 1995 book Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and knew he could create a musicalHis vision which resulted in Tony Awards for Menzel scenic design and costume design began by asking Universal producer Marc Platt to help guide the project amp160Platt is also the producer behind Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert which was a huge success for NBC on EasterNBCUniversal is no stranger to the allure of Broadway amp160In addition to Jesus Christ Superstar Robert Greenblatt former chairman of NBC Entertainment earlier brought live telecasts of The Sound of Music Peter Pan The Wiz and The Sound of Music to the networkamp160 Universal Live Theatrical had already invested in WickedThis special however is different as it isnamp8217t a stagetoscreen version of the Broadway production Rather it is a concert of some of the showamp8217s most beloved numbers songs that those in the audience of the taping responded to as if in a Gymboree amp160These are more than catchy tunes theyamp8217re anthems for those feeling marginalizedamp8220It is such a celebration of women really being fierce and strongamp8221 Menzel saidamp160 Those themes have been embraced globally as more 55 million people in 15 countries have seen the show which to date has grossed over 46 billionDuring the taping Chenoweth who was playful with the audience many in costume asked who had seen it the most amp160One man had done so 45 times and for this loyalty he was brought on stage and awarded a TshirtThis taping like all included many doovers amp160Although Menzel received an ovation for her first rendition of amp8220Defying Gravityamp8221 she felt something was off and did it again amp160Chenoweth also wound up performing amp8220Popularamp8221 twice each time taking a selfie with someone close to the stageThough nothing was mentioned the biggest surprise was that Grande showed up since this taping happened immediately after she broke off her engagement with Saturday Night Live costar Pete Davidson amp160Still she pulled off the nearly impossible looking stunning in green lipstick and belted out amp8220The Wizard and Iamp8221Another terrific singer Ledisi who has never seen Wicked harmonized on amp8220As Long as Youamp8217re Mineamp8221 with Adam Lambert who was in the ensemble of Wicked before his American Idol days amp160The a capella group Pentatonix performed its version of amp8220What Is This Feelingamp8221In a joyous display a slew of Elphabas and Glindas take the stage for the finale to sing amp8220For Goodamp8221 Chenoweth and Menzel were center stage as 10 other pairs of good and evil witches actresses who had played them in various productions joined inamp160 By the end Chenoweth could not hold back the tears threatening to need even more glittery silver eyelineramp8220Itamp8217s in our DNAamp8221 Chenoweth said of Wicked amp160amp8220It is all about love inclusion and tolerancequotIn addition to those themes Chenoweth told me there39s one more message she wants viewers to take away from the special amp160quotI hope people at home watching it will say Broadway is a big deal and will want to come and think they can amp160I did and I am from Broken Arrow Oklahoma amp160You don39t make that upquotA Very Wicked Halloween Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway will be telecast October 30 at 10 pm on NBCClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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“Wicked” Defies Gravity by Going from Stage to TV Screen

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Jacqueline Cutler

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“Wicked” Defies Gravity by Going from Stage to TV Screen

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Jacqueline Cutler

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