The first installment of the visual spectacle, Wicked, debuted in theaters November 22, bringing the Broadway musical to the screen. Directed by Mr. Jonathan Murray Chu (more commonly known as Mr. Jon M. Chu), this two-part adaptation of the prequel to The Wizard of Oz brings the story to a new dimension, while also taking the time to honor the plot presented on stage. Wicked: Part Two, depicting the musical’s second act, will come to theaters November 21, 2025, according to The New York Times. Beyond the imaginative cinematography and detailed set design, the magic of Wicked comes from the live vocals, paying homage to its live theater origins.
The movie musical originates from Mr. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and also derives from Broadway’s Wicked, with music and lyrics by Mr. Stephen Schwartz and a book by playwright Ms. Winnie Holzman. The musical first premiered at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City (NYC), in 2003 and has captivated audiences for over 20 years, according to The New York Times. In 2024, the iconic story soared to new heights on screen, defying expectations and allowing an awe-inspiring view into the enchanting Land of Oz.
Ms. Cynthia Erivo and Ms. Ariana Grande star in the movie adaptation, portraying the wicked witch Elphaba Thropp and the good witch Glinda Upland. Elphaba and Glinda are roommates and rivals who first meet at Shiz University and form an unlikely friendship. The story begins as Glinda floats in and sings “No One Mourns the Wicked,” sharing the tale of the witches’ past before Elphaba’s death, according to The New York Times. Despite the challenging vocals that comprise the Wicked soundtrack, most notably “Defying Gravity,” Ms. Erivo and Ms. Grande elected to sing live on set as opposed to lip-synching a pre-recorded track, according to people.com. Ms. Erivo shared how live vocals allowed her to embody Elphaba on screen.
“We chose to sing live because it meant that we would be further connected to the words we were saying and to each other,” Ms. Erivo said, according to people.com. “There’s something special about what happens when music is live in a room. […] It feels really powerful.”
Ms. Erivo trained to belt the highest notes of “Defying Gravity” while flying through the air on a broomstick. Neither Ms. Erivo nor, Ms. Grande used stunt doubles in the film and still perfected the most demanding songs. Ms. Grande reached Glinda’s high vocal range with ease and performed the song “Popular” as she swung from a chandelier, according to people.com. Ms. Erivo, Ms. Grande, Mr. Jonathan Bailey, who portrays Winkie prince Fiyero Tigelaar, and Mr. Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard of Oz, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show November 19, according to goodhousekeeping.com. The cast and Ms. Grande discussed the significance of singing live and the integrity of their vocals.
“We’re all singers here, and it’s something we love to do,” Ms. Grande said, according to goodhousekeeping.com. “It was really important to us […] because we love it, and […] because the emotional integrity of the content itself kind of demands it. You’re able to be spontaneous and follow your feelings and be honest. Also, when the comedy is in the room, you know, improv and play and surprise […] you can’t really do that if there’s a track.”
Wicked: Part One turned out to be a cinematic triumph, dancing through a record-breaking opening weekend. With an estimated box office total of $163 million, Wicked claims the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation. Boasting a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 90 percent from critics and 97 percent from audiences, this film is “popular,” according to nbcuniversal.com. Ultimately, the live vocals of Wicked prove to create a musical masterpiece and set a new standard for future film adaptations.
Featured Image by Brianna Timlin ’26
