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Wicked is without a doubt the most popular and talked-about film currently showing in cinemas. Wicked, which is based.
On the well-known Broadway musical, relates the tale of Elphaba and Glinda, two witches, and what really occurred before The Wizard of Oz.
Since its late November release, the film has received critical praise, box office success, and the possibility of winning Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars.
It broke a 46-year record held by Grease to become the highest-grossing film based on a Broadway musical at the US box office.
Wicked has made over $358 million at the global box office as of this writing. This is just for Part One of Wicked; Part Two is expected to be released in cinemas in November of next year.
Additionally, more and more information regarding the backstage activities that led to Wicked’s eventual big-screen debut is being made public every day.
I really feel that the reason we waited this long for a film adaptation is so that this particular cast of characters could be included.
In Wicked, especially with each new narrative from director Jon M. Chu and actresses like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
The construction of the sets and the amount of effort put into making everything as functional as possible are some of my favorite behind.
The-scenes details about Wicked, but what has also moved me is witnessing Cynthia and Ariana’s deep affection for Elphaba and Glinda and the careful consideration they gave to their portrayal.
There are a lot of sequences between Elphaba and Glinda that are discussed, but one of the most exquisite ones in Part One occurs during “Dancing Through Life.”
Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) invites Glinda and other Shiz University students to the Ozdust Ballroom, where they dance the night away during the vast musical performance, which has been enlarged even more in the film version.
There, Elphaba dons the cap that Glinda gave her as a joke, joining the rest of her students. As Elphaba walks in, everyone points, looks, and laughs. Elphaba then starts dancing on the dance floor by herself.
Glinda eventually joins her, and while everyone watches, the two of them dance together, with Glinda imitating Elphaba’s dancing steps. It’s a really moving scene.
In the end, the sequence results in their lasting relationship, which influences the rest of Wicked: Part One and will also greatly influence the second film.
Many have praised the scene’s stunning filming and Cynthia and Ariana’s exceptional performance in it since Wicked debuted in cinemas.
They are sobbing so much on the press tour, and this moment alone explains why. Now, I believe it’s crucial to highlight how Ariana’s decision behind the scenes enhanced the moment’s memorability.
Ariana spoke candidly about shooting the Ozdust Ballroom sequence with Cynthia in an interview with Matt Rogers and her fellow.
Wicked castmate Bowen Yang on the Las Culturistas podcast. She said that it took one and a half days to record this specific segment of “Dancing Through Life.”
“One and a half days of utter pin-drop silence, and every single person in the room was absolutely just right.
There with Cynthia and kind of holding a very warm space for how much she was giving the whole time,” Ariana said.
“It’s such a painful and isolating scene, and even if you’re acting, it’s such a heartbreaking feeling,” she said.
All day long, I felt butterflies and flutters, making room for her. And then looking at a buddy and attempting to make amends after feeling guilty and realizing that I’m to blame for this. The day was really demanding.
Then, to make the moment seem as genuine as possible, Ariana disclosed that she didn’t really learn the dance moves for the part when Glinda enters and dances with Elphaba.
“I never learned it, even though we practiced it on set a couple of times before that day,” she told Las Culturistas.
I just wanted to be following her hand and letting her lead the way, therefore I didn’t want to remember it.”
“Because I felt that the more awkward it looks on Glinda, the more beautiful it can be,” Ariana went on. We’re merely b oth attempting to communicate in the same language like little, untamed deer. I adore it, and it’s so delightfully uncomfortable.”
She went on to say that it was “such a ride” to go from this melancholy and sluggish scene in the Ozdust Ballroom to “Popular,” which is a really lively scene and Glinda’s b ing famous moment in Wicked: Part One.
Cynthia also discussed Ariana’s decision not to learn the dance at this particular occasion in an interview on the Sentimental Men podcast, stating.
“Whenever we would perform the dance together, she would want to forget it. Because she wanted to learn on the moment.
She didn’t want to practice it too much (B). It’s similar to teaching someone this piece in her native tongue each time.
“I believe they truly see each other in that moment,” she said. ‘Oh, that’s a human creature,’ Glinda thinks.
I always believe that the most vulnerable time for Glinda to beg for forgiveness and to wish to connect is when she attempts to execute this dance on her own.
And it’s a “Okay” when Elphaba says, “Follow me,” and she puts her palms up and waits. Shall we begin anew?
Cynthia also spoke eloquently about the significance of this moment for Elphaba and the emotional toll that filming took.
Stating that she drew on her personal experiences of feeling alienated or unwelcome in a crowd to inform her performance and allow those feelings to surface for Elphaba as well.
I adore the Ozdust Ballroom scene even more after hearing b oth Ariana and Cynthia discuss their experiences shooting it.
Ariana’s whole conversation is available to see and listen to on the Las Culturistas podcast here.
Additionally, Cynthia’s whole conversation on the Sentimental Men podcast is available to see and listen to here.
How did you feel about Wicked’s Ozdust Ballroom scene? Let us know in the comments section below.