Wicked
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Wicked — the wildly successful Broadway musical about the story of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Glinda the Good Witch) — celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and rising pop stars Reneé Rapp and Lizzy McAlpine are getting in on the festivities.
At the first New York stop of her Snow Hard Feelings Tour, Rapp invited McAlpine onstage to perform an emotional rendition of “For Good,” one of the standout duets on the Wicked soundtrack.
Fan-captured footage via TikTok finds the two singers enrapturing the audience as they assume the roles of Glinda and Elphaba atop a neon-green-lit stage. Rapp choosing to perform “For Good” for the first of her four New York tour stops is unsurprising considering her Broadway roots. In 2019, The Sex Lives of College Girls star enjoyed a brief run as Regina George in the Tony-nominated Mean Girls musical. She is set to reprise her role in the forthcoming film adaptation of the musical, which is set to hit theaters Jan. 12, 2024.
The first part of the two-film adaptation of Wicked, meanwhile, is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. The film’s star-studded cast includes Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and more.
Rapp’s musical theater background echoes across her music, including Snow Angel, her debut studio LP. The record, which helped Rapp land a pair of MTV Video Music Award nominations this year, debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 with 18,000 units shifted — the biggest first-week total for a debut album by a female artist in 2023. On Tuesday (Oct. 31), Rapp will head to Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre for a special Halloween show where fans are encouraged to attend in costume.
As for McAlpine, the “For Good” duet comes on the heels of an exciting year for the fast-rising folk-pop singer. This year, McAlpine enjoyed the rise of “Ceilings,” which became her very first Billboard Hot 100 hit (No. 54), as well as collaborations with Noah Kahan (“Call Your Mom”) and Niall Horan (“You Could Start a Cult”).
Watch Rapp and McAlpine deliver a gorgeous “For Good” performance below:
Ethan Slater and estranged wife Lilly Jay have filed for divorce on Wednesday (July 26), Billboard can confirm. The reason listed for the divorce is not currently clear. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The musician also spoke out against the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical star’s […]
The entertainment world was sent into a frenzy on Thursday (July 20) when reports surfaced that Ariana Grande is dating her 31-year-old Wicked costar Ethan Slater following her recently reported split from husband Dalton Gomez. Both TMZ and People report that he and Grande started dating after both of their relationships were over. Slater was previously married to singer Lilly […]
As the joint WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue to send shockwaves throughout Hollywood, many filmmakers are updating fans on the status of the slew of upcoming films set to be impacted by the breakdown in negotiations between writers, actors and AMPTP. Among them is Jon M. Chu, the director of the highly anticipated Wicked movie musicals.
In an Instagram Story and tweet on Wednesday (July 19), Chu confirmed to fans that filming is “paused until the strike is over.” “We were only a few days away from being done, so we were SO close,” he wrote. “It’s been very painful to put a halt to it all but we will be back! And we will finish properly strong when the time is right.”
“More to come, but in the meantime, I’m excited to excavate what we have shot for the past year here in Oz (release date shouldn’t be affected),” Chu continued. “It has been an extraordinary adventure… more to do.”
His clarification comes on the heels of fan speculation that filming was complete, as well as rumors that star Ariana Grande — who is playing Glinda the Good Witch — would be returning to the States soon. The majority of Wicked filming took place right outside London, the same city where the “Positions” singer was recently spotted without her wedding ring a day before reports surfaced that she and husband Dalton Gomez were headed for a divorce.
Wicked features a star-studded cast of some of the industry’s most acclaimed actors and singers including Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Olivier Award winner Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and Keala Settle round out the cast. Split into two films, the first Wicked movie is slated for a Nov. 27, 2024, release, with the second following on Nov. 26, 2025.
Chu concluded the Instagram Story with update with a note of solidarity, writing, “Much love to … our beloved SAG members who are fighting for a fair deal! We stand with you.”
Click here to read Jon M. Chu’s full statement on Instagram Stories, and see his tweet below.
Not done yet. Just paused until the strike is over and we can finish the last pieces of the movie. We were only a few days away from being done so we were SO close. It’s been very painful to put a halt to it all but we will be back! And we will finish properly strong when the…— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 19, 2023
Wimbledon 2023 wrapped on Sunday (July 16), and the music stars were out in full force to enjoy thrilling matches at the world’s oldest tennis tournament. This year’s Wimbledon Championships, the 136th edition, featured some stunning victories. Twenty-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the gentlemen’s singles title, beating renowned tennis star Novak Djokovic of Serbia. […]
Ariana Grande was definitely the most “Popular” birthday girl on the set of Wicked last week. In a Wednesday (July 5) Instagram post, the newly 30-year-old pop star revealed that she celebrated her 30th birthday hard at work with her castmates and crew, sharing snaps of all the sweet ways her Wicked live-action colleagues made […]
Michelle Yeoh is set to grace the land of Oz as Madame Morrible in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, and the Academy Award-winning actress gave some insight on the current filming process.
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She told ET that filming has been “great” so far. “Really good. Love working with Ariana [Grande] and Cynthia [Erivo],” she added.
She also previously shared how the film’s director Jon M. Chu, who worked with Yeoh on 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, convinced her to take the role. “He said he’s gonna send me the script, [ask me to] consider it,” she recalled. “Then, he goes off. Two days later, I get a message from him, and he has recorded a message from Ariana and Cynthia and him, saying, ‘Hi, Michelle. It’s imperative, imperative, absolutely — what was it? — imperative that you join us now.’”
Chu shared that Yeoh joined the Wicked cast back in December. “It took one tweet to convince the ICON (and dear friend) #MichelleYeoh to play our Madame Morrible in #WickedMovie,” the filmmaker tweeted along with an article by The Hollywood Reporter confirming the casting. “Am I the luckiest director in the world to get to work with her again?! Spoiler alert: yes I am. Welcome to Shiz.”
In the Broadway version of the beloved Wizard of Oz prequel, Yeoh’s character serves as the headmistress of Shiz and promises to introduce Elphaba to the famous Wizard himself, leading into fan-favorite number “The Wizard and I.”
The film adaptation is set to be released in two parts. Wicked Part 1 will be released next Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 2024), and the second part currently scheduled for Christmas Day (Dec. 25) in 2025.
The torch is being passed from one good witch to another.In a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kristin Chenoweth opened up about the thrillifying advice she gave Ariana Grande on stepping into the sparkly pink shoes of Glinda in Wicked, a role Chenoweth originated on Broadway in 2003.
“She was really nervous,” the 54-year-old musical theatre legend recalled. “She said, ‘I want to pay homage to you but I’m scared. I want to make you proud.’ I go, ‘Well you’ve already made me proud, so it doesn’t matter. Check, done that.’”
Chenoweth went on to share the wisdom she gave her mentee on playing Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming live action adaptation of the Wizard of Oz inspired musical, due out in theaters next year: “What I want to encourage you to do, Ariana, is make Glinda your Glinda. Sure, you can tip your hat at me if you want, but really I just want you to do you.”
The Holidate actress went on to say that the topic made her emotional because “I’ve known [Ariana] since she was ten.” “I’m so proud of her,” she added. “I can’t wait to see her do it.”
The hype for Chu’s two-part film adaptation, which also stars Cynthia Erivo playing the titular character of Elphaba, has never been higher. First look photos of both leading ladies in costume were released Sunday (April 16), and pictures and videos of Grande on set recently went viral on Twitter.
One of the viral videos shows the pop star shooting a scene from the beginning of the musical, effortlessly singing the operatic high notes in opening number “No One Mourns The Wicked” while addressing the citizens of Oz. Fans couldn’t get enough of Grande’s vocals or her stunning pink ballgown, with one fan tweeting: “That film is going to be crazy cause look how ariana grande Ate that up omg.”
Watch Kristin Chenoweth recall the “Wicked” advice she gave Ariana Grande below:
Ariana Grande is celebrating one year of her makeup brand R.E.M. Beauty being sold at Ulta Beauty, and treated fans to a little makeup tutorial while answering some fan questions.
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The blonde-haired “Positions” singer is in the midst of filming the highly-anticipated movie adaptation of Wicked, in which she plays Glinda the Good Witch. “Life is beautiful and surreal. I’m learning so much and I’m growing so much right now and I’m working my a– off and I’m enjoying and savoring every moment of it,” she shared of her current feelings, putting together a cut-crease eye look using her Midnight Shadows eyeshadow palette in the shade Smitten Kitten.
“It’s weird because it’s exhausting but I’m not tired,” she added of the filming process. “I will do it again right now. Every single thing — I don’t want to stop, I don’t want to do the weekends, I don’t want to go home, I don’t want to leave ever. So, Cynthia [Erivo] and I are — this is the phrase we keep saying — husks. We are shells of people, and I’m savoring every single second humanly possible.”
And yes, Glinda will soon be seen wearing some R.E.M. Beauty products, even though Grande told her makeup artist that she shouldn’t feel pressure to wear makeup from her line. “I don’t want to go into this with any rules or requests,” she explained. “I want us to find [Glinda] from the ground up. I just want to sit down and let you play and we’ll find her together. I wanted to be a new girl.”
Grande even addressed some of the unreleased demos that have been spreading on TikTok, as well as the leaked news that R.E.M. is working on foundations. “You guys have heard every bad song and bulls— demo I’ve ever made,” she said. “Hilarious! It’s impossible to keep things from you. You gotta take some swings and misses.”
Watch the full tutorial and Q&A below.
Michelle Yeoh is set to take on the big-screen as Madame Morrible in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, and the actress spoke with Variety on the Golden Globes red carpet about the movie.
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She revealed that she hasn’t yet started shooting with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo — who play Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. “Those two are so adorable, so gorgeous, so talented,” Yeoh added. “I’m so blessed that I’m going to be one of them and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Everything Everywhere All at Once star also shared that she recently watched the Wicked Broadway musical last weekend while in New York City. “I loved it, and then I go, ‘Oh my God, Madame Morrible sings a lot.’”
When asked if she sings a lot, Yeoh replied with a laugh, “No, only in the bathroom.”
Yeoh won her first Golden Globe at Tuesday night’s (Jan. 10) ceremony, taking home the trophy for best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy for her role as laundromat owner Evelyn Wang in A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once.
“I’m just going to stand here and take this all in,” she said during her acceptance speech, clutching the gold statue. “40 years… I’m not letting go of this.”
“Thank you A24 for believing in these two goofy, insanely smart, wonderful geniuses, [directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert], who had the courage to write about a very ordinary immigrant, aging woman, mother, daughter,” she continued. “I was given this gift of playing this woman who resonated so deeply with me and with so many people because, at the end of the day, in whatever universe she was at, she was fighting for love, for her family.”