Wicked
Everyone deserves the chance to fly!
Wicked is probably my favorite musical. Now, my repertoire of musical theater is really not that big, I’ve only seen a few shows here and there. I was also the star in Brittany Hill Middle School’s production of Willy Wonka Jr. (sorry Timothée, I was Wonka first). But overall I don’t have a lot of shows to draw context from other than about 10 or so musicals I grew up listening to (The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon to name a few). That being said, I saw the film version of Wicked staring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo over the holiday (twice) and it completely blew my mind. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I left the theater.
Let’s start with the music. Stephen Schwartz, the creator of the musical’s soundtrack, is uncontestedly one of the greatest living composers for film and stage. The Prince of Egypt, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, the list of his work goes on and on. Consider me a fanboy. Schwartz’s work on the songs of Wicked, which originally debuted on Broadway in 2003, is nothing short of breathtaking. It translates marvelously onto the silver screen, thanks to the help of juggernaut talents Grande and Erivo, director Jon M. Chu, and a host of producers, including one of my personal favorites, Greg Wells, who produced the wildly popular The Greatest Showman soundtrack, as well as a bunch of your other favorite songs, probably.
There were so many moments in the movie where the music moved me to the point of tears, most notably the musical’s epic finale, “Defying Gravity.” It’s been a while since I’ve had full body chills watching a film. I’m pretty sure my soul left my body in the movie’s climactic final moments. Schwartz, Wells, Chu, and their whole team worked a miracle here, there’s no way around it. The orchestration, the sound design, the vocal performances, everything was absolutely breathtaking. It’s the type of spectacle that makes me glad to be alive to be able to witness such an achievement of modern cinema. Needless to say I’ve been belting “Defying Gravity” alone in my car and around the house all week. Sorry, neighbors.
Music aside, the film as a whole just was just such a feast for the senses. The set design was unreal. There was a fair amount of CGI throughout the movie, but a lot of the sets were beautifully constructed in real life, which I really appreciated. According to one interview, they actually planted 9 million tulips just for one incredible shot of Munchkinland at the beginning of the movie. I’m a bit of a sucker for anything in the realm of fairytales, and Wicked lives squarely in that realm. Charming old buildings with thatched roofs, a glittering Emerald City, and whimsical floating music-boxes delivering hand-written letters are just a few of the touches that had me grinning through the entire film. It gave me a tremendous amount of newfound inspiration for my own stories and songs. Have you been convinced to watch it yet or should I keep going?
I can’t help but feel that this movie is going to deeply help a lot of people. Elphaba’s story, that of an outcast finding her own voice and power, is not necessarily a new one, but it hits home nonetheless. Over the holiday, I was walking around my childhood neighborhood late at night, listening to “Defying Gravity;” I still got that same hit of inspiration I’ve always gotten listening to the original Broadway soundtrack. A feeling like I can do anything! Forget what the haters say! Everyone deserves the chance to fly! I know I’m not alone in that feeling. It’s why so many have been raving about the film and the soundtrack. It’s why Wicked has already grossed over $634 million in the short time it’s been out. I have a feeling that number is going to go a lot higher.
Speaking of the original soundtrack, both Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played Elphaba and Glinda in the original broadway cast, make a cameo in the film, as well as the composer Stephen Schwartz. Pretty cool!
I could write a lot more about this one, but I’ll leave it there for now. Do yourself a favor and go see the film if you haven’t already. I’ve seen it twice so far, but may or may not see it a third time before it leaves theaters. There’s even a sing-along version out now, but I think I’ll be skipping that one. My philosophy is that any movie is a sing-along version if you’re quiet enough and you sit in the back of the theater. My dad can confirm this for you.
So fly, don’t run, to a theater near you! Follow the yellow brick road if you have to! Whatever it takes to see what I would call the best movie of 2024. And as we head into the new year, remember these words from Prince Fiyero:
“It's just life, so keep dancing through.”
This was very lovely to read!! You can really tell how much this movie moved you and luckily I’ve already seen it, so I totally get what you’re talking about!
Literally cannot wait for some new songs that have been inspired by it. I’m absolutely certain that with the release of this movie, a bunch of magical, marvelous (fairy tale?) bangers by you are awaiting us. So excited for them already!! Maybe, just as an example, you could start with another green song (since you’ve already talked about Emerald City, you know haha jk)
There’s just one more thing; even tho I really enjoyed reading this post, there’s one part I don’t quite understand - it’s the “belting “Defying Gravity” around the house all week, SORRY neighbors” part, cause wdym sorry??? Anson, you could literally breathe into a mic for 3 minutes and that would go platinum in my household - your neighbors hit the jackpot with Defying Gravity hahaha (no hahaha. jealousy jealousy)
Such beautiful writing. I can feel every word you’ve written, as you perfectly capture how Wicked is an intricate tapestry of emotions, each one pulling you in a different direction yet somehow all perfectly in sync. Honestly, I’m still not over the final 10 minutes of the show—it sends chills down my spine every time. The intensity of the emotions, the raw connection, it’s so real and tangible. I felt it deep in my soul. It instantly transported me back to the timeless message of The Wizard of Oz—and, as you so beautifully pointed out, the powerful, heart-wrenching story of Elphaba.
I find myself returning to that world again and again, constantly referencing The Wizard of Oz, and Wicked just adds to being my another message. With the passage of time, its message has only grown richer, layered with deeper meaning and energy. It ties everything together with such grace, yet feels as fresh as the first time I saw it.
And then there’s the music. The music is where the heart of Wicked truly lives. I often find myself trying to sing along, attempting my own little karaoke session at home, but let’s just say... I fail miserably every time. Still, every note, every soaring melody—especially Defying Gravity—pulls me in and fills me with something I can’t quite explain. But it was I’m Here that first stole my heart. The way Cynthia Erivo sings that song, with so much power, rawness, and vulnerability, made me feel seen in a way I wasn’t expecting. There’s something so deeply personal in her performance that it feels like she’s singing not just to herself, but to every person who’s ever had to fight for their own space in the world.
And then, of course, Defying Gravity—when she belts that out, it feels like I’m soaring alongside her—free, untethered, unstoppable. The way Cynthia brings her soul to every note, every word, it’s impossible not to be moved. Her performance is more than just a song; it’s an experience. And now, every time I hear Defying Gravity, I find myself gravitating toward her even more—her voice, her emotion, the connection she creates. It’s a feeling that stays with you, long after the curtain falls.