Wicked’s Broadway Musical Cameos Explained

The following contains spoilers for Wicked: Part 1, now playing in theatersWicked: Part 1The Biggest Special Moments Brings an important representation of the original musical to the big screen. Directed by Jon M. Chu and divided into two parts, Evil is the film adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway musical of the same name. For the most part, EvilThe characters experience the same arcs and personalities they did on stage, albeit with an extended focus courtesy of the shift from medium to film. However, this love for the original Broadway musical prevails throughout the first film, which faithfully recreates Act 1 in terms of plot, characters, and themes.

However, a smart change EvilThe narrative of Actually serves as an ideal place to insert some great cameos without distracting from the rest of the plot. The musical even finds a way to give the cameos their own showcase that highlights their importance in the production’s overarching legacy without distracting from the film’s actual focus. These aren’t the only cameos that reference the story of Evilas some of the behind-the-scenes creatives who created the show are also involved in the film. Here are the biggest cameos and their role in Evil explained.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth Cameo in Wicked During “One Short Day”

Evil Turns Menzel and Chenoweth’s cameos into a musical revelation

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Galinda in the Broadway version of Evilappear in Wicked: Part 1 and even have a musical moment while singing a new verse in one of the Evilsongs. “One Short Day” plays at the end Wicked: Part 1serving as the duo’s introduction to the Emerald City. The music, like the end of Evilis remarkably similar to the musical. However, the “Wizomania” section of the song was tweaked. The song is now longer and delves into the lore surrounding the Grimmerie and how the Wizard arrived in Oz.

The addition to the song, performed by the “Emerald City Players”, is sung by Menzel and Chenoweth. The two stand together on a small stage and sing the song, all the while infusing little bits of personality into their short appearance. It’s a small but important addition to the film, as helps establish how important Grimmerie ishow powerful it can be and why Elphaba is so important to being able to decipher it. It’s also a perfect way to bring both stars into the film without taking the focus away from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were the original Elphaba and Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked

Menzel and Chenoweth were the first artists to officially play Elphaba and Glinda

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth have long been associated with Evilas the pair were the original stars. Playing Elphaba and Galinda respectively, Menzel and Chenoweth have long been considered the ideal versions of the characters for a reason. Debuting on Broadway in 2003 after a tryout in San Francisco earlier that year, Wicked became one of the most successful musicals to ever hit Broadway. Although Kristin Chenoweth was always conceived as Galinda, Stephanie J. Block played Elphaba in workshops before Idina Menzel was cast in the role. Block later starred as Elpahaba in Evilfirst national tour.

Both were celebrated for their performance, with Menzel winning the Tony Award for Best Actress. Menzel’s performance in “Defying Gravity” and Chenoweth’s joyful take in “Popular” are among the most popular on Broadway. The entire cast also won a Grammy for recording the musical, further cementing the impressive recognition the musical received. This made them easy choices for cameos in Wicked: Part 1especially if the film managed to find a way to let them sing. To that end, giving the duo an original song that didn’t take away from Erivo and Grande was an ideal cameo for them.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s Wicked Cameos Unite Us With Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

The original and most recent Elphaba and Galinda appear on screen together

The sweetest element of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s cameos in Wicked: Part 1 is the way that allows original Elphaba and Galinda to appear alongside their successors in the role. The two also had a little comedic interaction with each other, with Menzel and Chenoweth shyly bumping into each other to get attention during the performance. It’s a clever and comical way to let the pair recreate the energy of their original relationship on stage, reflecting the comedic elements of Elphaba and Galinda’s rivalry at a plot point where the two women are united.

The best moment comes when the duo leaves the stage and takes Elphaba and Glinda into the city.. The moment feels comforting, with the most famous incarnation of the characters leading their successors by the arm. Ervio and Menzel spend a small moment together, while Chenoweth and Grande find a more comical interaction. It’s a small beat that reflects well on all four artists. It’s an effective bridge from the previous version of the musical that doesn’t overshadow the talent of the modern performers and still plays an important role in the plot outside of their cameos.

Wicked has two other Broadway musical appearances

Two of the minds behind Evil Also cameo during the scene

Wicked: Part 1 Finding room for Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to make a cameo makes perfect sense, considering their star power and identifying the connection to the musical’s story. However, they are not the only numbers in the original Evil that appear next. As reported by Poster, EvilWriter Winnie Holzman and composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz also appear in the scene. Holzman (who co-wrote the screenplay for Wicked: Part 1) is one of the citizens of the Emerald City who attends the performance, and is the one who names the Wizard of Oz.

Schwartz appears a few moments later as the Emerald City Guard. who shouts that Elphaba and Glinda can see the Wizard. While their cameos may not be as big as Menzel and Chenoweth’s, they are both solid references to the people behind the original musical’s success. These cameos highlight the inherent connection between the story of Evil and the modern version of the musical, even as the new version becomes more widely seen thanks to the reach of cinema, it is clear from the film’s Broadway cameos that Evil we will never forget the importance of the people who established it.

Source: Poster