Racing Down the Yellow Brick Road to Wicked: A Fabulous Night

      Producers of Wicked: One Wonderful Night faced a challenging task when NBC Universal opted to merge musical, film, television, and social media for a unique celebration of the blockbuster franchise.

      "We had a very limited rehearsal schedule leading up to the show. Essentially, the entire production was rehearsed in merely two days," remarks executive producer Raj Kapoor.

      The busy Emmy award winner — who we spoke to just hours after finishing his work on the 98th Academy Awards — mentions that the star-studded Wicked event came together last September in just a 10-day timeframe. It premiered in November and is currently available for streaming on Peacock.

      "It was a lot of orchestral rehearsals, dance practices, fittings, camera blocking, and then we were off," he states. "So, it was an incredibly brief period."

      The Wonderful Night brought together the majority of the Wicked movie cast, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, and Jonathan Bailey, ahead of the sequel’s theatrical release.

      This variety special delivered a magical mix of musical performances, entertaining sketches, and genuine conversations about the cast’s experiences with the global hit. Setting the tone, the production team understood they needed the opening sequence to be a striking tribute to both Broadway and broadcast, signaling the arrival of something fresh.

      "We wanted to clarify that this is not the movie, nor is it going to be a live musical," Kapoor explains. "We aimed to ensure the audience understood this was going to be something truly different, special, and unique."

      They teamed up with the Wicked films’ choreographer, Christopher Scott, to direct a captivating one-shot tour of the studio backlot and backstage, culminating at the curtain rise. They seamlessly integrated Easter eggs and practical props from the land of Oz, opting for these over digital overlays for the credits. It was such an impressive and carefully crafted display of choreography that even those unfamiliar with Wicked could easily get drawn in.

      "We wanted to indicate that we were in a theater, featuring elements of dance and choreography, but ultimately, it launched you right into the live show," Kapoor elaborates. "From that point, all other departments became involved — from costumes to props to production design to our entire technical camera team — in figuring out how to execute it."

      Scott, who obtained his DGA card by directing this segment, rehearsed with dancers for about four hours and then filmed the sequence in one hour after roughly two hours of pre-camera blocking.

      "We had a very tight rehearsal schedule leading to the show," Kapoor says. "But it was really enjoyable, and Chris did a fantastic job capturing it."

      Planning Was Essential for Wicked: One Wonderful Night

      Ariana Grande performing.

      Creative discussions with key cast and crew took place seriously throughout the summer, focusing on the fans from the beginning.

      "That was part of the narrative. The success of Wicked belongs to the fans, and they are deeply engaged with it," Kapoor states. "They know every lyric, every detail, so we wanted to honor that. We recognized how viral some of those moments [from the movie] became; people loved celebrating the book dance, and many practiced their gravity-defying battle cry."

      That intent is evident throughout the show, including with the audience seating. The crowd consisted of numerous dedicated fans.

      "They were among the best audiences I've ever had at any show I've produced," Kapoor says. "The joy radiating from their faces enhanced what the special became because it wasn't solely about what transpired on stage; it was also about what happened in the audience. That wonderful connection between performer, camera, and audience — I believe viewers at home felt that energy too."

      Ariana Grande engaging with a young Wicked fan at Wicked: One Wonderful Night.

      The dynamic between performer and audience reaches a peak when Grande surprises a fortunate young boy in his seat with an invitation to portray Elphaba alongside Galinda during her live rendition of "Popular."

      "We're thinking, ‘What if you involved a fan?’ And she expressed her desire for it to be a boy. She thought it was a delightful twist because many boys enjoy Wicked," Kapoor recounts regarding the charming moment between the actress and a 4-year-old from Detroit named Remington, who had previously gone viral for showcasing his fandom.

      "He and his mother were unaware he was going on stage," Kapoor continues. "He was a special guest, but all those expressions you see are genuine reactions. Ariana was laughing, unable to stop smiling. I think it added to this truly beautiful tale of humanity."

      Wicked: One Wonderful Night is now available for streaming on Peacock. You can check out more of our Emmy contender interviews here.

      Main image: Jeff Goldblum and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: One Wonderful Night. Peacock