I am Oz the Great and Powerful. I command you …
We are commanded and we welcome two of Broadway’s biggest stars: Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who were the original Glinda and Elphaba, hosting the special created by executive producers Marc Platt and David Stone called A Very Wicked Halloween directed by Glenn Weiss and written by David Boone. Flying monkeys, green glasses and emerald colored diamonds are dripping through a green elixir. Green lightening moves magically down an enchanted broomstick that tantalizes us while we tune into NBC’s Wicked 15th Anniversary Special.
Kristen opens with “Its good to see us, isn’t it?” And Idina guides us as she speaks, “Let’s head on back to broadway where this journey begins.” We are delivered to an opening of “One Short Day.”
Jessica Vosk and Amanda Jane Cooper turn to each other on the music and sing, “I think we’ve found the place where we belong. I wanna be in this hoi polloi.” Hoi-polloi, is a standard word for the college student’s GRE test. Being a college student myself, it was exciting to hear this familiar word again performed with clear diction and a refreshing voice.
There are 700 lighting instruments and 400 Twinkling bulbs used in the production of Wicked. How much dry ice do the wicked special effects need? 400 pounds every performance. 2.5 million pounds in the past fifteen years.
These are two of many fun facts that are sprinkled throughout NBC’s Wicked Anniversary and some significant numbers to note…
Kristen Chenoweth
Popular: Kristen is as witty and interactive, as she was when she first debuted Glinda.
What is this Feeling?: I loved watching the playful interaction between Kirsten Maldanado & Mitch Degrassi. Pentatonix was on point with delivering comedic and musical timing.
The Wizard and I: Ariana Grande enters stage with a modern emerald bodice dress that only eyes can envy. She wore a chandelier-layered rhinestone choker, her voice resonated beautifully.
Defying Gravity: An undeniable serenade with a great build-up to Elphaba’s infamous final riff.
For Good: It is a perfectly harmonious group number and the Elphabas and Glindas group pitch-perfectly immerse themselves in with Kristen & Idina for a heartfelt end to a heartfelt production.
You can watch the special here.
