Wicked: Surprise Cameos
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Wicked, now playing in theaters.
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, Broadway’s original witches make a surprise appearance in director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” but not as Elphaba and Glinda.
The duo, who originated the leading roles in 2003, sing a new verse in “One Short Day,” telling the story behind the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Their characters fight for the spotlight in the Emerald City, prompting Menzel’s character to shut down the competition by belting out her famous “Defying Gravity” riff.
“It was so surreal. It was really extraordinary,” Grande tells Variety of sharing the screen with the Broadway legends. “I mean, to have the women who helped write and create and birth these characters embrace us and embrace our versions of them, was just so incredibly surreal. I mean, they had been texting us, and they had been supportive of us beforehand, but I don’t think they ever got to see or hear our versions of the characters until on set. So it was really emotional.”
Grande previously starred in NBC’s 2016 “Hairspray Live!” with Chenoweth, who has praised her casting as Glinda the Good. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever been this proud,” Chenoweth posted at the time of Grande’s casting in 2021. “From the very first day I met you … you were destined for this role.”
Menzel has been similarly effusive of Erivo, telling ET, “She’s just incredible. I feel like she’s the one to hand the torch off to. You’re gonna love her.” Menzel and Erivo also presented award together at the 2024 Tony Awards earlier this year. “I’m just gonna go off script real quick to say how excited I am to see what I know is going to be an amazing performance in that movie you’re doing,” Menzel said on stage. “Green girl power!”
“There’s a moment where Idina fixes my hat and sends me on my way. Trying not to be cliche, it was like the passing of the broom almost,” Erivo says. “So to have almost like the blessing from the queen herself, felt really, really beautiful.”
