IN THIS SCENE

In this scene, we step into the world of Wicked, where the stage and the screen collide. From the soaring vocals on Broadway to the sweeping visuals of the film, Wicked has taken flight in more ways than one. While most saw the story unfold from one lens, k experienced it from both—from the grand theatre halls of Singapore to the movie screen, where every note and nuance sparked comparison. Singing along to “Defying Gravity” and feeling the rush of “No One Mourns the Wicked,” she now takes center stage to reflect on the two worlds of Wicked, exploring the magic behind the musical and the movie that reimagined it.

the tale of two wickeds

The Wicked musical is primarily based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The novel reimagines the characters and world of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as well as its iconic 1939 film adaptation. While the Broadway production debuted in 2003, the long-anticipated movie adaptation was finally released 21 years later, in 2024.

*people within the productions are as follows*


Broadway Full Cast (2003):

Elphaba: Idina Menzel

Galinda/Glinda: Kristin Chenoweth

Fiyero: Norbert Leo Butz

Madame Morrible: Carole Shelley

Nessarose: Michelle Federer

Boq: Kirk Mcdonald, Christopher Fitzgerald

Wizard of Oz: Rober Morse, Joel Grey

Doctor Dillamond: John Horton, William Youmans


Broadway Crew (2003):

Director: Joe Mantello

Choreographer: Wayne Cilento

Scenic Designer: Eugene Lee

Costume Designer: Susan Helferty

Lighting Designer: Kenneth Posner

Sound Designer: Tony Meola


*As there will be mentions and discussion regarding a comparison between the movie and the musical, here is mention of the full cast, and crew of the movie*


Movie Full Cast (2024):

Elphaba: Cynthia Erivo

Galinda/Glinda: Ariana Grande-Butera

Fiyero: Jonathan Bailey

Madame Morrible: Michelle Yeoh

Nessarose: Marissa Bode

Boq: Ethan Slater

Wizard of Oz: Jeff Goldblum

Doctor Dillamond: Peter Dinklage (Voice)

Governor Thropp: Andy Nyam

Mrs Thropp: Courtney Mae-Briggs

Pfanne: Bowen Yang

Shenshen: Bronwyn James

Shiz President: Shaun Prendergast

Miss Coddle: Keala Settle

Dulcibear: Sharon D. Clarke (Voice)


Movie Crew (2024):

Director: Jon M. Chu

Writers: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire, L. Frank Baum

Composers: John Powell, Stephen Schwartz

Cinematographer: Alice Brooks 

Editor: Myron Krestein

Casting: Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey

Production Designer: Nathan Crowley

*and many more talented individuals that had contributed to the production, however we will not be mentioning them one-by-one as there are plenty to go through*


The Broadway musical Wicked first debuted on June 20, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City. At the time, no one knew exactly what direction it would take—but it quickly skyrocketed into a cultural phenomenon, marking the beginning of a legendary run in musical theatre history.

In comparison, the Wicked movie was released recently on November 22, 2024, premiering in theaters across the U.S. While the film quickly gained attention, many netizens commented on its length—covering only Act 1 of the musical and running nearly three hours long.

After watching the full Wicked musical for the first time, I couldn’t help but compare it to the movie. Certain scenes and choices stood out, and it got me thinking—why not do a deep dive into the differences? So, here we are. This blog post is all about Wicked: movie vs. musical. Grab a snack and get comfy—it’s going to be a long (and magical) ride on a broomstick.

Wicked: The Broadway Musical 

Wicked the Broadway musical, gave me chills. It’s not just a live performance—it’s an emotional rollercoaster packed with stunning special effects, intricate band compositions, and breathtaking attention to detail. From the moment I stepped into the theatre in Singapore, I was flooded with excitement, anticipation, and an overwhelming feeling I couldn’t quite put into words.

The set itself was a masterpiece. Every gear and moving piece on stage was designed with purpose, adding depth and motion to the storytelling. And above it all—the animatronic dragon, glowing, moving, and breathing smoke—absolutely breathtaking. Sitting there before the curtain rose, my expectations were sky-high, and honestly, Wicked delivered.

The musical opens with a bang—literally. We’re dropped straight into the current timeline: the Wicked Witch is dead. It’s fast-paced, energetic, and electrifying. Flying monkeys swoop in, the ensemble bursts into song, and the stage comes alive. The chimes and swelling music bring the world to life. I’ve always believed a big bang is the best way to open and close a show—and this one nails it.

Much like the structure I wrote about in my previous blog post, Wicked plays with time. It starts in the present, then flashes back to reveal how everything unfolded. Glinda the Good’s majestic, opera-like voice introduces us to this journey, blending beautifully with the rich textures of the ensemble and orchestra. The harmony, the intensity, the excitement—it all sets the tone for something unforgettable.

The choreography throughout Wicked is a constant, mesmerizing force—every movement thoughtfully crafted down to the smallest detail. One standout moment I have to mention is during the opening number, “No One Mourns the Wicked.” In this scene, Glinda begins recounting the Wicked Witch’s origins, and the stage transforms into an intimate dance between her mother and a mysterious secret lover. The choreography here is subtle yet striking—the lover’s identity hidden beneath the brim of his hat as he glides across the stage, maintaining an air of secrecy. It’s haunting, elegant, and perfectly staged to draw us into the mystery from the very start.

Now, back to the voices—because wow. I fell completely in love with Elphaba. She’s not just a powerhouse; she’s an emotional storm, and her vocals are breathtaking. Her ballads soar, and each note she hits feels like it’s pouring straight from her soul. The contrast between Elphaba and Glinda—a pair of unlikely friends turned enemies turned into something even more complex—is one of the musical’s most powerful threads.

And honestly? Wicked has one of the best endings I’ve ever experienced. It’s not tied up in a perfect bow, and that’s exactly what makes it perfect. It offers a realistic, thoughtful take on life and the truths we’re told. It tells you not to believe everything you hear, to question what’s “good” and what’s “wicked,” and to understand that life is more complicated. .

Without giving too much away (no spoilers here—especially for those holding out for the movie), I want to highlight a song from Act II that completely stole my heart, titled “For Good”. It’s now firmly placed in my “theatre kid allegations” playlist on Spotify (link at the end of the blog if you're curious). This song is a gentle yet powerful moment of forgiveness and growth. It’s about how one person—just one—can change your life “for good.” And yeah, I relate. There’s someone in my life who did that for me. Maybe not forever. But definitely for the better.

This song comes just before Elphaba’s fate takes its turn, reminding us how fragile everything is—and how important it is to make peace before it’s too late. Wicked may be a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, but it stands on its own as a story about truth, redemption, and the kind of friendships that leave marks on our hearts. I’ll dive deeper into those Oz connections in my next blog post, so stay tuned.

Now, shall we move on? To the movie.

Wicked: The Movie 

Wicked the movie had no different reaction from me. As it was my first time watching it. I had expectations and hopes for this. I generally love when a musical is turned into a movie, it has more depth into the story and more visuals that are able to help the audience imagine the true intention of the director. The movie was no different to the original Broadway production. All the same songs, similar costumes, additional characters, and other details regarding the different settings. 

Honestly, the best part of the Wicked movie was hands-down the vocals. Fun fact: the cast actually did live singing—nothing was pre-recorded. You can really hear the difference. The vocals felt raw, emotional, and incredibly powerful. Each character was able to hold long notes, sing full-length songs, and express their personalities and arcs purely through their voice. It made every moment feel more real.

As for the choreography—there’s not much to dive into. It didn’t stand out as much overall, with only a few major moments of real movement. But when it hit, it hit. One standout is definitely “What Is This Feeling.” That scene had some of the best movie-musical choreography I’ve seen. It perfectly captured the clashing personalities of Glinda and Elphaba in a hilarious, sharp, and incredibly watchable way. No surprise it trended all over social media—people were recreating the dance left and right. Iconic.

Additionally, here’s a fun detail not everyone might’ve caught—during the Wizomania scene in “One Short Day,” the original Broadway cast of Elphaba and Glinda made a surprise appearance. They performed a short scene and even sang a snippet, which I absolutely adored. It was such a thoughtful tribute to the original production, and honestly, seeing them included felt like a little love letter to the fans who’ve followed Wicked from the very beginning.

I don’t have too much to say about the movie as a whole. It felt a little long and stretched out at times—probably due to the added detail and backstory. But I get it. It was all there to build the world and deepen the characters. While it’s not my favorite movie-musical ever, it was a visually rich, sincere attempt to bring the world of Wicked to life. You could tell it was made with care and love for the original story.

Lastly, let’s talk about comparison.


Wicked: Musical vs. Movie

Overall, both versions score high in terms of production quality—each shines in different ways, which makes it hard to name a clear “favorite” or “winner.” 


Starting with the musical: it had a breathtaking set, stunning choreography, and strong vocals. It was also more concise, with both Acts I and II wrapping up in under three hours. However, because I watched the movie first, I came in with certain expectations—particularly around the emotional pacing. I noticed that in the stage version, some songs were shortened, certain scenes were trimmed, and a few vocal moments didn’t hit the same prolonged emotional notes. While I understand the constraints of live theatre, these changes slightly dampened the emotional weight for me. The movie, despite its length, had more time to lean into those moments, which helped the emotions land more deeply.


Moving on to the movie, it did a great job capturing the full emotional depth of the characters—largely thanks to its extended runtime. That said, there were definitely scenes and moments that felt unnecessarily stretched, with prolonged notes or added songs that didn’t always serve the story. This made the pacing feel slow for some viewers and reduced the overall excitement. Personally, I didn’t mind the length—I’m someone who can sit for hours binge-watching musicals, and I really enjoyed the musicality and emotional ballads the film brought to life. I’m especially excited for Part 2, which I hope will dive even deeper into the emotional arcs.

All in all, I truly loved both versions. Each brought something unique to the story, and this post simply reflects my personal take. Up next: a continuation of this journey with a dive into The Wizard of Oz.

I hope the readers are able to enjoy reading my blog post, as much as I was able to enjoy making it. 

And with that, the curtains fall. Until the next act–k’s curtain call.

resources

“Credits for Wicked (Original Broadway Production, 2003) | Ovrtur.” Ovrtur.com, 2025, ovrtur.com/production/2886002/credits. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

“The Story.” Wicked the Musical - London, www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/synopsis/.

“Wicked (2024) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb.” IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/fullcredits/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

“Wicked Movie vs. Broadway Musical: Breaking down the Biggest Differences.” E! Online, E! News, 22 Nov. 2024, www.eonline.com/news/1410346/wicked-movie-vs-broadway-musical-breaking-down-the-biggest-differences. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Wikipedia Contributors. “Wicked (Musical).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(musical) .

---. “Wicked (Musical).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(musical) .

Pinimg.com, 2025, i.pinimg.com/736x/80/d8/a4/80d8a449020ea8105a5188cfaa750431.jpg. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Pinimg.com, 2025, i.pinimg.com/736x/e6/fa/3e/e6fa3ecadad0edfe4141a6639ac83d1a.jpg. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

additional resources for the readers

“theatre kid allegations” Spotify Playlist by k: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5oyAQDarkvbi12EtHYlDk3?si=d3e2332c4fd841af

“Wicked Musical” Official Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/album/1woCvthHJakakroP6dXNxs?si=ePoG5hAZQs2A3NtmL7Iczg

“Wicked Movie” Official Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/album/3JUrJP460nFIqwjxM19slT?si=Y-lBP03HTGau4IHHn22cXw