Wicked
One ofWicked’smost iconic songs included a subtle reference to Dorothy Gale, a character who is expected to appear in the franchise’s upcoming sequel,Wicked: For Good.Wickedhas exceeded expectations in terms of success, andcritics reviewingWickedhave praised the performances, soundtrack, and references to the Broadway musical.
Winning the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement,Wickedhas become a global phenomenonand has quickly risen to become one of the most acclaimed musical movies of all time.
Loosely based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire,Wickedserves as a prequel toThe Wizard of Oz,originally written by L. Frank Baum.
Director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation exploreshow Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) rose to become the Wicked Witch of the West, the most feared and hated figure throughout Oz, and the events that took place in the Emerald City before Dorothy Gale arrived.While there is only a glimpse of her at the start of the movie, Dorothy is anticipated to appear in theupcoming sequel,Wicked: For Good, and one song fromWickedmade a clever reference to her arrival in Oz.
“Dancing Through Life” Spinning Library In Wicked Is Known As The Tornado Wheel
Fiyero Performs “Dancing Through Life” As Part Of His Arrival At Shiz
One of the students who enrolls at Shiz University isFiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey), whose rebellious nature and appearance quickly captures the attention of all the students, particularly Galinda (Ariana Grande-Butera).
Fiyero shows little care for studies and is more interested in having fun; this is shown throughout the song “Dancing Through Life,“one of the most popular songs onWicked’siconic soundtrack.
Image via Universal Pictures
During the song, Fiyero performs an energetic routine in the Shiz University library, and shows off his acrobatic skills in the library’s rotating section, further impressing and exciting Glinda and her fellow students.
The spinning library section was known behind the scenes as the Tornado Wheel, due to its ability to rotate in three separate sections(viaBroadway World).Wicked’sdirector, Jon M. Chu, and cinematographer, Alice Brooks, revealed thatthe wheel stood 45 feet tall, 180 feet long, and 145 feet wide, and it was extensively designed by the production team to allow the dancers to perform their routine safely (viaVanity Fair).
Brooks also considered the team’s work on the wheel essential to the scene’s success, as “we knew if ‘Dancing Through Life’ works, we have our movie.”
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked’s Tornado Wheel Is A Subtle Reference To Dorothy & The Wizard Of Oz
It Subtly References Dorothy’s Upcoming Arrival To Oz During Wicked: For Good
Wicked’steam has spoken about the difficulties faced with filming the “Dancing Through Life” segment with the tornado wheel.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, the movie’s choreographer, Christopher Scott, revealed thatthere were safety concerns over allowing Jonathan Bailey to perform in the tornado wheel,stating “he needs to carry on because we cant injure our Fiyero.”
Bailey later described “having to run and swing” through the tornado wheel was the segment’s most challenging aspect (viaCollider).
The tornado wheel used in “Dancing Through Life” offers a subtle reference to Dorothy’s upcoming arrival inThe Wizard of Oz.
The Wicked movie, musical, and book are full of Easter eggs to the original Wizard of Oz story, with even Elphaba’s name being a subtle reference.
InThe Wizard of Oz,a tornado carries Dorothy and her house away from her hometown of Kansas; her house ends up crushing theWicked Witch of the East, whose origins are also explored inWicked.
The tornado wheel used inWickeddepicts a connection between the two movies and allowed Fiyero to make a dramatic entrance into Shiz, similar to Dorothy’s entrance inThe Wizard of Oz.While the length ofDorothy’s role inWicked 2hasn’t been confirmed, the tornado wheel allowedWickedto provide a clever reference to her upcoming arrival in Oz.
Sources:Broadway World,Vanity Fair,Entertainment Weekly,Collider
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Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz.
As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
