Step into the enchanting world of “Wicked” in the newest featurette

“Oz represents a place of magic, so to be able to invite an audience into this beautiful world is exciting.” Jon M. Chu welcomes fans and moviegoers to the wonderful world of Oz, in the highly anticipated adaptation of the hit musical Wicked, in the newest featurette.

Watch the featurette here:
Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, feels that Oz is the land of endless possibilities. “The things you think are impossible, the things you are dreaming about, aren’t impossible at all,” she says.

In the world of Oz, nothing is as straightforward as reality. “Nothing is just one dimension, in the world of Oz,” Erivo explains. “That special magic is palpable,” Jonathan Bailey, who plays Fiyero, adds.

Alongside Erivo is Ariana Grande, who stars as Glinda, and she talks about how their characters both search for their inner magic within this world. “Glinda, just like Elphaba, just wants to find her magic,” she says. Erivo also talks about the power within Elphaba. “It isn’t about relying on someone else, it really is about harnessing the power she has, and figuring out how to use that to do good the way she needs to,” she says.

“That’s the most magical part of the whole thing,” Grande adds.

Tickets out now! Head to your local cinema, or check out their ticketing sites to reserve your seats for Wicked, in Philippine cinemas on November 20.

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Watch the teaser trailer of Wicked starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

TAKE YOUR FIRST LOOK AT THE BIG-SCREEN ADAPTATION OF THE RECORD-BREAKING BROADWAY MUSICAL “WICKED,” STARRING ARIANA GRANDE AND CYNTHIA ERIVO

The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this year.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths.

The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s “Spongebob Squarepants”) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible

Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked opens in cinemas November 27, while Wicked: Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025.

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Wicked Movie comes in two parts

After the exciting announcement of the cast in November, Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights,  is proud to announce that the highly-acclaimed musical movie adaptation will be divided in to two parts, to give justice to elements that might be in danger to be omitted in the full length movie.

Here's the official statement from Jon M. Chu:

SPECIAL WICKED UPDATE / Thank you for all the support these past several months in anticipation of the WICKED movie. We have so many exciting things to share but for now I'm giving you one... or two, rather.

Here's what happened as we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of WICKED into a single film without doing some real damage to it. As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one WICKED movie but TWO!!!! With more space, we can tell the story of WICKED as it was meant to be told whole bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters.

Cynthia, Ariana, and I -- and all of the cast and crew -- pledge to create nothing less than an experience that honors its foundation for all the fans who've waited for this movie, and to offer a thrilling, fantastical world full of dynamic characters that invites in those who are unfamiliar.

So get ready, because WICKED is finally coming to you on successive Christmas holidays beginning December 2024. Until then, I will be keeping you up to date throughout rehearsals, the shoot, and even editing. Here. We. Go. #WickedMovies

Jon M. Chu

Wicked Movie initially cast Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Ariana Grande as Glinda / Galinda. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, based on the characters and setting of the classic 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz. The first movie is scheduled for release on Christmas 2024 under Universal Pictures.

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OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL movie review

finally seeing it before it ends the theaters is the movie that i very much anticipated. OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFU from Walt Disney Pictures made me to like it even more than the trailers. though others may have seen it and didn't like it, i don't know how would i explain it to them but the movie was really good.

if you're basing the story from two books, Wicked from Gregory Maguire and Wizard of Oz from L. Frank Baum, of course you'll in for a great disappointment. but connections have been very very close from L. Frank Baum's book.

politics is a very prominent issue in the story. sisters Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Theodora (Mila Kunis) are in conspiracy to rule Oz. notice the dynasty going on and they are agreeing over one brain that is greater evil. greed and power is what would Evanora has been eyeing for quite a long time. while Theodora, the more vulnerable one, takes her revenge from a heartbreak with Oscar Diggs. earlier manifesting her weakness of decaying in water, the Wicked Witch of the West likewise afraid of new things that happen in Oz.

the young wizard, Oscar Diggs (James Franco) gives a new perspective of how we knew the Wizard of Oz. the jolly carnival magician was indeed a womanizer, attracting beauty around him. a clever man, his resourcefulness caught him to make the people of Oz to believe that he is the actual wizard they expecting. the lesson, never fail anyone and forget to doubt yourself. you create your own destiny and aim for greatness.

with all the high production value with the beautiful set and costumes invested in this movie, i think there might be some flaws, however, in the actors' execution of stunts. flying Glinda and Evanora seem like they don't have balance in their weights and looked like they're wiggling on air. i just didn't imagine that Glinda had fogs as power. on the positive note, items are consistent in connecting with the later scenes and gives a clear rationale in the development of the story. right now, i am more excited on how they immerse Dorothy and her three comrades in connection with Oz.

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oh yes! I'm spreading rumors!

yes, i've heard this myself and i'm very excited to bring teasers in my Twitter account about two musicals coming to Manila.

on July 2013, the sexy Broadway musical, DIRTY DANCING will strot its way to CCP. we'll definitely sing along with Time of My Life and remember how Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey did it on the dance floor as Johnny Castle and Frances Houseman in the movies.

and on January 2014, my fantasies on seeing the back story of The Wizard of Oz will finally be true when they will bring WICKED the musical here in the Philippines. i should not let this pass because i got really sad when i missed Mamma Mia and The Phantom of the Opera.

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OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

just as i've seen a theater musical Wizard of Oz, it was my delight to know that Disney is doing a spin-off of the wonderful children's story in a darker mood.

Disney's OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL will be the enchanting tale that will open and kick off summer of 2013. showing in 3D, the magical world of Oz comes to life. and this will not involve Dorothy and her three companions at the yellow brick road, but this will tell us how the wizard came to Oz and became its ruler.

Michelle Williams as Glinda

the young James Franco plays Oscar Diggs, the magician from Kansas who was transported into another world finding three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams). with the coming problems to the land of Oz, Oscar has to find out which is good and evil before it's too late. and with his ingenuity and a little wizardry, he transforms into the powerful wizard and a better man as well.
OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL is directed by Sam Raimi under Walt Disney Pictures and opens March 8 2013 in the USA.

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the magical world of THE WIZARD OF OZ

kids will definitely have an extravagant view in Repertory Philippines' The Wizard of Oz which opens tomorrow, August 18. the Theater for Young Audiences section of RepPhils has developed the show in every sense in which eyes will never be taken out of the stage and still provide an underlying lesson to think about. a very colorful show featuring the adventure of Dorothy, Tinman, Lion and the Scarecrow in search for the wizard to grant their wishes.

just like in the movie with Judy Garland as Dorothy, the beginning of the program is it's sepia tone. but colors appear grandiosely as the story progress. most vibrant colors are in the world of the Munchkins.

and the Emerald City are in its greenest! the entire stage transforms to hundreds of shades of green and there's this undefinable feeling. it's like you don't want to change a channel when you're watching TV because of the great show you're seeing.

they won't sing the songs from the movie, it's not a Hollywood staging. but songs are as catchy as you can sing them after you saw it. it's like a green disco ball at the end of the road where people dance and just have fun. on the other hand, it's also a place where people find answers.

our actors are good storytellers. not to mention under the direction of Ms. Joy Virata who has been given notable recognition after the show. how do i love theater when they bring me back to my childhood?

photos taken from (Repertory Philippines Facebook page)

the show will be running until December so it's also great to see it in the Christmas season. it is at Onstage theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

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the costumes of RepPhils' WIZARD OF OZ

it's so amazing how costumes would be for tonight's show of Repertory Philippines' The Wizard of Oz. the production should be very proud of how this will turn out in the eyes of the audience tonight.

aside from the stage, that will definitely be candy-colored, the actors might really look like dear toys to the eye.

the first costume that i noticed is Elhaba's oufit which really resembled Maleficent's dress. they look fierce as each other.

as i saw the costumes of the Tinman, Lion and Scarecrow, i noticed that the details are quite nice. the Lion looks fuzzy and cuddly, the Scarecrow's scraps are well made together as developed from scratch and the Tinman glares in the spotlight with its metal cover.

costume designer Raven Ong made an excellent job putting the costumes all together. even the Oz citizens are very happy with the outcome.

Repertory Philippines' The Wizard of Oz opens tomorrow, August 18 and will run until December 16, 2012 at Onstage in Greenbelt 1, Makati. see you at the Yellow Brick Road and let's all take it while saying, "There's no place like home."

photo credits: Raul Victor Montesa

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REPERTORY PHILIPPINES releases WIZARD OF OZ photos

it's been a while since i get to see a children's story presented by Repertory Philippines. since Jekyll & Hyde, i have been seeing mature plays and musicals and i think it's about time that i go back to my childhood and feel that there's no place like home.

i think you got a little hint about The Wizard of Oz because that is Repertory Philippines' next offering for 2012. and the photos of this big production goes viral on Facebook. featuring the cast in their full costumes, i got even more excited. it was promised that the theater will blow us away with special effects starting from how the big tornado sweeps the cottage in Kansas.

directed by Joy Virata under the Repertory Philippines children's theater, it will definitely be dreamy and we'll once again go back to being kids ourselves. in addition to that, the magic will teach us of life lessons from our favorite characters.
the cast is composed of the following: Cara Barredo and Giannina Ocampo as Dorothy; Liesl Batucan and Kyla Rivera as Glinda the Good Witch; Pinky Marquez and Rem Zamora as the Wicked Witch of the West; James Stacey and Arnel Carrion as the Scarecrow; Hans Eckstein and Nic Campos as the Tin Man; Oliver Usison and Mano Domingo as the Lion; Nathalie Everett and Ayam Barredo Eckstein as Aunt Em; Rem Zamora and Chino Veguillas as Uncle Henry; Bobby Superales, Jim Ferrer, Deo dela Cruz and Clark dela Riva as the acrobats and Monkeys.

the Wizard of Oz starts playing on August 18 to December 2012 at Onstage in Greenbelt 1. for details of show, please call 5716926 or 5714941 or email info@repertory.ph or log on to www.repertory.ph. tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 8919999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, and “like” Rep Phils in Facebook.

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