The stage-to-screen smash Wicked is coming back as a live concert experience, and this time the orchestra is the star.
Wicked in Concert pairs screenings of Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good with a live orchestra performing the score. John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music and lyrics together, will have their work played live over the film. Some screenings will also add a choir for backing vocals.
The January Launch Cities
The initial run starts in January, with stops in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver running through July.
| City | Film | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| New York | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Chicago | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Mexico City | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Guadalajara | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Monterrey | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Toronto | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Montréal | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
| Vancouver | Wicked: Part One | January–July |
For now, the scheduled shows cover Wicked: Part One only. Separate screenings will be held for Wicked: For Good, with more dates and cities to be announced.
Cynthia Erivo’s Orchestral Dates
No cast members from the films will appear at these concert screenings. But Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the films, has her own orchestral dates coming up.
Erivo will perform with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts later this month. She also has a show scheduled at the Hollywood Bowl. Otherwise, she has no concert appearances lined up for the next few months.
Ariana Grande’s Finished Tour
Ariana Grande recently wrapped her Eternal Sunshine tour. She capped the run with Petal (The Complete Live Album), which collects live performances from her recent album, Petal.
During the London stop of Grande’s tour, Erivo made a surprise appearance at the O2. Erivo performed “For Good” and a medley of “Get Happy” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Erivo’s Instagram Tribute
Erivo posted about the night on Instagram, writing: “Ari, my sweet sister, my favorite person to sing with. Thank you for inviting me to share your stage, singing 2 songs that represent such a massive part of our lives.”
She added: “This is what we do it for, for the love of the work and for all of the fans. I missed this. We missed this. And I wish I had more words, but to put it simply, I will never forget this night. Like a handprint on my heart.”
The Live-to-Film Format
The live-to-film format is straightforward. The movie plays on screen while an orchestra performs the score in the room. It is a hybrid that sits between a movie ticket and a concert seat.
For Wicked, the score comes from Powell and Schwartz, who are jointly credited with the music and lyrics. Audiences will hear the familiar numbers played by a full orchestra rather than through speakers.
The choir add-on is only for select screenings.
More Dates Ahead
More dates and cities are coming. The announcement says additional screenings will be added for Wicked: For Good, which is the second film in the two-part adaptation.
Neither Erivo nor Grande is tied to the concert series. That leaves the focus squarely on the music and the film itself.
For fans who cannot get enough of the story, this is another way to hear it. For fans who want to see the stars sing live, Erivo’s Oklahoma City and Hollywood Bowl shows are the current options.
The tour runs through July, with the first screenings starting in January.
Source: rollingstone.com
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