WICKED: The Official Podcast

Thrillifying Threads and Magical Makeup

The characters of Wicked are defined not only by what they do, but by how they appear — and in Wicked: For Good, every nuance of style, color, silhouette, and texture becomes a clue to who they are and where they’re going. Hair and makeup designer Frances Hannon, costume designer Paul Tazewell, and director Jon M. Chu take us inside the artistry behind Elphaba’s evolving green and Glinda’s luminous blonde — from the microbraids, nails, and freckles tracing Elphaba’s journey to the shimmering gowns, bubble dresses, and wedding silhouette shaping Glinda’s. They also share the story behind Elphaba’s iconic knit cardigan in As Long As You’re Mine, as well as the transformations that define Boq’s Tin Man, Fiyero’s Scarecrow, Nessa’s journey, and the signature looks of the Wizard and Madame Morrible. Cast members Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and Marissa Bode share how these looks shaped their performances — grounding power, vulnerability, and reinvention in every frame.

Building the World of Wicked

Wicked cast a vivid spell with its production design — and Wicked: For Good deepens that magic by expanding Oz into an even grander, more immersive world. Production designer Nathan Crowley, cinematographer Alice Brooks, editor Myron Kerstein, and director Jon M. Chu take us inside the craft that shaped everything from the Emerald City’s skyline to the Yellow Brick Road, revealing how towering practical sets, intricate illusions, and cutting-edge VFX bring this new chapter of Oz to life. Cast members Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode, and Bronwyn James share what it felt like to inhabit these environments — performing alongside VFX animals, riding the Wizard’s hand-built rollercoaster, and stepping into spaces that were at times fully constructed and at other times entirely imagined — a testament to the collaborative magic behind every corner of this world.

Inside the New Songs of Wicked: For Good

In Wicked: For Good, two new songs open a window into what Elphaba and Glinda have never spoken aloud.  Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, executive music producer Stephen Oremus, and director Jon M. Chu reveal how “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” were crafted to deepen each witch’s inner world — from Elphaba’s reckoning with belonging to Glinda’s emotional awakening. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande share how performing the new material live shaped their portrayal of separation, reunion, confrontation, and the choices that ultimately lead them to “For Good.”  And with insight from Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, and cinematographer Alice Brooks, we explore the intense and cinematic turning points that bring the story to its final, unforgettable moments.

The Music of Wicked: For Good

The music of Wicked has always carried the heart of the story—first on Broadway, and now across two epic films.  In this episode, composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, music supervisor and arranger Stephen Oremus, and film composer John Powell take us inside the melodies, themes, and collaborative process that shaped Wicked: For Good—from reimagining classic songs to building a new musical vocabulary for Jon M. Chu’s cinematic vision.  Director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt reflect on how music guided some of the film’s boldest choices, while Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, and Jeff Goldblum share how performing these numbers—often live—transformed their characters and the world of Oz itself. Spoiler alert: this episode explores musical changes between the Broadway show and the film adaptation—including reimagined numbers and the emotional architecture behind them. But we’re saving the two new songs and the titular number for next week!

Our Ozmopolitan Ensemble

In a story about unlikely friendships, the cast and crew of Wicked found their own—forming the heart and soul of Oz itself. Casting directors Bernie Telsey and Tiffany Little Canfield reveal what it takes to find the perfect Ozian personalities, while actors Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, and Bronwyn James share stories of auditions, collaboration, and building their characters from the inside out. From accessibility and inclusion to unforgettable on-set memories, every moment reflects the magical spirit that defines Wicked. And finally, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reflect on the joy of performing Wicked: One Wonderful Night—the live concert at the Dolby Theatre that reunited the cast and celebrated the music of Oz, now streaming on Peacock.