NBC is bringing the magic of Oz to primetime with Wicked: One Wonderful Night, a two-hour television event celebrating the beloved Broadway musical and its blockbuster film adaptations.
A Star-Powered Return to Oz
Entertainment Weekly announced that leading the cast are Wicked’s dazzling duo, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda for a musical showcase filmed at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The special, which airs Nov. 6 on NBC and streams on Peacock the next day, will feature live performances of iconic numbers from the Wicked films.
Erivo and Grande won’t be alone on stage. Fellow cast members Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also perform, giving fans a taste of what’s to come in Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated second film.
Behind the Music and Magic
A 37-piece orchestra, conducted by Stephen Oremus, the original Broadway arranger and music director, will bring Elphaba’s and Glinda’s world to life. Christopher Scott, who choreographed both Wicked films, returns to deliver fresh dance sequences designed specifically for the televised celebration.
Adding even more excitement, the special will premiere never-before-seen footage from Wicked: For Good. Fans can expect glimpses of two brand-new songs from composer Stephen Schwartz: “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble.”
Returning to Oz and Beyond
In addition to live performances, the event will include appearances from Schwartz, director Jon M. Chu, and several surprise guests, though NBC is keeping those details under wraps for now.
Wicked: Part One, released in 2024, soared both critically and commercially, earning more than $750 million worldwide and ten Oscar nominations. The film took home Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, setting high expectations for its sequel.
Wicked: For Good will land in theaters Nov. 21, continuing the spellbinding story with familiar faces and new twists. Colman Domingo joins the cast as the voice of the Cowardly Lion, first seen as a cub in Part One. As for the Scarecrow and Tin Man, audiences will have to wait until the premiere to discover how their origins unfold.
Until then, NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night offers fans a front-row seat to Oz, no broomstick required.
