NBC's 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' brought the magic of the blockbuster film to life with live performances, but the three-hour taping at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre included plenty of moments that didn't make the final broadcast. From audience participation and special guests to deleted political jabs and technical retakes, TVLine offers an inside look at what viewers missed. The special aired on Thursday, featuring stars like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Taping Details
The concert special was recorded in September at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, running over three hours with multiple takes of key songs. Production utilized 21 cameras, including a drone on wires for dynamic shots. The audience, packed with passionate 'Wicked' fans, influencers, and cosplayers—including a group of Oz-themed drag queens from Long Beach's Hamburger Mary's—added to the electric atmosphere.
Audience Interactions and Participation
Front-row attendees joined the opening number 'No One Mourns the Wicked' by singing lines like 'Good news! She's dead!' and tossing flowers on cue, guided by choreographer Chris Scott beforehand. Ariana Grande blew kisses to the crowd after her performance, while Jeff Goldblum lingered on stage to bask in applause. A highlight was four-year-old fan Remington joining Grande for 'Popular'; during a warm-up interview, he adorably answered 'How old are you?' with 'Good' and aspired to be Elphaba when he grows up.
Deleted and Unaired Elements
Several moments were cut from the broadcast. Marissa Bode introduced 'Defying Gravity' as an 'ode to authenticity' and a stand against 'power-hungry dictators,' earning cheers, but the political reference was edited out. Advance clips from the sequel 'Wicked: For Good' and new songs were shown, though the full 'For Good' performance with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth was taped separately at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre in New York. Technical issues led to retakes of songs like 'The Wizard and I,' 'Thank Goodness,' 'What Is This Feeling?,' and 'Defying Gravity.' Cynthia Erivo's wire-assisted flight during the latter drew gasps and tears from the live audience.
Downtime and Atmosphere
Between setups, pop tracks like Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' and 'Hot to Go!,' plus Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next,' played, with the crowd singing along. Grande peeked out during her own song, smiling to cheers. Despite minor delays, like cleaning up thrown tulips, the night captured the enchantment of Oz.