"Wicked: Part I" Pre-Production Breakdown with Tori Calamito of The Oz Vlog (Part 1)

·1 hr 14 min·5 clips

Tori spots reused nail choreography from 'In the Heights' in 'Wicked', revealing Jon M. Chu's signature winks to his own work.

The episode begins with hosts MK and Tara welcoming listeners to Season Six, focusing on a deep dive into 'Wicked: Part I' as they await the release of 'Wicked for Good' and NBC Live's 'The Wiz'. Guest Tori Calamito, a lifelong Oz fan and creator of The Oz Vlog, joins the discussion. The hosts start with an icebreaker about childhood movie musicals, leading Tara to share her love for 'Evita' and Tori to mention Disney Renaissance films like 'The Little Mermaid'. They transition into the difficulties of adapting stage musicals to film, citing examples like 'The Producers' and casting controversies involving Madonna and Russell Crowe. Tori analyzes director Jon M. Chu's work on 'In the Heights', noting visual and choreographic parallels to 'Wicked', such as reused nail salon choreography caught by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The conversation shifts to the box office struggles of 'In the Heights', attributed to COVID-19 and lack of star power, contrasting with 'Wicked's strategic casting of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. They discuss marketing trends, including trailers that hide musical elements, and praise 'Wicked's Super Bowl teaser. The episode touches on colorism issues in films like 'Crazy Rich Asians' and predicts 'Wicked's legacy among top movie musicals. Throughout, the hosts interject personal anecdotes, references to Oz lore, and promotions for their Patreon and sponsors.

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