The story of Wicked begins here. Producer Marc Platt, composer Stephen Schwartz, and writer Winnie Holzman trace how Gregory Maguire’s novel became a Broadway sensation – before director Jon M. Chu took on the monumental task of bringing Oz to the big screen. In this episode, Jon’s cast and collaborators, from production designer Nathan Crowley and costume designer Paul Tazewell to casting directors Bernie Telsey and Tiffany Little Canfield, share why his vision, heart, and imagination made him the perfect person to lead this journey. Finally, we hear from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on how they found their way – by broomstick and bubble – into the roles of a lifetime.

To bring Oz to life, the Wicked team had to defy gravity in more ways than one—filming two epic movies simultaneously. Director Jon M. Chu led an extraordinary team of artists and dreamers, transforming one timeless story into a two-part cinematic event. Writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox reveal how the world of Wicked expanded beyond the stage, while producer Marc Platt reflects on the precision and heart it took to make the impossible possible. Oscar winners Nathan Crowley, Frances Hannon, and Paul Tazewell share how every color, costume, and brushstroke helped redefine Oz for a new generation. And from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, and Bronwyn James, the cast recounts what it meant to live—and act—between two eras at once.