Cynthia Erivo Talks Rigorous Vocal Training to Prepare for ‘Wicked’ and Ariana Grande Burning Her Butt Before ‘Defying Gravity’

variety.com:

Matt Minton mminton@variety.com With the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” forever ingrained in pop culture history, seven-time Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley knew it was the necessary starting place to develop “Wicked.” At the Variety FYC screening presented by Universal, Crowley told Clayton Davis, Variety’s senior awards editor, about his close collaboration with director Jon M.

Chu, who recently won the Critics Choice Award for best director. “He really wanted to push the design as far as he could into this magical place with building the sets.

I love practical building when you’re with all the crew. Sometimes you’re in mud … I find it just overwhelmingly good fun.” Marc Platt, the Oscar-nominated producer who received his third nomination this year for “Wicked,” following his work on both “La La Land” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” described this undertaking as his most personal project.

When he read Gregory Maguire’s novel in the ’90s, he immediately recognized what a great movie it would be. However, following the show’s Broadway premiere in 2003, it took over two decades to come to life. “I waited a long time for a number of reasons—mostly because I didn’t want to screw it up,” Platt recalled. “I felt pressure on myself and an obligation to the fans who protected and loved these characters.