Wicked: One Wonderful Night

Last updated
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
Wicked - One Wonderful Night (Poster).png
Promotional poster
Also known asWicked: Event Special
Genre Music
Written by
Directed byPaul Dugdale
Starring
Composer Stephen Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Winston
  • Raj Kapoor
Producers
  • Christopher Scott
  • Siena Castillo
  • Rita Maye Bland
  • Dave Piendak
Production locations
Editors
  • Simon B. Bryant
  • Tim Woolcott
  • Guy Harding
  • James Collett
  • Chris Black
Running time83 minutes
Production company Fulwell 73
Original release
Network NBC
Related

Wicked: One Wonderful Night is a 2025 American television special promoting Universal Pictures' two-part film adaptation of the stage musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. Led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, performances include songs from the 2024 Wicked film, paired with previews of songs from its 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good . [1]

Contents

First broadcast on November 6, 2025 on NBC, Wicked: One Wonderful Night was available for streaming on Peacock the following day, [2] [3] along with a live album of the night's performances. [4]

Cast

Performers

Appearances

Pre-recorded

Setlist

Production

Exterior of Dolby Theatre (seen in 2015) Dolby Theatre v2.jpg
Exterior of Dolby Theatre (seen in 2015)

On July 9, 2025, during their upfront, NBC announced a two-hour Wicked special titled Wicked: Event Special to air in November 2025. It was confirmed that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande would be part of the show and that songs from both films would be performed during the show. [6]

On September 24, 2025, the show was filmed at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [7] During the special, Erivo and Grande wore outfits by Marni and Alexander McQueen. [8] The "For Good" performance was recorded later and filmed at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, where the musical Wicked has been staged since 2003, and was not shown to the audience during the filming. [9]

In October 2025, the title of the special was changed to Wicked: One Wonderful Night, and NBC set a release date for November 6, 2025, to celebrate the release of Wicked: For Good two weeks later. Marissa Bode, Jon M. Chu, Jeff Goldblum, Stephen Schwartz, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh were also confirmed to appear. [10]

One significant edit was done to Bode's introduction to "Defying Gravity", where she initially said the song was about standing up to a "power-hungry dictator", which was interpreted as a dig at the second Trump administration. [11]

Release

Wicked: One Wonderful Night was broadcast on NBC on November 6, 2025. Outside of the United States, it also aired in fifteen countries. [12] [13]

Reception

Hope Sloop of Decider wrote, "I walked away from this special feeling genuine sadness that this was not a Woodstock-style concert that would have given thousands more the opportunity to watch it live. To say that Wicked: One Wonderful Night, complete with its surprise appearances, reimagined versions of classic songs, and outstanding staging is something that everyone should watch is an understatement. For those who love the movie or the musical, this is for you. For those who don’t love the movie or musical, maybe go get checked by a doctor or something; you’re missing out." [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Medley arrangement originally performed by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland on the October 6, 1963 episode of The Judy Garland Show [5]

References

  1. ↑ Wang, K.L. Connie. "Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Join Other 'Wicked' Castmates in NBC Special 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'". Parade.
  2. ↑ Campione, Katie (2025-10-22). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' First-Look Photos Tease Swankified NBC Broadcast Special Featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  3. ↑ "Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the 'Wicked: For Good' TV special (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  4. ↑ "NBC's Wicked Special One Wonderful Night Has a Live Album (DETAILS)". NBC. 2025-11-06. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  5. ↑ Willman, Chris (Nov 6, 2025). "Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Do Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland Proud With 'Happy' Duet on 'Wicked' TV Special: The History Behind the Mellifluous Mashup". Variety.
  6. ↑ "All-New "Wicked" Special to Air on NBC and Peacock This Fall Ahead of the Theatrical Release of "Wicked: For Good" on November 21". NBC. Archived from the original on 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  7. ↑ Hall, Margaret. "Photos: Get a 1st Look at Wicked: One Wonderful Night NBC Special, Airing in November". Playbill.
  8. ↑ Teti, Julia (2025-10-22). "Ariana Grande in McQueen, Cynthia Erivo in Marni for NBC's 'Wicked' Special". Women's Wear Daily . Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  9. ↑ Kluge, Haley (November 7, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night': 9 Things You Didn't See on TV, Including Multiple Takes of 'Defying Gravity'". Variety . Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ Maglio, Tony (2025-10-22). "Take a (First) Look at NBC's 'Wicked' Primetime Musical Special". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  11. ↑ Coleman, Ryan (November 6, 2025). "Wicked TV special cuts Marissa Bode statement about standing up to a 'power-hungry dictator'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to lead a once-in-a-lifetime musical event, Wicked: One Wonderful Night". Sky Group . October 28, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Wicked: One Wonderful Night to broadcast in Israel". The Jerusalem Post . 2025-10-31. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  14. ↑ "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' Review: This NBC Special Will Leave A Handprint On Your Heart". 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
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