How Elphaba Defies Gravity (CBS News)

[@elphbwckd212]

I'm still amazed that they gave away the 'secret' in so much detail so early in the musical's run. This is one of those things most shows would try and keep secret. Even after most people know how it's done

[@sylviab8482]

She wasn't really supposed to.....

[@scottc4199]

@@sylviab8482 what do you mean though it's not on her if the entire crew of the tour allowed the filming to take place

[@scottc4199]

@@mrbroadwaydork but do you understand my point, an actor in the show doesn't have final say on the whole meet up and filming without any hire ups not knowing

[@sylviab8482]

@@CaseyBlizzard she said in an interview that she was just supposed to show them around and stuff but then somehow ended up showing them this dhdhdhd

[@benschaeffer8102]

At this point, Wicked had been running for a couple of years on Broadway since 2003, but yeah, it was early on in the 1st National Tour run.

[@RowmoCop]

Did he just call Defying Gravity a pop anthem? o.O

[@Athespian128]

The stage looks so small for a Wicked stage

[@milliebannan2112]

Tyler Maxwell she was on the wicked tour so the stages would be varied sizes. They just had to work with it. 😊

[@Niqhtmusic]

Kinda

[@MauritsVeen]

Anthony Digrezia nope sjb only played on tour and later transferred to bway (and in the san francisco try outs as a standby elphaba)

[@calebbrown551]

Not every stage is the same size even with the gear add ons. When Wicked comes to the Tulsa PAC the guards dont come in through a trap door, but from stage left. And Morrible is on the stage at stage right with her wicked witch speech to the populous during Defying Gravity and not on a balcony

[@ryan3136]

@@calebbrown551 The balcony and trap door were cut from the tour completely

[@fishfingersndcustard]

"If it's not safely locked in, I won't defy gravity." Computer mustn't have liked Kerry Ellis much, huh?

[@tylersongs2224]

True lol

[@michxel2140]

It is actually safely locked in, Kerry's arm hit the part that locks it and it went up but Kerry was not in it, it was locked safely just Kerry's arm was caught it it because her arm hit it before she got in x

[@Niqhtmusic]

beth, a reader but what if the computer malfunctions while they’re up in the air? I know they’re 2 plans if it doesn’t work, but what if it just stops and she falls!?

[@alfiegibbons3163]

*• Purple Panda Playz •* it’s very unlikely that they’d lean forward as it opens

[@gabenugget]

@@Niqhtmusic It mostly likely wouldn't happen. Because of the computer is malfunctioning. The lift wouldn't move forwards. And if it doesn't. The actress playing Elphaba will have to move to Plan-B, which will be a no-fly. Where the actress steps down from the contraption and walks on stage to finish the song.

[@cherylvelleca-vecchio3904]

They failed to mention the Stagehands who are responsible for making this affect happen !!!!! I love being a part of making this happen !!!!!

[@Sn0t123]

Which production do you work on?

[@broadwaymike92]

When the lift doesn't work, all the productions have a PLAN B moment. The way it works is that when the lift doesn't work, the actress who plays Elphaba gets herself out of it. Still staying in character, she slowly heads down center stage acting as if she's "in the air". Meanwhile the Ensemble members who technically run down center stage to look up and scream "Elphaba", they all go down on their backs and stomachs to lower themselves.

[@carlang4793]

oh wow this is cleaver

[@lewism1847]

Is was their when Ashleigh Gray was there and there was a no fly, so she runs down stage and lands in the pit. and i ooopsksksksksk

[@AirTravel415]

There’s video of Jessica Vosk, Dana Paola, Jenna Rix, and Julie Rieber in No Fly

[@hearttune98]

Stephanie J. Block read Elphaba in the readings & workshops leading up to the musical, before she was replaced by Idina Menzel shortly before the San Francisco runs. In a way, Stephanie IS the original Elphaba as line changes were based on her interpretation. Of course, Idina's fans would argue she originated the role and etc. It is quite certain Idina had lacked certain vocal techniques especially for Defying Gravity, but she sorted it out before her West End debut.

[@whodatninja439]

I wish I could see her as elphaba 😢

[@lisafs0902]

I spent the the whole Defying Gravity scene trying to figure out how she defies gravity. Then I found this. And Steph made my life better.

[@AiyanaWolfe]

huh.....i thought they put her in a harness or whatever it's called and lifted her that way like with peter pan....ya learn something new everyday

[@PuddsThePuncake]

Aiyana Land if they did the dress would have lifted up

[@SchnarphStudios]

Izzy Duroe not necessarily: if there were a harness, there’d be a hole in the back of her dress for the wiring to hook onto. The thing is, where it is in the script (just the two of them hiding in an attic,) it’s really hard to get someone on stage to hook the wiring onto the harness. And more importantly, “Defying Gravity” is a hefty sing, and the harness is only going to make it more difficult.

[@markrupsch9973]

I was at one of two shows in Chicago where she didn't fly :(

[@TotallyMusicals]

When I first saw the show, and Rachel Tucker flew into the air, me and my friend were sat there looking for wires. We even put £2 in the binoculars rental machine beside our seats so we could figure it out!

[@bway_car08]

Steph is the reason why I want to play Elphaba

[@nygypsy318]

SJB if, far and away, my favorite Elphaba. Idina's a screamer; SJB's a belter. BIG difference.

[@sugarhoneyicedtea123]

I love Stephanie. I think she is one of the most underrated Elphabas. Her voice is absolutely insane. I hate when people automatically say that Idina is the best Elphaba. Just because she originated the role doesn't mean she's the best. Compared to many of the rest of the women who played the role after her vocally, she's very very weak.

[@MediaLover194]

Stephanie was actually the first Elphaba in the early development of the show but they brought Idina because she was a name.

[@alohomora4100]

MediaLover194 you mean that the show was about to premiere with Stephanie? :O

[@lizamarquesgresko8501]

I so agree with you!!! She’s is phenomenal. And every time I hear Idina sing live, I can’t understand how she’s made it so far. How did she pull off these performances live on Broadway? Another Elphaba I adore is Shoshana Bean. Out of this world!

[@octoberlynch4875]

Have you seen Donna Vivino?

[@HeyItsSarah30]

And the funny thing is, Stephanie was actually supposed to originate Elphaba. Stephen Schwartz wrote everything with her in mind. But they replaced her bc she hadn’t done broadway yet and no one knew who she was while Idina had gotten somewhat popular from rent. If people only knew lol 😂.............

[@sebastianhernandez9849]

I thought the elevator was under Elphaba, but now I Know it always have been behind she 😜

[@danclarkson3468]

You say focus our eyes, sorry that doesn't work when Technicians are watching the show...

[@rocknroll20024]

I am going to be in this show one day and I am going to be Elphaba

[@SisterAddict]

tara thelen do it girl ;)

[@rocknroll20024]

Thank you

[@caitytapp5181]

tara thelen I want to be G(a)linda!

[@broadwaymike92]

tara thelen Just went in for an audition for the show a few weeks ago. It was an EPA audition and Non Equity got seen. Going to keep going in for the show. I want to be BOQ!!!

[@rocknroll20024]

Good luck I hope you get it

[@MrsRTBG1]

So THAT'S how they do it !!!

[@Greyfur13]

I thought it was cool when then Stephanie's like " Tell them how I'm defying gravity!" I LOVE STEPHANIE J. BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sm21454]

I love Idina Menzel's performance of Elphaba, so up to this point, I wasn't really interested in seeing or hearing Stephanie Block's portrayal. But now I REALLY REALLY WANT TO! What a voice!

[@collinkilloran5721]

I am in love with Stephanie J Block

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I always thought she was in a harness but this makes so much more sense.

[@JoelARTPOP88]

I think the lifts are smaller now like the arm of it . I found a pic of it on a tumblr

[@peerah]

That mic almost could not handle SJB's belt.

[@waterbottle1067]

Yeah, holy crap you even hear the echo in the venue

[@gerrigerbils1413]

SO IF YOU CARE TO FIND ME LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY AS SOMEONE TOLD ME LATELY EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE TO FLY

[@charlleedodson]

Gerri Gerbils AND IF IM FLYING SOLO, AT LEAST IM FLYING FREE!

[@jcnazareno6176]

TO THOSE WHO GROUND ME, TAKE THIS MESSAGE BACK FROM MEEE

[@joshuarosenthal6873]

TELL THEM HOW I AM DEFYING GRAVITY

[@evnkas]

I've never noticed from this video all these years that the tour originally had the proscenium balconies! When I saw the first national they just had the roll on balconies, never knew they toured with "permanent" ones.

[@evnkas]

@@seanrstephens so crazy. Didn’t realize Chicago became 2nd national. I thought that was a new build just due to all the automation modifications.

[@ShutterTheatre]

I'm so glad that Elphaba stays still during Defying Gravity as appose to flying around actually sitting on the broom, sitting on the broom is a stereo typed witch, and that's just another thing that makes WICKED unique...

[@brynnmccarthy4771]

One day I'll be in this show as Elphaba, I know it

[@jille.1910]

Brynn McCarthy I wanna be Nessa

[@sheismymom]

Brynn McCarthy i want to be the mom

[@isabelerhart9523]

İ want to play anything

[@hunterhovorka]

I’ll be your Chistery

[@silenthillmaster755]

"Over all this mechanics" lol how professional. I wish my news was this cool!

[@cedwanhooks]

Quicker to get her ready for the scene with this hydraulic system. With my experience in live theatre, you always use a harness when you'll be offstage for a while beforehand so that you can get hooked up to the system. She's only out of sight for a few seconds in this show.

[@DefyGravity8212]

What an ingenious idea! It looks amazing if you see it live! You would never guess that's how it works!

[@livih9525]

Seeing it tonight!!!! Glad I know how it works now

[@TheLittletwitcher]

Wow, technology never ceases to amaze me! It really looks amazing when the whole scene is put together. Wicked is on my play wishlist along with Phantom of the opera and Les Miserables!

[@4AutismAwareness]

That's way more cool and sophisticated than I thought it would be LOL. Neat!

[@MAKMB29]

And some idiots assume only the leading actors matter... I've spent a lot of time explaining backstage stuff!!! WICKED rocks!!

[@drmmboi]

I like how she talks articullarly

[@TotallyMusicals]

Yeo, it's been covered by GLEE and SO MANY others. It's been in the UK charts at one point when covered by someone I believe.

[@jtco3]

She was the Elphaba when The Tour Came to Chicago for the first time. then it left and the Chicago production opened starring Ana Gastyre

[@CrazyForWicked91]

it's the coolest thing ever i've seen what it looks like on the SM's monitor!

[@emmamarkham32]

I hope I get to do this one day!!!!

[@xaruiz]

As much as I love Idina, it seemed she really had trouble staying on pitch those last few bars in most live recordings I've heard. I really like Stephanie's tall, grounded voice.

[@wickedphant0m]

This was a really cool feature, but I kind of can't believe that they decided to reveal the secret of the biggest special effect when the show was still so new.

[@Eudrivo]

You have the video of the last presentation of Stephanie J. Block on Broadway ?

[@KatieLaundon1996]

im going to see this on the west end in two weeks, i cant WAIT!!!!

[@maddee4543]

i love stephanie so much

[@ehstar23]

just so everyone knows Stehphanie J Block originally read for the role of Elphaba but was replaced by Indina Menzel because she was more experienced...

[@michelle58947]

Aw man really wish I could do that. Love them wicked.

[@HappyIsWhatHappens]

there have been like mishaps where the lift does not go up on mistake. so they just improvise

[@Vousie]

Why not just use a harness? (and wires from the roof) That way she'd be able to move across the stage as well... Didn't wanna have to wear a harness for the whole show?...

[@Vousie]

+Ch(ris)icago Not from the distance that the viewers will be. You can only see it with a camera's zoom lens... Which you shouldn't have in the theatre anyway.

[@Vousie]

+Ch(ris)icago Whatever. On wires looks better. Then she'd be able so move around.

[@wickedelphie1574]

The point is sow she does not move. It's must more magical this way!

[@nathandiaz4847]

This technology is far more impressive and more magical in my opinion. As she is still, in center she is more presentable and the wires don't distract. And she doesn't let motion distract her

[@01nomu]

the harness would most likely restrict the actress from singing comfortably as well. considering its a part of the song where belting is required

[@snoosemoose469]

a pop anthem ? o.0

[@gerrigerbils1413]

I want to defy gravity! Notices that I'm a male NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[@isabelerhart9523]

Gerri Gerbils i do too but im a soprano 😢

[@starcxtcher]

me: “i wanna defy gravity too” my weight: “ahaha too bad”

[@bethgarcia1838]

@@isabelerhart9523 you can definitely do it! you have to work on your low notes for im not that girl but i’m a soprano too and i can do it☺️

[@Louis_Adams]

Me too

[@Fireball23981]

@@starcxtcher you can do it!

[@FranFanForever]

She was an amazing Elphaba!! ♥ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE HER. :D

[@jtco3]

lol trust me u can even look it up. I remember watching this news clip just days after I saw the tour. Both the Tour and the Chicago company played at the Oriental Theater but Stephanie J. Block never appeared in the Chicago production. She just was in the tour (later on Broadway) when it came to chicago but it was just here for about 3 weeks b4 it left then about 2 months later the Chicago Production opened at Ana Gasteyer starred in it

[@lisafs0902]

My teacher knows an Elphie! And the funny thing is, they HATED each other in elementary school, but then after my teacher found out that she played Elphie, they became friends. And I was jealous.

[@rraacchh2]

I've always wondered how it was done. That's actually really clever how they blend it in with her clothes.

[@elizabethfrost9189]

How i will love to play the drums in that musical ahhhh if it happen, that will be my dream come true (or playing glinda or elphaba, but i don't know how to sing XD i don't have a good voice to sing XD)

[@CrazyManhog]

Bro its a Wicked FNAF scene there. That acident sure looks more scary then we thought it was

[@lakometa]

I loved that "So if you care to find me Look to the western sky!" part!!!!!

[@loismustdie1123]

If you look closely there is a place for a for hook on the back of the bubble. and so there is a hook on the back of her dress. And you'll notice when she gets out in the beginning there is someone standing behind her unhooking her...... sorry if I ruined it for ya

[@DoctorOfPhilosophyMD]

Love SJB, she seems so down to Earth--correction, Oz. And for the record SJB was the ORIGINAL Elphaba, but was replaced with Idina because she had more experience. BUT, I will not bag Idina, she is truly amazing, she may sound breathless consistently, but she has ASTHMA. I've seen her continue to perform defying gravity even when she's in the middle of an attack. That takes guts. How many of you could do that AND sound reasonable?

[@Julesb2183]

@mizemotion No, she originally was the one who read for Elphaba when the show was in development, but they gave the role to Idina. (not sure why). Stephanie went on and was the original Elphaba on tour and she understudied Idina for awhile.

[@kimmy50143]

I love Kendra! and Stephanie! Kendra is my favorite glinda.. her look, voice, and stage preseance are just awesome! Stephanie is my favorite Elphaba as well! And I love them as a pair! I saw them in New York!

[@GayaspaintBlogspot]

Stephanie Block may have taken ove the role originated by Idina Menzel but she's currently playing Judy, the Jane Fonda character in Nine to Five on Broadway. She is phenomenal in Get Out and Stay Out.

[@lovejiwon486]

omg This is how does ELPHAPA defying gravity. amazing.

[@mgmmathaxmaxmargereson1785]

Who can you not miss the flying machine when you’re back stage

[@Belleberly]

thank you! to runawayfelon

[@AvatarRoku777]

not just because its curved but because so many famous elphabas have used it and it would make me feel special lol

[@ivanasolis8868]

Stephanie should have originated the role

[@xDuranie4everx]

Oh God, I love Stephanie!

[@wrightyy]

Even in 2024 this is the best song in the West End. Probably Broadway too.

[@NobodyInAllofOZ1]

even knoe i know what makes her fly..when i see it live i never look at the lift like looking for it i look at elphaba

[@omglolwhatever]

@ddd8170 The tour went to chicago before the sit down production opened there

[@JoseBraghiroli]

why did it take me years to realize he caller her "Stephanie J. BLACK" at 0:48?

[@ryanjankelowitz9710]

STEPHANIE J BLOCK, WICKED, AND CHICAGO, MY CITY, IN THE SAME VIDEO!? H E L P

[@XNewsiesX]

These two ladies have wonderful voices, but I don't know..... Idina and Kristin have become my favorite pairing... they have the right voices together, and... I dunno ^^ The chemistry is wonderful on stage

[@AMG1995123]

I lOVE WICKED!! i think it's interesting how she flies, and I LOVE IT!! my favorite parts are 0:26, 0:40, 1:06, 1:40, 2:04 and 2:38

[@DawgDish109]

i got to see the little hook thing in the dress backstage its actually very simple

[@disneydanny2]

Since the Chicago production opened the day after the 1st National tour's engagement ended, i wonder if Stephanie had to re-learn had to learn any of the regular blocking since they had a real trap door & Elevator (for those who have never seen Wicked on tpur, the staging is a little different because it would cost too much money to put in all the bells & whistles non-touring productions have since the tour is only in a town for like 6 weeks at a time.

[@mackenziefoy7823]

Idina said that all the blocking was the same exeot for the London perfomances because the stage was different. Stephanie used the same stage as Idina for the Broadway show and they made sure the mechanical pieces were all the same.

[@Hairsprayxoxoful]

Mackenzie Foy All the Elphabas use the same stage if they are doing it on Broadway, but the comment above is referencing the Chicago and touring productions, which both differ slightly from each other and the Broadway stage. The tour does not have the trap doors that Broadway production (and the Chicago sit down production) has (had). Slight changes have to made to a show of this scale when they take it on the road or open it in other cities.

[@broadwaymike92]

Danny Eyheralde In the Broadway Production, there's 3-4 trap doors on the stage including one on stage left with a ramp. The one with the ramp is where Elphaba and Glinda enter running at the top of Defying Gravity. They have to run from center stage left (after the scene with the Wizard) and have only 20 seconds to get under the stage near the orchestra pit and enter from that trap door and onto the ramp. The guards also enter from there when they reach the attic. Check out Fly Girl, Lindsay Mendez simulated with a camera how fast they have to run to get under and back on stage. On the National Tour and other productions, Glinda and Elphaba exit stage left, 15 seconds for water, and run back on stage left for the top of the scene. Also at the top of No Good Deed in the touring productions, Elphaba runs in from stage left screaming. In the other productions, Elphaba has 25 seconds to get under the stage and into the Elevator.

[@disneydanny2]

Michael I. Haber yeah. since my comment I found out when the tour cxame to Chicago the first time they used the sets and blocking for the Chiccago production and re-blocked ut for the tour when they arrived at the next syop (Los Angeles) here's an interesting thing you might not know , in the Broadway prodyction the stairs that elphaba & Glinda run don for Defying Gravity were built backwards

[@broadwaymike92]

It's amazing what goes on backstage at Wicked. I just auditioned for it a few weeks ago. Dream Boq.

[@yranac]

i was expecting idina menzel then this girl started singing and i was just as impressed with her pipes. holy crow

[@BOWYERD999555]

@SingJiya Why did you click on it when it clearly says in the title 'How Elphaba Defies Gravity'?!?! Hahahaa!! Bit melodramatic!

[@meginmd]

Interesting. When I saw it at the Kennedy Center she didn't seem to be wearing a skirt; it was mostly black/purple/green lighting.

[@hitokage4]

@BlazedHearts -- It is indeed, but the point remains the same. It isn't entirely the safest platform is what I was getting at.

[@hearttune98]

Unfortunately, I think that damaged her voice so Idina can't sing DG in the original key anymore :( She usually lowers it down for her concerts.

[@ShadowPoet174]

I'd love to, but I'd be terrified... and I dunno if I could sing while up there.

[@bdt7468]

I remember First seeing the show in L.A. TRYING to figure out how she did it :P

[@jasonr1929]

@SingJiya its spectacular when you see it on stage though

[@meowool]

i thought it would have been with a harness and being pulled not pushed from the floor.

[@hitokage4]

@markbundles2 -- That's not EXACTLY true. The computer only knows to start the lift once the bars are signaled as 'closed', whether or not she's properly on the platform. There's a recording here on YT you can find where she actually had to scream for them to stop the lift because of the lift going up and she was going to fall.

[@pfgum2]

Stephy Block is my... too good 4 words.

[@Applebutter799]

@eriandmarie truly, because you are locked in safely and aren't going that high, it isn't that scary i promise you. Plus you would have plenty of practice sessions for you to get used to it before performing :)

[@ethan7010]

I have a photo from the wicked Broadway rehearsal and it looks like the lift is coming out from the stage I don't know if that is the same case in the tour probably not if anyone could help me out with this question that would be great

[@IzumisChild]

+Ethan Frank I'm only guessing as a technical theatre practitioner but I would assume that the lift is below the stage for the Broadway run as it can take up a lot of space and bringing it out for that one scene and then hiding it again is a seriously difficult task both in set changes and in dressing it to avoid the audience's understanding of the mechanics behind her flight.

[@federicoperi6806]

Hi! I know this is a late reply but I’m very into Wicked and know lots about it. On the Broadway production the lift is stored under the stage and, during Defying Gravity, it comes out of the stage (as in the picture you’re talking about) - if you look at a picture of the Gershwin stage you’ll notice a sort of “trap door” slightly to the left on the central track towards the back of the stage; that’s where the lift comes out. The touring production, instead, has a lift that gets moved on and off stage, similar to the one you see in this video. I believe that the same design used on Broadway was applied to the London production.

[@elphbwckd212]

@@federicoperi6806 ummm no. The lift is stored above the stage. I have pictures of it from when I went backstage. It is lowered o to the stage and placed on it's track during the beginning of DG. Don't act like you know everything when you actually don't know anything. Where did you get your false information?

[@federicoperi6806]

@@elphbwckd212 Hi!! No need to be aggressive! I can assure you that the The Wicked Broadway lift is stored under the stage and it comes up out of the stage during Defying Gravity. If you look at pictures of the Gershwin stage (up stage slightly to the left) you can faintly see the rectangular shape of where the lift comes out from. I have a very cool picture of it coming out of the stage [it was VERY hard to find]!! I believe that that the lift you are referring to is the Wicked National Tour (same as the UK/Ireland Tour) lift, which is, as you said, kept backstage, placed onto the tracks and moved onto stage during the start of Defying Gravity. If you give me your email address I will happily send you the picture to prove my point :)

[@uncoolbi]

@eriandmarie You can deal with the fear once you land the part. THAT is the truly hard part.

[@hayleylloyd2007]

I soooooo agree with you, no one can beat the original :) x

[@edavismarsh]

I doubt those notes could be belted out in Peter Pan Rigging. It's hard to sing that song, standing on the ground.

[@jonm465]

i really wish people would quit comparing elphabas. theyre all good considering they all got parts in the numerous productions. yes they are all different, but i wouldnt say one is better that another

[@Scar2401]

so THAT'S why she doesnt fly ON the broom... i thought she would be suspended by black wires... it could work since the backdrop is black i guess...

[@Jvargas0026]

I always thought she went higher. When i saw the show She didnt go as high as i thought. Still amazing wonderfull and breathtaking. But that goes with out saying

[@asswhole239]

@DoctorOfPhilosophyMD Idina Menzel doesn't have asthma. I asked her at the stage door of wicked in London in 2006 and she said no she doesn't have asthma.

[@jom0189ari]

@willemijnverkaik they actually have a microphone with them... I've recently heard a recrding posted here on youtube, that in one show elphaba actually falls off her head. but ya... i agree what a voice! hahaha

[@cait72590]

God I would be so scared that something would get caught, lol. Amazing none the less, lol.