Watch Ariana Grande Swing From a Chandelier in ‘Wicked’ | Anatomy of a Scene

The song “Popular” from “Wicked” has secured a firm place in pop culture in the 21 years since the show opened on Broadway. So how to make the song fresh for the film adaptation?
This was one of the major challenges for the film’s director, Jon M. Chu. His formula was a little practical effects, a little razzmatazz and a whole lot of Ariana Grande.
The scene has Glinda (Grande) working to improve the image and perception of her roommate, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). In the process, Glinda’s suitcases almost come to life as pop-up closets that she raids for her task.
“In each of these devices,” Chu said in his narration, “even though they seem simple, there’s grown men in small spaces pulling it open and shutting it. And the engineering in each took months and months to design right.”
The other element involves the timing of Grande’s singing, and the way she works the pink peignoir she’s wearing (designed by Paul Tazewell). She swings on a chandelier in it and slides across the wood floor in it as well, singing live on set throughout.
“Ari is just a master of comedy,” Chu said. “You can see it in all her moves, and how she interacts when she acts with Cynthia Erivo. When you actually listen to it, too, her beats and her pauses are just masterful.”
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[@moomiira]

i never thought ariana would be bad but i didn’t think she would be THIS good. she was just phenomenal. cynthia of course to no one’s surprise was also incredible. they’re the perfect casting.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I have the same mindset as you. Ever since 2018 when Ariana sang The Wizard & I, I was hoping just as a fellow ‘93 baby theatre kid she would be part of the Wicked legacy in some shape form or fashion. For Cynthia, it was Harriet that motivated me to want to see her as Elphaba. In particular it was the gravitas that proves key. Just the movie itself was a bit more than I hoped for.

[@Martel4]

My nephew watched Victorious and iCarly constantly growing up. I remember seeing her and just be mesmerized. She has raw talent, you can't deny it.

[@Zarsla]

Ari is a master of physical comedy. Was playing in a comedy show from 2010 - 2014. She does have years of training.

[@kgreene460]

I did not know that, thank you! I've only seen her display her comedic skills on SNL, she is very, VERY funny - has a tremendous sense of humor, for sure!

[@justincera1770]

VicTORious ❤

[@Zarsla]

@@kgreene460 "Victorious" & "Sam & Cat" They were her first big acting roles post broadway. Then her music blew up big.

[@salliemagnaye1403]

Her comedy mixed with her beautiful voice and face makes me just love her 😍🤩

[@MikeyBCook]

I need some behind the scenes of all those suitcase mechanisms

[@SnowyButterfly1]

there actually just Caboodles.

[@donevinjohnson8424]

On my god fr! HOW TO THEY WORK😅

[@Jabroniville]

I love that all the effects are practical. In the sense that they cost a fortune and took months of work to build, but like... they're REAL. I love the choreography of these scene and all of Glinda's gizmos- they play up her opulence and fussiness/spoiled nature, where the musical just had to be like "She has lots of shoes and Elphie has almost nothing".

[@Martel4]

You know when you walk out of a movie and someone asks what you thought? That was the first (honestly, maybe 2nd) thing I said about this movie. The costumes and set design were top notch. Perfection, I would even say.

[@mailinglist2451]

Miss Grande is hilarious and adorable. Wasn’t a fan until I saw her obvious comedic timing on SNL. Found out from my much younger coworkers that she’s a Disney/Nickolodeon kid.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I like bit of her songs. But it was her as Penny in Hairspray Live that made me want to see more of the theatre kid side of her.

[@blairbrown4812]

Google Victorious, Sam & Cat, and/or Cat Valentine(especially if you have Paramount +). You're welcome.

[@willowfarmer6550]

Clicked on this video the minute it was posted, after seeing the film just moments ago today!! What a treat! It was spectacular

[@makeupbyjessx13]

I need a complete breakdown of everything in this entire 7 minute scene on a micro level PLEASE

[@ltkwok]

Jon, the master of choreographing each scene

[@kelownatechkid]

Christopher Scott is the choreographer, Jon tweeted about him :)

[@blairbrown4812]

Their work in Jem and the Holograms was horribly underappreciated

[@charliekowittmusic]

“Semi-small dorm room” Bro my apartment has the dimensions of an etch-a-sketch.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I was nervous how Ari was going to hit the high notes. But her costume and comic timing just helped nail the song. Her desire to get the role right shows!

[@trini2DBone134]

I'M GONNA SWING FROM THE CHANDELIERRR

[@da96103]

Not if you wanna be alive for Part 2.

[@matthew9212]

It was amazing

[@DanielleA2023]

Oscar worthy 🎥

[@moondoor9031]

Ariana was the perfect choice for this role. She nailed it in every single scene, Cynthia was terrific too. Amazing movie.

[@blairbrown4812]

0:30 "Their first date." I knew it!😊

[@digitalplayland]

That was live?

[@cloudsj9880]

Yes!

[@hummersd]

They did a behind the scenes on singing live: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqlomd4ra2Ad7ssi=vkFbKtCu-7s2ECrJ

[@HeyTylerAustin]

If you put Popular in the video title this would have far more views…

[@ronanyomu5967]

I don't care what y'all say miss grande deserves a Grammy

[@a_random_guy_V]

I can't be the only one expecting: IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'M GONNA SWING FROM THE CHANDELIER, FROM THE CHANDELIIIIIIIIER. I'm frustrated.

[@melissajoi841]

I just wanted to see the song again! No commentary!😅

[@RubidiaEstelaFranco-i3k]

Ariana grande ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@joependleton6293]

Haha! So adorable! Funny bones! 😅😮🙃

[@GehleeRoyalties]

GEHLEE DANGCA REALLY LOOKS LIKE ARIANA GRANDE ESPECIALLY AS GLINDA ON WICKED DISNEY MOVIE THEY LOOK LIKE A TWIN!

[@cindyfern]

Ariana also had a song with Mika called "Popular" with similar lyrics 😅 must've been a lot of pressure for her

[@KenThePen247]

Ariana Grande is simply scrumptious 😋

[@violettababenko4847]

Saw a sexist hater say Ariana can't act lol. She's amazing at what she does. Like sure a director knows nothing and a random IG user knows best lol

[@thedudeabides2531]

Sounds like some meathead who wouldn't know acting if it smacked him in the face. 🤣

[@fiaschampion3379]

I think you guys forgot to feed her on set tho

[@HoguerLuzan]

I was in Turkey recently and had a empriente multi pouchette with me. They show me a kislux bag and it looked just like it.

[@jasonluckoff3880]

If I was the director of wicked the movie, I would change everything and the date

[@stevefisher2553]

Saw it TWICE

[@bigd4998]

🙌🏽💖💖💚

[@chaobawangkheirakpam7812]

Next Topic:- *"What Palestine Teaches its Kids"*

[@moonmaiden13]

I love how only men work on the crew of this. Only men are behind the scenes. 🙃

[@kevinpetroff5486]

Don't forget the lesbians, who are working harder.

[@marlynnek6449]

It was good, but Goldblum was a casting mistake and the cameo by Menzel and Chenoweth was stupid and cliche. Grande exceeded expectations. Erivo is SPECTACULAR.

[@EricBoateng-te8en]

First to like and comment

[@bridgetzelasko-lynch4004]

Literally, Ariana is good but why are we not showing off Cynthia!?!?! she’s even more amazing than Arianda Imo🤷‍♀️

[@thedudeabides2531]

Why do people always like to pit them against each other? They were equally amazing. They both had moments to shine. Just be happy with that.

[@Sabrina.LC17]

Imagine if they spent all this time and money trying to solve the homeless problem in the USA

[@YY-wu7et]

Imagine if the budget for one movie could solve the homeless problem in the USA 🤦🏽

[@MICHAEL-s9w2d]

easy ......... shut the borders and stop sending money to Ukraine .

[@thedudeabides2531]

You can pretty much say that about anything you have to spend money on. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of things you enjoy that I can say "Just imagine if we used those wasted dollars for the homeless". It's such a stupid argument.

[@MANZANOADRIAN]

Why didnt lin Manuel direct ?

[@richardtylee]

When LMM produced In The Heights for film, he chose Jon M. Chu to direct.

[@MANZANOADRIAN]

@richardtylee could you imagine black director on Crazy Rich Asians... Or an asian director doing black panter. Shang Chi by a latino. Namor didnt get a solo film. Latinos only make up 48% of LA. #culturalapartheid

[@winst2000]

I think LMM is more of a writer/musician than a director. Jon M Chu is known for directing Musicals and Dance movies.

[@SamuelCharlesSanomAlbert]

dont. do a hollywood movie with this chicks face.

[@MikeONeill-x7k]

We aren’t sure which “chick’s face” you don’t want to see in Hollywood movies but you’d be better off just deleting this comment. Nothing but unkind and with 0 constructive criticism. Just calling somebody ugly is… very ugly in itself 🥱😒👎🏻

[@thedudeabides2531]

I don't know what you're smoking, but she has a beautiful face.

[@SamuelCharlesSanomAlbert]

@@thedudeabides2531 wut? i say i like it

[@rollinsalvador8588]

It was garbage

[@SirenRyan]

You’re so mad that it was amazing and is doing amazing in the box office and getting amazing reviews from critics and audience alike 🤣 stay bitter

[@kelownatechkid]

Dawg why are you even here if it was garbage lol, do something fun instead

[@J.P.Robles]

The new Haunted Mansion movie was garbage this movie was amazing Maybe Sponge Bob or Shrek the Musical is more to your liking

[@kylecedrickgraciano9743]

If it's not for you then it's not, next 👋

[@taliagmail.com2005]

it was not

[@admir3486]

So, we must see this movie, because it has some technical tricks, like a rotating chandelier. This is so stupid. This movie is failing in the box office, although they spended as much money in marketing, as they spended in producing it. It's gona a be a big "box office atomic bomb".

[@celinel.844]

The budget for Part 1 was $145 millions and the movie has already made $194 millions worldwide and has yet to be released in a lot of countries: France, China, Japan, etc. So it will actually take a while to see the real impact it has and how much it could actually make. For now, I think it looks like it could at leasy make a profit.

[@samsamsam4790]

no one is forcing u to watch it, go see gladiator if u want

[@thedudeabides2531]

It's already made about $359 million worldwide and it will continue raking in money for the months to come. Not to mention the fact that it's most likely going to get nominated for a bunch of Oscars. So this sucker is going to have legs. It will probably make over a billion dollars when all is said and done. That's marvel superhero type box office numbrers.

[@万恶共匪毒害中华]

Why are the comments turned off for the previous video "What Japan Teaches Its Kids"? It's not even a controversial subject, New York Times, you're being Rachel-Zegler- _Weird-Weird_