Honestly, the theater was dead silent for about three seconds before the collective gasp hit.
You’ve seen the trailers. You’ve heard the hype. But nothing really prepares a die-hard theater kid for the moment Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth actually step onto the big screen in the Idina Menzel Wicked 2024 cinematic event. It wasn't just a "blink and you'll miss it" background walk-on.
It was a full-blown, vocal-shattering passing of the torch.
Director Jon M. Chu didn't just shove them into the crowd as random Ozians. That would’ve been way too easy and, frankly, a bit of a letdown. Instead, he worked with original composer Stephen Schwartz to bake them right into the lore. They appear during the "One Short Day" sequence—that dizzying, neon-green explosion where Elphaba and Glinda finally hit the Emerald City.
Menzel and Chenoweth play the "Wise Women of Oz," basically the star performers of a show-within-a-show called Wiz-O-Mania.
What Actually Went Down in the Emerald City
The scene is chaotic in the best way. While Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are wandering around wide-eyed, they stumble into this massive theatrical production explaining the history of the Wizard and the Grimmerie (that big, scary book of spells).
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Suddenly, there they are.
Menzel is draped in this incredibly structured, avant-garde emerald gown. Chenoweth is right there beside her, sparkling like she never left. They start singing—and yeah, it’s new material. Schwartz wrote an extra verse specifically for this movie to give these two their flowers.
There’s this one specific moment that made my skin crawl (the good kind). Menzel lets out that iconic, chest-thumping battle cry—the one from "Defying Gravity"—and the theater I was in basically erupted. It’s a meta-nod to her 2003 performance that won her the Tony, and seeing her do it while looking directly at Cynthia Erivo?
Chills. Actual chills.
The Passing of the Wand
What makes the Idina Menzel Wicked 2024 appearance so much better than your average celebrity cameo is the interaction. It’s not just a legacy act; it’s a conversation.
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At one point, Ariana Grande’s Glinda tries to pipe in with a high note, and Chenoweth’s character literally covers her mouth. It’s a hilarious, cheeky reference to the "rivalry" and the specific vocal gymnastics that defined the original Broadway run.
- The Grimmerie Lore: They aren't just singing for fun; they are the ones who introduce the concept of the ancient spellbook to the new Elphaba.
- The Vocal Dynamics: You can still hear that legendary Menzel belt, which somehow hasn't aged a day since she first put on the green paint in San Francisco.
- The Sisterhood: Off-screen, Menzel has been incredibly vocal about supporting Erivo. She even sent her voice notes after seeing the final cut, telling her she "found her own light."
Why It Wasn't Just "Fan Service"
A lot of people think cameos are cheap. Sometimes they are! But in a story that is literally about legacy, friendship, and how stories get twisted over time, having the "Original Mothers" of the show play the people telling the "official" history of Oz is brilliant.
It highlights the Wizard’s propaganda. These women are performing a sanitized version of history, while the real future "Wicked Witch" is standing right in front of them.
It’s layered. It’s smart. It’s exactly what the fans deserved after twenty years of waiting for this movie to get out of development hell.
What Most People Missed
If you were too busy crying to notice, the "One Short Day" sequence is actually a graveyard of Broadway Easter eggs.
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Aside from Menzel and Chenoweth, there are other former Elphabas and Glindas hidden in the choreography. Look closely at the performers in the Wiz-O-Mania troupe. You might spot Kerry Ellis (the first British Elphaba) or Alice Fearn. Even Stephen Schwartz himself makes a sneaky appearance as the Palace Guard who tells the girls the Wizard will see them now.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re heading back for a second (or fifth) viewing, here is how to get the most out of the Idina Menzel moment:
- Listen for the "Battle Cry": It happens right at the climax of the Wiz-O-Mania song. It’s the exact riff Menzel used to end the first act on Broadway.
- Watch the Hands: Look at how Chenoweth handles her props. She uses the same "wand flick" technique she made famous in 2003.
- Check the Lyrics: The lyrics they sing about the "Mage whose major itinerary is making all Oz merrier" are a direct bridge between the old stage show and the new cinematic world-building.
The Idina Menzel Wicked 2024 cameo isn't just a nod to the past; it's a blessing on the future. It’s rare to see a franchise treat its roots with this much genuine affection without it feeling like a hollow marketing stunt.
Honestly, it just makes you want to go back and listen to the original cast recording one more time. Or maybe five more times. No judgment here.