#104: Does that make you feel proud?

Thursday 11/21/24

NO MOVIE SPOILERS I PROMISE (but if you’ve never seen Wicked at ALL then maybe skip)

I saw Wicked last night with 60 theatre friends! The movie was AMAZING. Cynthia and Ariana are both delivering astounding performances all around. Also, the entire film is just filled with pure magic. The thing I loved the most about it is that it never felt not real. All the effects and flying and magic were SO REAL. Then I remembered, oh right, Cynthia is actually flying. 

All I wanted to share is that theatre actors are a different breed. The training, commitment, connection - no one does it like us lol. Then the elevation of the lines to singing and then to dance is absolutely a SKILL. It doesn’t just happen - it requires an immense understanding of the craft of acting to really elevate each piece of a theatrical performance. And, then, on screen to add the nuance needed for film. Being big AND small. It’s a balance on the top tier performers can master. 

I hope you go to see it even if you aren’t a Wicked fan. It’s similar to the show but with many differences and MANY callbacks to the book. It also could be a bit scary at times for kids but really that’s only within the last 5 minutes of the first movie. For no other reason, the film itself is a complete feat and will go down in cinematic history. 

That’s all I wanted to share today. I’m so invigorated and hopeful for theatre when something of this scale happens. When you get shitty news like shows announcing closing after 2 performances it can be hard to think of this business in any kind of positive way. But, huge blockbuster movies that give theatre and theatre kids a global platform eases that pain a bit!

If you go see Wicked, try to go see a community theatre show as well. I know they can be more expensive, but between the movie cost & the popcorn, you can see live theatre in your county as well :)

Dreams Don’t Die

Julie