How Elphaba Defies Gravity (CBS News)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 พ.ย. 2008
- Clip taken from CBS 2 News Chicago, explaining the basic storyline of 'Wicked: A New Musical' and then looking at how Elphaba actually flies every night (yes! Unfortunately, it's not magic.) Sylvia Gomez presents, and we are shown how Elphaba defies gravity by Stephanie J. Block (the original touring Elphaba.)
For deaf or HOH viewers, you are now able to watch this video with captions/subtitles, thanks to 'runawayfelon'.
If you have a bit of time on your hands, and would like to test your knowledge of Wicked, I have written four quizzes of various difficulty levels for people to see how much they know! To access them, go to www.mybuzzquiz.com/en_GB/actio... - บันเทิง
Did he just call Defying Gravity a pop anthem? o.O
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
She wasn't really supposed to.....
@@sylviab8482 what do you mean though it's not on her if the entire crew of the tour allowed the filming to take place
@@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
@@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
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.
The stage looks so small for a Wicked stage
Tyler Maxwell she was on the wicked tour so the stages would be varied sizes. They just had to work with it. 😊
Kinda
Anthony Digrezia nope sjb only played on tour and later transferred to bway (and in the san francisco try outs as a standby elphaba)
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
@@calebbrown551 The balcony and trap door were cut from the tour completely
"If it's not safely locked in, I won't defy gravity." Computer mustn't have liked Kerry Ellis much, huh?
True lol
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
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!?
*• Purple Panda Playz •* it’s very unlikely that they’d lean forward as it opens
@@Annesglitter 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.
They failed to mention the Stagehands who are responsible for making this affect happen !!!!! I love being a part of making this happen !!!!!
Which production do you work on?
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.
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.
oh wow this is cleaver
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
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.
I wish I could see her as elphaba 😢
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!
I was at one of two shows in Chicago where she didn't fly :(
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
Aiyana Land if they did the dress would have lifted up
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.
Steph is the reason why I want to play Elphaba
Such a strongnpowerful voice near the end
I thought the elevator was under Elphaba, but now I Know it always have been behind she 😜
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.
Stephanie was actually the first Elphaba in the early development of the show but they brought Idina because she was a name.
MediaLover194 you mean that the show was about to premiere with Stephanie? :O
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!
Have you seen Donna Vivino?
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 😂.............
You say focus our eyes, sorry that doesn't work when Technicians are watching the show...
SO IF YOU CARE TO FIND ME
LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY
AS SOMEONE TOLD ME LATELY
EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE TO FLY
Gerri Gerbils AND IF IM FLYING SOLO, AT LEAST IM FLYING FREE!
TO THOSE WHO GROUND ME, TAKE THIS MESSAGE BACK FROM MEEE
TELL THEM HOW I AM DEFYING GRAVITY
SJB if, far and away, my favorite Elphaba. Idina's a screamer; SJB's a belter. BIG difference.
So THAT'S how they do it !!!
I thought it was cool when then Stephanie's like " Tell them how I'm defying gravity!"
I LOVE STEPHANIE J. BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am in love with Stephanie J Block
That mic almost could not handle SJB's belt.
Yeah, holy crap you even hear the echo in the venue
I am going to be in this show one day and I am going to be Elphaba
tara thelen do it girl ;)
Thank you
tara thelen I want to be G(a)linda!
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!!!
Good luck I hope you get it
What an ingenious idea! It looks amazing if you see it live! You would never guess that's how it works!
Seeing it tonight!!!! Glad I know how it works now
I always thought she was in a harness but this makes so much more sense.
im going to see this on the west end in two weeks, i cant WAIT!!!!
it's the coolest thing ever i've seen what it looks like on the SM's monitor!
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!
That's way more cool and sophisticated than I thought it would be LOL. Neat!
I think the lifts are smaller now like the arm of it . I found a pic of it on a tumblr
"Over all this mechanics" lol how professional. I wish my news was this cool!
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!
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.
i love stephanie so much
I loved that "So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!" part!!!!!
I like how she talks articullarly
thank you! to runawayfelon
One day I'll be in this show as Elphaba, I know it
Brynn McCarthy I wanna be Nessa
Brynn McCarthy i want to be the mom
İ want to play anything
I’ll be your Chistery
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...
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.
It only did because they decided to keep the tour set in place for the permanent Chicago production, so I'm assuming they built the rest when they decided that. They sent a new touring set to the next 1NT tour stop after Chicago and then the Chicago set eventually became the 2NT set.
@@seanrstephens so crazy. Didn’t realize Chicago became 2nd national. I thought that was a new build just due to all the automation modifications.
@@evnkas I'm sure they probably updated some of it and took the bones of it.
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...
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.
Stephanie should have originated the role
Even in 2024 this is the best song in the West End. Probably Broadway too.
Aw man really wish I could do that. Love them wicked.
I've always wondered how it was done. That's actually really clever how they blend it in with her clothes.
She was an amazing Elphaba!! ♥ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE HER. :D
Oh God, I love Stephanie!
And some idiots assume only the leading actors matter... I've spent a lot of time explaining backstage stuff!!! WICKED rocks!!
there have been like mishaps where the lift does not go up on mistake. so they just improvise
a pop anthem ? o.0
I soooooo agree with you, no one can beat the original :)
x
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.
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
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
i got to see the little hook thing in the dress backstage its actually very simple
wicked is awesome!
not just because its curved but because so many famous elphabas have used it and it would make me feel special lol
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!
Stephy Block is my... too good 4 words.
That's so cool😁
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
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.
My friend, you just described one of my dreams! lol
You have the video of the last presentation of Stephanie J. Block on Broadway ?
wow did not know that
omg This is how does ELPHAPA defying gravity. amazing.
I remember First seeing the show in L.A. TRYING to figure out how she did it :P
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.
I hope I get to do this one day!!!!
I'd love to, but I'd be terrified... and I dunno if I could sing while up there.
Ive done both! :)
Who can you not miss the flying machine when you’re back stage
God I would be so scared that something would get caught, lol. Amazing none the less, lol.
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)
So that's how they do it!!
i thought it would have been with a harness and being pulled not pushed from the floor.
@SingJiya its spectacular when you see it on stage though
@ddd8170 The tour went to chicago before the sit down production opened there
Shes Pretty Good!
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
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.
that looks totally fun lol
@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.
i think any wicked fan would want to lol i would want the broom and the lift and the oz head lol
I guessed it right!
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
i just thought she dangled from wires :p
Oh God.
STEPHANIE J BLOCK, WICKED, AND CHICAGO, MY CITY, IN THE SAME VIDEO!? H E L P
I like how they do this but why didn’t they use wires for this
i was expecting idina menzel then this girl started singing and i was just as impressed with her pipes. holy crow
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?
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
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?...
+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.
+Ch(ris)icago Whatever. On wires looks better. Then she'd be able so move around.
The point is sow she does not move. It's must more magical this way!
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
the harness would most likely restrict the actress from singing comfortably as well. considering its a part of the song where belting is required
This video is almost older then me- I’m 14 and it’s just so weird
@eriandmarie You can deal with the fear once you land the part. THAT is the truly hard part.
@BlazedHearts -- It is indeed, but the point remains the same. It isn't entirely the safest platform is what I was getting at.
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.