79. We Have Been Changed FOR GOOD (Wicked Movie Review)

Summary

Sentimental Men – Episode 79

"We Have Been Changed FOR GOOD (Wicked Movie Review)"
Release Date: January 1, 2026
Hosts: Quincy Brown & Kevin Bianchi
Podcast Network: Broadway Podcast Network

---

Episode Overview

In this highly anticipated episode, Quincy and Kevin reunite after a significant hiatus and deep-dive into their review of the Wicked movie sequel. With their signature blend of humor, heart, and nuanced theater-geek takes, they count down their top five favorite things about the movie and reflect on the current state of Broadway. The conversation is filled with passionate discussion about Broadway favorites, sharp analysis of musical adaptation choices, and plenty of memorable moments.

Note: This summary focuses solely on episode content and skips ads and non-content interludes.

---

The State of Broadway: Where Are the New Musicals? (01:42 – 06:16)

• Quincy and Kevin lament the “famine” of original musicals on Broadway this season, noting a surplus of celebrity casting in plays and a drought of fresh shows.
• Quincy: “It's a very expensive looking production. I really liked it to the point that I was like, damn, I really want to see Sherry in. And then I did… If you missed it, you should be sad. And if you've been talking shit about it, you should stop doing that.” (02:16)
• They rattle off the few new musical titles (Queen of Versailles, Schmigadoon, Titanique, Beaches, Lost Boys, Two Strangers Carry a Cake across New York) and discuss categories for Best Actress in a Musical, which this season is stacked with favorites like Jessica Vosk, Kristin, Lea Michele, Casey Levy, and Shoshana Bean.
• Kevin: “I'm excited that it's Shoshana. I'm excited to have all the girlies back on Broadway at the same time.” (05:49)

---

Getting to Wicked: Setting Up Their Approach (06:19 – 07:10)

• The hosts acknowledge the discourse around the Wicked movie and decide to focus on their top five things they loved, saving their "five question marks" for their Patreon.
• Kevin: “You had the great idea to do just like a top five…for the public episode, we will talk about the top five things that we loved about this movie.” (07:06)

---

Top Five Favorite Things About the Wicked Movie

(07:10 – 18:20)

1. Elphaba’s Flight & Movie Opening

(07:10 – 08:48)

• Kevin was thrilled by the variety and dynamism in Elphaba’s flying scenes, calling them “strong,” “cool,” and “very motivated.”
• Quincy: “The whole opening of the movie, when she flies in and she's whacking the guards and surfing on her broom… pretty stellar.” (07:36)

2. The New Opening Sequence & Reorchestration

(07:44 – 08:48)

• Both gush over the newly orchestrated opening, which skillfully reacquaints the audience with all the characters and themes.
• Quincy: “I loved the Glinda walking out into the crowd and then everyone sings it back to her… set the stage well and bring us back in a nice way.” (08:07)

3. “As Long As You’re Mine” & The Love Dynamics

(08:57 – 11:32)

• They address some fans’ desire for more physical closeness between Elphaba and Fiyero like on stage, but Kevin argues this separation preserves the emotional impact of “For Good.”
• Kevin: “Only once can the lovers come together and sing the love ballad. And that's for good. That's not as long as you're mine.” (09:26)
• Quincy counters that he likes how the movie reveals Elphaba’s emotional boundaries and vulnerability.
• Quincy: “She's like, setting boundaries. It's like, healthy pre-sexual conversation and boundary setting.” (10:56)
• Discussion highlights the importance of Elphaba realizing her power to love and be loved.

4. “No Good Deed” Sequence

(12:08 – 13:03)

• Both hosts agree that “No Good Deed” in the film is a cinematic high point, efficiently conveying Elphaba’s internal unraveling.
• Quincy: “To me that is like peak cinema… she's reliving her life and coming to terms with and realizing…into thinking that she's wicked. I really, really thought it was well done.” (12:09)
• Kevin praises the way the movie built toward this number and its emotional intensity.

5. Cinematography & Key Scenic Moments

(13:05 – 15:17)

• Kevin was dazzled by the visual complexity of “Girl in the Bubble” and its creative interpretations.
• Kevin: “It was so dizzying and like you never knew if you were in the mirror world or the real world.” (13:05)
• Both enjoyed the “cat fight” scene for its originality and the way it retained iconic elements from the stage show.
• Quincy: “Glinda calls her greenie. Pretty intense slur. Yeah, it's... a little charged.” (14:16)
• Praised Ariana Grande’s acting throughout, specifically in the sequence where Fiyero is taken away.

---

Notable Transformations & Emotional Beats

(15:17 – 17:23)

• They discuss the Tin Man transformation, appreciating the clever visual clues and the way the scene was staged.
• Both were impressed by scenes emphasizing Oz’s political divisions and the personal consequences for characters like Bok.
• They highlight the emotionally powerful “diabolical shot” of Ariana and Cynthia on each side of the door during “For Good,” noting it was improvised and a definite tearjerker.
  • Kevin: “I think the first time I watched it, I think that was the only time that I cried like that. I got a tear.” (16:39)
  • Quincy: “The 12 punch of I love you. I love you, too. And then the two hands on the door in a shot that feels like it lasts forever.” (16:51)

---

Surprising Takeaways & Family Reactions

(20:02 – 21:16)

• Kevin liked how the sequel felt distinct from part one—almost like its own movie, not just a two-parter.
• Interesting anecdote: Quincy notes his family, who aren't musical theater nerds, preferred this movie because it featured “the best song”—For Good.
  • Quincy: “My family all went to see it and they said they liked this movie better than the first one.” (20:22)

---

Rowdy Screenings & Theatre Culture

(21:19 – 22:56)

• Quincy attended a “rowdy screening” of Wicked with costumes, props, and a shadow-cast—a la Rocky Horror—and swears by its community-building energy.
• Quincy: “It was like community. It was like really special and fun and exciting... I would encourage everyone to, like, do something similar in their towns.” (22:35)

---

Home Release & Exclusive Events

(23:00 – 27:30)

• Kevin recaps a special event for the film’s home release, held at an interactive art museum reimagined with Wicked-themed rooms, costumes, and music. They also screened a full “Making of For Good” documentary.
• Kevin: “The documentary itself was so good. I like cried twice watching it... Most importantly, it has the footage of shirtless Jonathan Bailey chopping wood…” (25:04)
• Home release is set for December 26, with sing-along and bonus features (including deleted scenes).

---

International Wicked: Quincy’s Madrid Adventure

(27:35 – 37:11)

• Quincy describes his experience seeing a non-replica “Wicked” in Madrid (all in Spanish), highlighting cultural differences in theater and staging.
  • The Madrid run is treated almost like an out-of-town tryout, and boasts a lush theater experience (in-theater bars, themed popcorn buckets!).
  • Both hosts are astonished at the creative license taken—e.g., Glinda’s bubble throne, a flamboyant “zaddy” version of The Wizard, and new staging of “Thank Goodness.”
• Quincy: “It really actually did make me realize all of the genius and mechanation that went into how Broadway looks and feels and is staged too.” (30:34)
• Kevin: “I love a choice.” (36:17)

---

Closing Thoughts and Hopes for Awards

(37:11 – 38:25)

• The hosts speculate on possible live performances at the Oscars and express excitement for the future, hoping for more recognition for the film and its actresses.
• Kevin: “Next stop, the Academy Awards for the girls.” (37:25)
• Quincy: “Maybe we'll get no Good deed and...Girl in the Bubble and no Place like Home at the Oscars.” (37:59)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Quincy: “If you missed it, you should be sad. And if you've been talking shit about it, you should stop doing that.” (02:16)
• Kevin: “Only once can the lovers come together and sing the love ballad. And that's for good.” (09:26)
• Kevin: “It was so dizzying and like you never knew if you were in the mirror world or the real world.” (13:05)
• Kevin (reacting to the improvisation during ‘For Good’): “That was an audible gasp. And I think the first time I watched it, I think that was the only time that I cried like that.” (16:39)
• Quincy: “It was like community. It was like really special and fun and exciting and a great way to experience the movie.” (22:35)
• Kevin: “The documentary itself was so good. I like cried twice watching it… Most importantly, it has the footage of shirtless Jonathan Bailey chopping wood…” (25:04)
• Quincy (on the Madrid production): “It just feels like much more lush experience… it makes me want to see more. I really want to see the Brazil production.” (29:09–36:17)

---

Final Takeaways

• The hosts are deeply impressed by the Wicked movie’s emotional depth, bold staging, and creative choices.
• They urge listeners to see international productions, try rowdy screenings, and look forward to Wicked’s home release.
• Quincy and Kevin close by wishing everyone a Happy New Year and teasing possible future Oscar glory for Wicked.

---

For full episodes and Patreon content, subscribe to Sentimental Men on your favorite podcast platform and follow on social media @sentmenpod.

Transcript

[Quincy]

Hi, y'.

[Play on Shakespeare Host]

All.

[Quincy]

This is Kristin Chenoweth. Hi, I'm Gloria Stefan. This is Sara Bareilles.

[Kevin]

Hi, I'm Patti LuPone.

[Alan Seals]

This is Lin Manuel Miranda.

[Kevin]

You're listening to the Broadway podcast Network.

[Play on Shakespeare Host]

Shakespeare can be intimidating for artists, for audiences. People often put Shakespeare on a pedestal or try to dumb it down. We're doing neither. We're taking these texts that still resonate in so many ways and handing them to a diverse set of today's most exciting playwrights and saying, what would you do? How would you translate this into contemporary English verse from your perspective, using your knowledge and your artistry? We're here to decolonize and democratize Shakespeare because these stories are for everyone. Visit playonshakespeare.org to find a modern verse translation of Shakespeare and get the playwright back in the room.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

The holidays mean more travel, more shopping, more time online, and more personal info in more places that could expose you more to identity theft. But LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, our US based restoration specialists will fix it, guaranteed your money back. Don't face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or financial losses alone. Get more holiday fun and less holiday worry with LifeLock. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com podcast terms apply.

[Quincy]

My name's Quincy.

[Kevin]

And my name's Kevin.

[Quincy]

And this is Sentimental Men.

[Kevin]

We're here to talk and maybe scream about our favorite women in musical theater.

[Quincy]

But I've got brains and I've got guts and I am using that. You didn't see Queen of Versailles and now it's too late.

[Kevin]

And now it's too late.

[Quincy]

Unfortunately, at the time of recording, it's not like necessarily too late, but it's pretty close to being too late.

[Kevin]

It's pretty close. I would say it's likely too late.

[Quincy]

Can I just. Before we get into our wicked adventures, can I just say that Queen of Versailles does not deserve the amount of hate and vitriol that it is receiving. Received. Yeah, I went and saw it with Kristen and, like, thoroughly enjoyed it. And there's some bops in it. It's a very expensive looking production. I really liked it to the point that I was like, damn, I really want to see Sherry in. And then I did have the opportunity to also see Sheri in it, which was like a thrilling experience and a very different experience. And if you missed it, you should be sad. And if you've been talking shit about it, you should stop doing that.

[Kevin]

Like you said, I have not seen it, but I do agree with the sentiment that it's easy to forget that it's not just a show, like an amorphous cast recording that lives in the ether.

[Quincy]

Right.

[Kevin]

It's a real show. Real people who are losing their jobs the week before Christmas.

[Quincy]

Like, it's also just like, I don't know, even with the Adina Redwood of it all, it's like, I think we should be applauding these women for lending their star power to new musicals and not just coming back in like a concert or revival. I think it's like good that they're doing that and I think it's bad when we all poo poo them for putting themselves out there like that and is going to lead to a not fruitful Broadway environment. Look at this season.

[Kevin]

A famine of original musicals. A famine, A drought.

[Quincy]

I mean, boy, do we have celebs in plays. But like, where are the new musicals?

[Kevin]

That's not new. The new is that there's. Right. There's no new musicals. What is it?

[Quincy]

It's Queen of Versailles, Schmigadoon, Titanique, Beaches.

[Kevin]

Does Schmigadoon count? Because it was a TV show.

[Quincy]

Yeah, like Smash. Smash was a new musical.

[Kevin]

Yeah, yeah. Okay.

[Quincy]

Duhmigadoon, Queen of Versailles, Titanique, Beaches, Lost Boys. Two strangers carry a cake across New York. Uh huh. I mean, the fact that like Titanique.

[Kevin]

The fact that Titanique is playing the St. James.

[Quincy]

You know what I was thinking about Titanique though? The way to do Titanique on Broadway is put Ariana Grande.

[Kevin]

Yes, I was thinking about that too. If it was a stuntier thing.

[Quincy]

I mean, what's so amazing is I think Marla Mandel could really win best actress in a musical this season.

[Kevin]

All for it.

[Quincy]

Because that performance in that show is stellar. Yeah. I don't know. This is like a really kooky and weird and like unsettling Broadway season. Do you feel that as well?

[Kevin]

I do feel that it feels unbalanced or like out of balance. Off its center, I guess.

[Quincy]

The last two seasons we had so many new musicals, but I don't know. Spread them out. Guys.

[Kevin]

Do you think there's going to be a little surge of announcements for the spring?

[Quincy]

Like literally no. And that's the depressing part of it all.

[Kevin]

Beaches. If ever something called to be a jukebox musical and not new songs, you know what I mean? Like, I just want to hear Jessica Vosk sing the song.

[Quincy]

Did you ever know that you're my hero? I do think that's in it though. I don't think it was always in it, but I do think it's in it.

[Kevin]

It is in it. That's what the press release said.

[Quincy]

Of course, I remember when they remade it with Adina. That's the only Beaches I've ever seen. You're everything I was meant to be. There's also another good song in Beaches. Cause you're extraordinary. And they're like writing letters to each other. I'm excited that we get Jessica Vosk originating a role on Broadway.

[Kevin]

Maybe Jessica Vosk will win best actress in a musical. It's going to be her. Kristen.

[Quincy]

Lea Michele, Casey Levy, Shoshana Bean. I mean, best actress is kind of a slay category this year.

[Kevin]

I'm hot.

[Quincy]

We do have that to look forward to.

[Kevin]

Oh, my God. Okay, that's gonna get me to June.

[Quincy]

What new musical are you most excited to see in this season?

[Kevin]

I am most excited to see Lost Boys. I'm just, like, invested in the journey. I am excited that it's Shoshanna. I'm excited to have all the girlies back on Broadway at the same time.

[Quincy]

I'm excited for Lost Boys too.

[Kevin]

What are my other options of what's left?

[Quincy]

I do wanna see two strangers carry a cake.

[Kevin]

Me too. It seems charming. No, it's giving me in transit vibes, which I say complimentary because I loved in transit.

[Quincy]

Amazing.

[Kevin]

A map of New York, baby.

[Quincy]

Okay, it's been a minute since we've gotten on mic.

[Kevin]

Yeah, no big deal.

[Quincy]

A lot has happened.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Quincy]

Where shall we begin?

[Kevin]

Obviously, the big green talking elephant in the room is that we have not made an episode yet about our non spoiler film reaction.

[Quincy]

How dare you speak about Alphabet that way?

[Kevin]

I would never. You brought that up. No, I was trying to say because, like, you know, the animals, they talk. Since there's already lots of discourse out there, you had, I think, should we.

[Quincy]

Discourse on the discourse. Well, let's do our thing and then.

[Kevin]

We'Ll discourse on the discourse. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You had the great idea to do just like a top five. And then for the Patreon, we're gonna do not a bottom five, but like five question marks.

[Quincy]

Five questions that we have.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

For public episode, we will talk about the top five things that we loved about this movie.

[Kevin]

Right. And then it'll just skip to what we are going to talk about after. My first thing that I wrote down is I loved Elphaba's flight vocabulary. Like, I loved all the different ways that she flew.

[Quincy]

Which you've been looking forward to.

[Kevin]

Yes, I have been. And it even Exceeded my expectations. At some times it made her look very strong. At other times it made her look very cool. Like, it was very motivated.

[Quincy]

I mean, the whole opening of the movie, when she flies in and she's whacking the guards and surfing on her broom. I do think the opening of the movie is pretty stellar.

[Kevin]

I agree. I really liked how they brought us back in.

[Quincy]

I loved. Speaking of the opening right after that, the new opening sequence that they orchestrated and scored I thought was really, really exciting and well done. It's like, here's where we are with everyone. We're popping in, you get some wizard and I reprise, which was really gaggy the first time I saw it. And I. I love the Glinda walking out into the crowd and then everyone sings it back to her. So it, like, shows the spell that she's had over Oz. It was like a really exciting, like, entry back into the world. And I think it was good that we didn't just jump into. Thanks. Thank goodness. Like, it did, like, set the stage well and bring us back in in a nice way before getting into the drama of it all.

[Kevin]

Yes. I love that. It was essentially like. And on track. Like, it was a little recap of the musical themes from the first part. Like you said, a little catch up to, like, where the characters are now 10 out of 10.

[Quincy]

A little overinda do.

[Kevin]

Okay, so that was my number one. What is your number one?

[Quincy]

That was my number one.

[Kevin]

Oh, that was your number one. Okay.

[Quincy]

These aren't in any order, by the way. I just kind of like five things.

[Kevin]

My number two. This is actually maybe a discourse on the discourse in a positive way. I really loved the as Long as yous Mind block.

[Quincy]

That's on my list as well.

[Kevin]

It is.

[Quincy]

God, bitch.

[Kevin]

We should start a podcast. Here's like an old school Kevin's Glinda corner take for you.

[Quincy]

Oh, wow, I forgot about that. Retro.

[Kevin]

So I think that.

[Quincy]

Why are you talking about Glinda? And as long as you're mine.

[Kevin]

It's not about Glinda, but I just mean, like the way I'm thinking.

[Quincy]

Nerdy and dramaturgically.

[Kevin]

Yes, yes. So I think that I've seen some people saying that they miss the, like, closeness of the two of them, like, kneeling downstage facing each other. And I think that that is missing the point a little bit because in a musical, only once can the lovers come together and sing the love ballad. And that's for good. That's not as long as you're mine. And so I think that no no, no, no, no, it's not. Because it's not. The love story between Elphaba and Fiyero, that's like a little side quest. So I think had it been them as close as she and Glinda are in for good, it would have weakened the impact of for good.

[Quincy]

I mean, I come from it from a different perspective because I do believe that like we can have the hetero love story and the friendship love story.

[Kevin]

I agree.

[Quincy]

Happening in tandem. I like it because it like shifted my perspective on that song and Elphaba as a character where like they're alone for the first time. And it's obviously leading to like an intimate moment. Elphaba probably hasn't had many intimate moments in her life. So she starts at a distance and is like essentially telling Fiyero how she wants to go about this encounter. Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight, I'm gonna need some help. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. She's like setting boundaries. It's like healthy pre sexual conversation and boundary setting. And I actually thought it was very realistic for these character for that. For Elphaba's character to be engaging in that way and not just immediately being all over each other.

[Kevin]

Yeah, definitely. I agree with that. I also think that it was an important moment. So much of the first movie is about Elphaba being loved for the first time by Galinda. And I think that in this scene, something important that it accomplishes when she picks him up and they fly, is that then she is in that moment, I think, realizing that she is capable of being the one doing the loving. Which then breaks down.

[Quincy]

Actors clip where David Corensvett is like, good on you, bro, for maintaining your masculinity while being lifted by a woman.

[Kevin]

I think that it was a poor choice of words. Like, I don't think that he meant it to be the way people are taking it. But I do love Jonathan Bailey's reaction. It's like.

[Quincy]

It'S like who even thinks about that?

[Kevin]

And I think it's like the important context is like that he's comparing to Superman.

[Quincy]

Right? I think that's that Actor's on actor. Whoever paired those two up together. Bravo.

[Kevin]

Give him a raise.

[Quincy]

Yeah. You're excellent at your job.

[Kevin]

Job.

[Quincy]

Okay. I really, really, really, really think that no good deed was perfectly done. And there's also been some discourse about this. But to me that is like peak cinema. The way that they bring her to the flashback and she's at the school when she's. One question haunts and her it's too much, too much to mention. And she's like, reliving her life and, like, really coming to terms with and like realizing or kind of gaslighting herself, I guess, you know, into like, thinking that she's wicked. I really, really thought it was well done. It was kind of exhil.

[Kevin]

I agree. I think that it matched the energy of what happens on stage so well, is like, it all builds to no good deed. And I think defying gravity set the bar so high that then no good deed had to surpass that. And I really, I do think that it did. It was so exciting from start to finish.

[Quincy]

Yeah, I thought it was amazing. Okay, you go.

[Kevin]

What am I on three. I loved the cinematography of Girl in the Bubble. It was so dizzying and like you never knew if you were in the mirror world or the real world. And there were so many, I think, clever interpretations of like, putting her in a bubble within that song. It was really so fun to watch. And it was one after we saw it the first time that I was looking forward to watching a second time.

[Quincy]

Yeah, it is like, how are they doing this? I was trying to spot the scene cuts and it's. You can't really. It's really well done. I thought the cat fight scene was brilliantly done and I have that too. And done in a way that made it, like, ownable for the movie version. It felt unique, but had enough of like the essence and the one liners from the stage version. I thought they're fighting and the little quips they were doing when they were fighting. It's a little insane that Glinda calls her greenie. Pretty intense slur. Yeah, it's.

[Kevin]

A little charged.

[Quincy]

If you ever really come on Blackie, that would be crazy. But it was funny. And emotions and Ariana's fake cackle at her. It was all really great.

[Kevin]

And an excellent addition of flight in that scene as well.

[Quincy]

And Ariana did this, right?

[Kevin]

She did, yeah. She did do this very well, as a matter of fact.

[Quincy]

And then following up, I think the scene after that where Fiyarro comes in and Ariana walks up to the gun and they take him away. That was all very well done, I thought.

[Kevin]

Yeah, I agree. I thought it was well done. And I like seeing Fiyero, that moment of choice where he decides to officially abandon ship with the wizard.

[Quincy]

Ariana's acting down in that scene too.

[Kevin]

I mean, the whole movie she's acting down. But that clip that I feel like is getting posted a lot where she hands the hat over and the eyebrow and then the lift, which is insane. I loved the Tin man transformation scene.

[Quincy]

It was very thoughtful.

[Kevin]

So thoughtful.

[Quincy]

Teacups and everything turned into him.

[Kevin]

Yes. And, like, the visual clues that they laid leading up to it. And then the action of him chopping through the door.

[Quincy]

Spooky.

[Kevin]

Spooky.

[Quincy]

I was like, o. I was like, when did this become a horror movie?

[Kevin]

Yes. I thought this Wicked Witch of the east really sets Bach up for March of the Witch Hunt Hunters, emotionally, because it's a little bit more about the consequences for him.

[Quincy]

What I'd like to on that note is the addition of when Bok first leaves Nessa. And he's. And he's like, I'll see you soon or I'm sure we'll see each other or something. And she goes, oh, I know. Cut to him going on the. Trying to get onto the train station. It's like, where's your permit? No Munchkins allowed. That I thought, like, really helped to paint the picture of what was actually happening in Oz in a way that the stage show doesn't. It just is like, oh, right. This is like a very, very intense thing that is happening to everyone.

[Kevin]

Yes. And to see the moving parts of, like, what the wizard is up to at the same time as Nessarose is, you know, putting all the whatever into effect.

[Quincy]

We talked about it in the reaction episode, but now we can talk about it. Actually, the diabolical shot of Ariana and Cynthia on both sides of the door that has since come out. That. That was improvised. Crazy.

[Kevin]

Insane. I mean, that was an audible gasp. And I think the first time I watched it, I think that was the only time that I cried like that. I got a tear.

[Quincy]

They're both so in it, too.

[Kevin]

They're both so in it. And the 12 punch of I love you. I love you, too. And then the two hands on the.

[Quincy]

Door in a shot that feels like it lasts forever.

[Kevin]

It lingers there. Just the perfect amount of time. Yeah. Oh, it was so good. And it's like the perfect button to For Good. I think it's easy to get swept up in the romanticism of For Good because it's, you know, this poetic language and it's big and it's sweeping, but it is a goodbye song. And so to see, like, a physical barrier between them.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

Was really lovely.

[Quincy]

Well, and I mean, and then you watch Glinda watch Elphaba die from the closet, which is also really paint some major stakes.

[Kevin]

I loved how isolated she was in that moment because on stage, it's such a big effect. Like, it's more about the melting and she's kind of like down by the trapdoor. So to focus that moment on Glinda.

[Quincy]

Did you go through all five?

[Kevin]

I did go through all five.

[Quincy]

I don't know how many I've gone through, but I have one more. It's Ariana's when she's talking about a morrible. Like, have you ever considered how do you fare in captivity? And she does like a look outside over there. And she like, points behind. She's like, so locked in and serious and is like, I'm handling business now. But still, it's very.

[Kevin]

It's like a little moment of physical comedy that has been on pause for two thirds of the.

[Quincy]

She's like, still got it.

[Play on Shakespeare Host]

Shakespeare can be intimidating for artists, for audiences. People often put Shakespeare on a pedestal or try to dumb it down. We're doing neither. We're taking these texts that still resonate in so many ways and handing them to a diverse set of today's most exciting playwrights and saying, what would you do? How would you translate this into contemporary English verse from your perspective, using your knowledge and your artistry? We're here to decolonize and democratize Shakespeare because these stories are for everyone. Visit playonshakespeare.org to find a modern verse translation of Shakespeare and get the playwright back in the room.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

Shopping is hard.

[Kevin]

I can never find anything in my size.

[Quincy]

I don't even know my size.

[Kevin]

I buy my clothes the same place I buy my groceries.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

There's a better way. Make it easy with Stitch Fix. Just share your size, style, budget, and done. Your personal stylist sends pieces picked just for you.

[Quincy]

That was easy.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

Stitch Fix online personal styling for everyone. Free shipping and returns. No subscription required. Get started today@stitch fix.com.

[Quincy]

I did really like this movie.

[Kevin]

I did, too. But it does feel. It feels nice to address the question marks.

[Quincy]

It truly is such an impressive feat. What the entire Wicked team pulled off with this whole endeavor. To commit to this long of a journey that far in advance and to, like, be so successful in carrying it out is really congratulations and bravo and thank you.

[Kevin]

Yes, and thank you. Something I liked overall about this movie is I think it felt obviously like act two of the show, but it felt like its own sequel, too. Like, I think that a lot of the. The changes that they made made this movie feel like its own movie and not like we just cut one movie in half.

[Quincy]

Oh, my family all went to see it and they said they liked this movie better than the first one.

[Kevin]

That's interesting. I wonder if that is a common opinion in, like, non normies. Yeah, like in non musical.

[Quincy]

Well, my sister was like, it has the best song. It has for good. And I was like, is that what is seen as the best song of Wicked? But then I was like, yeah, I guess, because that's the song that's, like done at the graduations and.

[Kevin]

Right. That's the song people know.

[Quincy]

It's so interesting. But then she also did flag that she knew more songs in Act 1 than she did in Act 2. But for good is in Act 2.

[Kevin]

Interesting. Well, I do trust your sister and her taste.

[Quincy]

So it was a shocking take. We've also been up to a lot of Wicked shenanigans. So first time we saw Wicked, we went to the friends and family Broadway screening. That was really special. Second time we went to the premiere at Lincoln Center. That was really special for other reasons. Third time I saw Wicked. Have you seen it again since the premiere?

[Kevin]

Not yet. I'm going to see it again over the. Over Christmas.

[Quincy]

I probably will too. Third time that I saw Wicked was at a rowdy screening hosted by my friends Nick Rizzo and Sam Gold that they did last year. I did not attend, but I was like, I must attend this year.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

And we've posted videos on Social. I just need to say, obviously that was a private screening where the entire theater was bottomed for that. Yeah. There's like so many angry comments about, like, people, you're ruining the movie, blah, blah, blah.

[Kevin]

You know what that means? There is a. A famine, a shortage of Rocky Horror shadow casts left in this country. If people are not familiar with the idea of like a rowdy screening of something were failing.

[Quincy]

And it was like incredible. Like, they had the thing fully casted, full costumes, they had props, they had sets, blah, blah, blah. It made the viewing experience, I think, really fun for the third time. Really fun. Obviously that's not going to be your first time seeing it. It was no one in that theater's first time seeing it. Everyone at that theater bought a ticket for that experience. And I would encourage everyone to, like, do something similar in their towns because it really. It was like community. It was like really special and fun and exciting and a great to experience the movie.

[Kevin]

I hope that when the movie's available at home.

[Quincy]

Sure.

[Kevin]

That like, even. Not even like at a movie theater, like, do it at your. Your gay bar. You know what I mean? Yeah.

[Quincy]

Because I'm not sure how they did it. I think the tickets were like $50. So that insinuate some sort of like rental fee for the theater plus all of the props and stuff. But it's like that was a great experience for 50. It was amazing.

[Kevin]

Yeah. So fun. Yeah.

[Quincy]

Okay, what did you do today?

[Kevin]

Speaking of seeing Wicked at home, today at the Day of Recording, I went to an event celebrating the release of Wicked, Viewable at home. So this event that I went to today was at the art museum at Chelsea Piers. And it was closed just for us Oz girlies today. And they adapted. If you're listening, it's a museum, like an interactive museum, like a sensory interactive museum where each room has kind of like a theme. And they adapted each room to like relate to Wicked in a way. So, like, they have one room that has kind of like a twister in it, like a tornado in it. And so they like did that and they played no good deed in that room and they added like lightning effects to it. And then there's a room that is like, activate your sense of scent and it all smells like roses. And so that was kind of like the Glinda's wedding room. And they had the wedding dress out so you could see, and the whole room kind of smelled like the actual wedding dress. Yeah, so they. I never know if, like when. When they say the costumes, I'm like, is it like. Yeah, is Ariana Grande's costume at the AMC at Lincoln Center? I don't know. It seems to be a lot of places, but it was beautif. And a lot of the rooms were really cool. Especially they have this room that's kind of like Instagram famous where it's like mirrors on all walls and their ceiling and the floor and it's kind of like galaxy looking. And in that room, they turned them into these kind of like hanging gems that looked like hot air balloons. And in that room they were playing wonderful. Then they recreated the broom, the. The double broom for you to sit on and swing. Yeah, it was really cool. All of that was after we watched the Making of For Good documentary, which.

[Quincy]

Is long, like a full length documentary.

[Kevin]

Well, it's like an hour, I would say, which I wish they would have told us we were gonna like sit and watch a movie for an hour because that was a surprise. I thought we were gonna watch like a clip, but it was kind of like the screening we went to for the first movie, like ever, like couches. Everybody was very like, loungy. It was really fun. The documentary itself was so good. I like cried twice watching it because it's it's very much like. It's exactly what people who love the musical are going to want to see behind the scenes. Most importantly, it has the footage of shirtless Jonathan Bailey chopping wood that was cut from the friendship on here. And that is, that is an image I will remember for the rest of my life. It is so hot. I understand why they had to cut it.

[Quincy]

We didn't even get a nipple in. As long as you're mine, the movie.

[Kevin]

Would have become about that. It is so hot.

[Quincy]

Wow.

[Kevin]

And then they also have.

[Quincy]

I should have.

[Kevin]

I'm like now kind of remembering reading the screenplay. They have the shot then of Bach.

[Quincy]

Is he shirtless too?

[Kevin]

Not shirtless, but he's in kind of like a tight like Henley shirt. So it's like kind of like open and he.

[Quincy]

Also hot like his body's insane.

[Kevin]

His body's insane. If I was Jonathan Bailey and or Ethan, I would be so mad that that got cut because the body is so tea like you like he had to have been killing himself. No carbs, no water. He looked like a, like a marvel.

[Quincy]

Did you take a picture of it?

[Kevin]

No. I mean you'll, you'll see it.

[Quincy]

I know, but I want to see it now.

[Kevin]

I'll see. I'll ask around and see if anybody got a picture. It was a really cool event and it, it was really fun. Special thing to kind of like cherry on top. This experience, this two year experience with the movie.

[Quincy]

When does it come out?

[Kevin]

It was really cool. The movie is going to be, you can watch it at home on December 26th. And the DOC, I don't even think the doc is like officially announced yet. I was getting the vibe that maybe it's gonna be like dropped with the like an extra. Yeah, yeah.

[Quincy]

Wow.

[Kevin]

And they're also releasing on the 26th a sing along version of it. And they said there's gonna be like hella bonus like deleted scenes and stuff.

[Quincy]

I hope a deleted scene is that forest scene.

[Kevin]

I hope so. It'll become the most re recorded clip in America. It was insane. Quincy.

[Quincy]

I'm.

[Kevin]

I'm getting hot thinking about it.

[Quincy]

Okay. I saw my first non replica production of Wicked last month.

[Kevin]

So jealous. And what a non replica. You saw this?

[Quincy]

Well, first of all, it was my first like professional theatrical going experience in Madrid which was just kind of cool to see because what's so interesting about Madrid is like they do really have a theater scene or it sounds, it feels like. And from what I've heard they're like, it's it's like, becoming a thing. And it's a little bit being looked at in the way that we view, like, out of town, where it's like, you build your show in Madrid before sending it to London. So that. Because it's, like, cheaper to do it. But they do have, like, a Times Square. It's so funny. I've been to Madrid so many times at this point, and I still. I can't tell you the name of the Times Square area, but it's, like, where all the tourists are, all the stores, and they have all the theaters. And it's like Book of Mormon come from away. Prima Faci is playing. Like it is. It is very commercial. And, like, buses are driving around, and there's like, gypsy and cabaret, and it's like, there's much more of a scene there than I think people realize, and I definitely realize. And so Wicked there is produced by atg, which is a big product prod, theater producer here and theater owner here. But it's an unreplica production at this stunning, stunning theater where they have. So you walk into the theater, it's gorgeous. They have bars in the lobby, but there's also bars on both sides inside of the orchestra, on either side of the orchestra. So, like, you can, like, walk from your seat to a bar. That's the first thing.

[Kevin]

Great experience. You can drink during the show. But it's like.

[Quincy]

Like. And it was so cheap, too. Like, and it was. It's fancy. Like, they sell cocktails and glasses and they sell you popcorn in, like, a wicked, like, fake metal bucket. And it's like. It just feels like much more lush experience. It was all in Spanish, which doesn't matter for me, because, yeah, you know what's happening. I want my boyfriend and my boyfriend's kids. The youngest kid is very wicked pilled because of me. And he isn't also taking Spanish. He's like five. And in the opening scene, he turns to me and he goes, she just said she didn't eat grass as a kid. And I was like, that's pretty good. But also, like, the kids have seen the first movie. We haven't taken them to the second movie yet. And so they know act one. Act two, obviously, is in Spanish, and a lot happens. So during Wonderful, he leaned over and he goes, what's happening? And so I started to live sing Wonderful in English in his ear. Wonderful. What's happening on stage? And then I just started doing that, like, live translation for the rest of Act 2. And I was like, yeah, I know this Book.

[Kevin]

Wow. Could we be the swings at the Gershwin? I feel like yes. I had like what would be an actor nightmare where I like found out I had to go on as like a random ensemble track in Wicked. And I wasn't even nervous in the dream. Like I was literally like, yeah, where's my, my trench coat?

[Quincy]

Yeah, I think we could do it.

[Kevin]

Throw me in.

[Quincy]

I would need like a put in day of and then I could do it. But it was very cool to see a non replica production. The like base set. It's interesting because on the one hand it's like you get so used to what Broadway looks like that you're like this could use an update and then you see something else. And it really actually did make me realize kind of like all of the genius and mechanation that went into how Broadway looks and feels and is staged too. It, it just like all of it flows. And that's not to say this non replica one didn't but it, it did like give me a greater appreciation for the Wicked that we know. That being said, there were a lot of really cool things like when first of all Glinda comes down in a bubble. She's seated in a bubble. Like she has a throne in a bubble and comes down. Which I just kind of felt bad for the actress having to sing that high like seated. But that was a change. And then when Glinda like she had a father and a mother and they do the have another drink, My dog has beauty. It like turns into like almost like a wizomania like theater performance. So they bring up like a fake backdrop and they come out and act out the like history of Elphaba's parents and all the Aussie come and sit at the lip of the stage and look upstage and are like watching the performance of Elphaba's past.

[Kevin]

I love that. That's really cool.

[Quincy]

Yeah, it was interesting. The Elphaba is sick. Her name is Christina Picos. Her voice is insane. I posted her nogadid she should come to Broadway, but she's incredible. Interesting dramaturgical thing that I'm curious your take on. Thank goodness. After Glinda and Fiyarro go and have their little moment like, you don't want this, you want this. Yeah. Fiyero leaves and then Glinda sings. I couldn't be happier. No, because getting your dreams is strange. But it seems alone, like in a supposed like offstage dressing room or something while Madame Morrible is still out there propagandizing the Ozzie and So she's having like an introspective moment, which I do understand the choice. Like when it first happened, I was like, brilliant. As it continued, I was like, I'm not sure it makes dramaturgical or it makes dramaturgical sense. It's not the best dramaturgical choice, I think, because I think having her communicate that to an audience like communicates the presentation versus reality a little bit heavier handed. But it was very cool to see that done as like this intimate moment, moment with herself. It was almost like Girl in the Bubble coded. Like it had that energy. But she was singing the second portion of. Thank goodness.

[Kevin]

Interesting. I mean, I like that as an idea. And I do think that like something I like so much about part two of the movie is it like spells out plainly what is on stage. Something you kind of have to fill in for yourself, which, like, is this like propaganda narrative morphing element. And so I like having that probably present on stage more because she's saying.

[Quincy]

That as Madame Morrible's like slow motion, like talking to the crowd kind of a thing.

[Kevin]

Yeah, I mean, that sounds very cool.

[Quincy]

It was just cool to see like a different choice made in Wicked. Honestly, another thing, the wizard in this production is a flaming homosexual. Not the actor. Although, probably. But like even the costume is just like the most flamboyant thing and it works so much better. To the point at the end I was like, oh, every wizard should just be flaming. Flaming. Flaming. And then I was like, I guess he does have to be off his dad. So that like, is a little. But I was like, we can suspend disbelief for that.

[Kevin]

I feel like there is like a. A genre of middle aged male character actor that is like thopish is a better word than flaming. Like that just like think about what's his name? Who was in Mrs. Doubtfire as the.

[Quincy]

Ron McLare Mark Evan.

[Kevin]

No, no, no, no, no. As the like TV host. And he's always like, ah.

[Quincy]

Oh, like on tv, on. In the movie, the Broadway version.

[Kevin]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Quincy]

Broadway TV host.

[Kevin]

When he goes to the studio and there's the old man doing the TV show.

[Quincy]

Mr. Saki. Yes.

[Kevin]

Someone like him who's just kind of like. Because I'm obsessed with him, I couldn't tell you his name, but I'm upset.

[Quincy]

But okay. What I will flag is the wizard in this production was the like zaddy, flamboyant, gay. Oh, like he was a zaddy in like this like fire, flame coat and like rain, not rainbow, but like very colorful, like Tight, tailored. Like it. He was a zaddy and he was flamboyant.

[Kevin]

I'm wondering if how flamboyant he was and how much of it is you thought he was hot. How much of this are you projecting onto this man?

[Quincy]

Yeah. Have I ever been attracted to a wizard before? I guess not. Now that we think of it.

[Kevin]

You're like, this is great. There's bars on each side side of the orchestra. And there's one more hot character in.

[Quincy]

The show, Javier Ibar. He's not giving.

[Kevin]

Yeah, he's dapper.

[Quincy]

The Mago de Oz. Bruja. That's what they call witches.

[Kevin]

That's such a good. Like, you have to make such an ugly face to say that word.

[Quincy]

What I will say is like, I don't know if anyone has apprehension of seeing an international production of Wicked. If you're this. If you are a listener of this podcast, you're probably fine because you know the show. So it's like. Yeah, like, even as I'm recounting it to you right now, it's all in English in my head. So it wasn't as like jarring of an experience as I thought it was going to be to see it in Spanish. And it makes me want to see more. I really want to see the Brazil production. Yeah, I want to see was great. It was so cheap. It was like theater in Madrid. Check it out. Any other final comments? Oh, the Fiero was really hot too. Oh, Vanessa Rose was so good. Speaking of working with the east. Like, she sang it down and acted it down. It almost felt like a telenovela I was watching because it was like so big. It was amazing.

[Kevin]

I love a choice.

[Quincy]

It was really great. I think it's. It's like funny because there's. It's Wicked is like being treated like a new musical there in the sense where it's like, if it does well, it's gonna like keep running, but if it doesn't, then it's gonna stop. Stop. It's so fascinating. And this is co signed by Schwartz. Schwartz was there like a week before I saw it to see it. It's like an official production. It's just they greenlit it to not be replica.

[Kevin]

Ah, that's crazy.

[Quincy]

I'm so curious how those decisions get made too.

[Kevin]

I'm sure it has a lot to do with money.

[Quincy]

As in it's like cheaper to do a non replica.

[Kevin]

Well, I'm sure they are making money. You know what I mean? Like, I don't think they would mess with the brand of. Because Like, Like Wicked on Broadway and its replicas are so iconic that I would imagine it's a big risk to let other interpretations.

[Quincy]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

Muddy that.

[Quincy]

So that's why I'm like, why do Madrid and Brazil get to do a non replica?

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Quincy]

Like, what about those markets? It's very interesting. Okay, that's the update. Happy New Year. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa.

[Kevin]

Happy 2026.

[Quincy]

Happy 2026. We did it.

[Kevin]

Next stop, the Academy Awards for the girls.

[Quincy]

Fingers crossed. Do you think we'll get another live performance? Remember last year when I was like, do you think we'll get a live performance? And you and Marcia. Marcia, Marcia both, like, jumped at me and we're like, no. Why would that happen?

[Kevin]

I genuinely. I'm glad it happened. I still don't understand why it did, though. Like, I'm. I'm so happy we have that.

[Quincy]

They were nominated for best picture.

[Kevin]

So were five other movies.

[Quincy]

They don't have songs.

[Kevin]

Maybe it would have made. Anyway, I'm happy it happened. I'm happy I was wrong.

[Quincy]

Maybe we'll get no Good deed and. No, we'll probably get Girl in the Bubble and no Place like Home at the Oscars.

[Kevin]

Oh, yeah, we will.

[Quincy]

Yeah. Great to. Great to catch up. Great to talk to you all. See you in the new year split screen. Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

[Kevin]

Because.

[Quincy]

My favorite TikTok was that shot of Ariana on the balcony, like, looking for Alphabet and someone posted on TikTok. We just got to the scene and my mom asked. She's not gonna jump, is she? Okay, bye. You've been listening to Sentimental Man.

[Kevin]

If you enjoyed this episode, let us know by leaving a rating and a review on whatever platform you're using to listen.

[Quincy]

And to be sure you never miss a new episode, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you get your podcasts.

[Kevin]

If you're looking for a way to support the pod, you should join us on Patreon [e-mail] sentmenpod Patreon members get early releases, extended episodes and more exclusive content.

[Quincy]

Special thanks to Julia DeMarzo and Michaela Reynolds for our logo design and key art photography.

[Kevin]

To get in touch, find us on TikTok, Instagram or xentmenpod. Or shoot us an [e-mail] till next.

[Quincy]

Time, I'm quite Quincy.

[Kevin]

And I'm Kevin.

[Alan Seals]

Hey there. I'm Alan Seals, host of the Theater Podcast, a weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes with intimate, personal conversations that include the biggest stars on Broadway, TV and film. My podcast has over 350 episodes with guests including Stephanie J. Block, Kerry Butler, James Monroe Iglehart, Andrew Barth Feldman, Alex Brightman, Patti LuPone, Ramin Karimlou, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and even TV stars like Isaac Bisw, Rahi, Ariana Maddox, Michael Urie, Eddie Izzard, and literally so, so many more. My guests have spilled secrets, told coming out stories, discussed their fears and successes, and even had huge epiphanies live in the episodes. So you're bound to hear some things from my guests that you've never heard anywhere else. I've also got many deep dive takeovers on the podcast, which are consecutive episodes dedicated to cast and creatives from a single show like the Outsiders, Back to the Future and Juliet wicked, Beetlejuice, Hadestown, Frozen 6. I could go on. Can you tell I like theater? I've definitely got something you're gonna enjoy, so go ahead, search for your favorite star and listen to their episode. You can find all the info about the podcast at BPN FMTP on the Broadway Podcast Network or anywhere podcasts are found. If you need that link again, it's BPN fmtp. Take a deep breath.

[Quincy]

Make the world a little colorful.