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How to Defy GravityHaven't seen this posted. There is a video showing how Elphaba does her flying bit. This is from the Chicago show.http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_156222934.html Interesting, I thought she was lifted by wires but it's actually a platform with the lifting device behind her. If she's not locked in, the machine won't lift her. If that happened during the show, would she just stand there and sing? |
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| broadwaybaby124 |
ooh! thats interesting!
i'm going to see the show on sunday and i was planning on trying to figure out how it was done; now i don't have to! thanks 
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| swmustang878 |
I found this a while back before I saw Wicked and i thought it was so cool! Thanks for posting it so everyone can see it! It's interesting stuff.
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| what_the_heck013 |
I saw production of the Wizard of Oz, which wasn't exactly the wizard of oz because they added a bunch of songs from Wicked. Anyways, they used a similar effect--except not computerized. | ||||||
| BroadwayGreenBean |
Oh that's sooo cool! What an amazing effect it makes on stage. Pulling something like that off on stage is incredible. You can't even tell she's on a plateform. She really looks like she's flying:D | ||||||
| what_the_heck013 |
I hate to break it to you... but it's not that amazing. It just looks like she's wearing an oversized skirt. |
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| swmustang878 |
I agree with BroadwayGreenBean because it's a NEW technique. Maybe not so incredible how they do it but they do a good job of hiding it. You can't even tell that the skirt is oversized.
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| DramaRobin2002 |
To me, it always looks like her cape is super long and billowing out below her. Anyway, it must be somewhat amazing if so many people are amazed by it. Most of the people in my life who have seen the show were absolutely in awe and had no idea how the effect was pulled off. |
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| BroadwayBud |
Thanks for finding that clip! That was really interesting! | ||||||
| GlamorousGriz |
Yep. The cape. |
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| ShadowInTheWings |
I've never seen Wicked, but that looked so cool. I kinda want to see it now. | ||||||
| LesWickedPhantom |
her flying is probably the most remotely entertaining thing that happens in act 1. it bothered me after a few seconds though, because the broom is what is supposed to be what's supporting her, and yet she's flinging it side to side and whatnot. minor detail though... whatev. |
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| Jesus |
Seeing as some sections of the audience can plainly see the cherry picker supporting her it really isn't a very well exectuted effect. Especially if the actress decides not to enhance it with their bodies while being lifted. Idina did, and Stepanie J Block did. I haven't seen any others even attempt to.
J |
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| Chelsey |
I love that video. I'm really glad you posted it. It's really interesting and you've gotta love the J. Block.
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| robbie |
Just my thoughtsI saw it in St. Louis and I knew she was going to fly, but didn't know when or how. I remember during the song the broom came floating in and my friend looked at each other saying there was no way she was going to get on that broom and fly. We both do theater and that is almost impossible. But then we saw her go behind the column thing and then she yells It's MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Then she took off and I was so focused on figuring it out I didn't really pay attention to the song. Anyway we decided she had to get go behind and lock her feet into straps then a hydrolic pole came out the floor. That's what we thought, becuase we knew it wasn't a fly harness. That would also explain the long dress, but that would be scary and hard to keep their balance. But, how SJB did it was she held up the broom while going up so it was like the broom was pulling her up, but then once there she just kinda stood there holding it and belting. At the end though she did kinda make it seem like the broom had her up. Great show though! I hope it is released for performance rights soon. I'm sure my community theatre would do it. |
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| Etoile |
Ohhh, I see. That just ruined the whole thing for me. Just kidding...at least now I know why her skirt gets so long. | ||||||
| BroadwayGreenBean |
The cape is suppose to be super long. It's giving the effect that she's finally standing up and taking control. It's the top of the show, so they need to make it powering. That's one reason the caps is super long, to show she's become the Wicked Witch of the West. I think it's truely amazing. I guess it all depends on the person, you might like it, you might not. I know though for myself, it's completely amazing. Like swmustang878 said, it's a new technique and what they've done it's brilliant;) | ||||||
| what_the_heck013 |
Why can't they just put her on flying wires? Does this make it easier to sing/scream? | ||||||
| DramaRobin2002 |
I'm guessing this way is just safer because of the very short amount of time she has to get hooked in. Since all she has to do is go straight up, why bother with wires. | ||||||
| Chelsey |
Plus, can you imagine what it would look like if Elphaba started belting out the last part of Defying Gravity and then all of a sudden she starts to spin and during, "as someone told me lately everyone deserves the chance to fly," her back was towards you and then she got tangled up in her really long cape? That would be hilarious! 
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| broadwayprincess |
wow!... i excpected her to be lifted from the celling!  wow! im amazed! lol! thats for the video  xxx
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| SCurran07 |
well, that was extremely interesting. I knew that they had a platform and a long black fabric to hide the pole (read so in my Grimmeries), but to actually see it done was nice. Thank you fo rposting this, I enjoyed it very much. 
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| Wicked Fan |
Thanks for the video!!!! I saw Wicked in Boston on April 19th. Julia Murney was INCREDIBLE!!!!!! I was in shock of what just happened (he going up in the air combined w/her vocals) that I had absolutely no idea how she did it.
I was lucky enough to see it again in early May thanks to the Wicked Lottery. This time it was performed by the Standby Elphie. So during 'Defying Gravity' Elphaba went back like the video showed. She sang, 'It's Meeeeee, so If you care to find me..." she still hadn't gone up yet. All of a sudden she ran to the front of the stage and performed the rest of the song there. Still amazing, but I must say a little dissapointed. I figured that it was probably because she wasn't hooked on or something. Now I know that it was probably because she wasn't locked in so the computer wouldn't let her go up. |
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| Pounce |
No, thank you! You just answered my first question. I wondered what Elphaba had to do if there was a malfunction and the machine wouldn't raise her. But that would suck for the audience. It was kinda fun to see her rise high above the stage with the spotlights on her and the guards charge out from under her. The lighting changes at the end to show her suspended in mid-air but I still couldn't see how she was held up. |
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| happyguava |
Wow, that's so cool! I assumed it would be cables or something, but I really like that idea. It looks like fun, I want to have a go!
I so badly want to go and see this show!! |
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| DramaRobin2002 |
I think I remember hearing about a malfunction once when Shoshana Bean was Elphaba. When the, "And nobody in all of Oz, no Wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down." part came up, she slowly started to descend back to the stage. |
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| imournthewicked2 |
WowThat is really cool that they can do things like that nowadays. Imagine them trying to do that when musical theatre had just started. They'd probably have to have someone cranking the platform up.
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| Luvz2sing247 |
That is realy interesting. I thought she would be lifted from the top, not the bottom. its a good illusion. My town's highschool put on Camelot last year, and one of the pixies looks like she's floating from the ceiling, but you don't se how she got there. i thought she was on a wire, but she was acually standing on a ladder. | ||||||
| likearose87 |
I saw Wicked for the 1st time yesterday, and the same thing happened, Idina couldn't hook herself in, in time, so she just ran to the front of stage and knocked down the guards with her broom and carried on. She pulled it off excellently, but I was a bit disappointed I didn't get to see it | ||||||
| DramaRobin2002 |
That does suck. It is still previews in London though, so they are probably still working out all those pesky technical issues. They were working on them in the Broadway production even after the show officially opened. In fact, I've heard of glitches still occuring- especially with the beds for Popular. | ||||||
| broadwayprincess |
love it! xx
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| Luc |
I could see how it could DEFINITELY be disappointing, but it's still kind of cool. |
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| broadwayprincess |
Do you think this will be sorted by saturday? Becasue thats when I'm going to see Wicked and I would like to see Idina - Defying gravity xx
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| DramaRob |
How do you think the effect could be achieved for an amateur show?? I know the rights aren't out yet, but I'm sure when they do we will do the show, since 'Oz' was such a success and we have the talent. Do you think you could just build a similar platform then raise her on the fly system or would that be too dangerous? Let's come up with ideas! | ||||||
| likearose87 |
Yeah, the show was amazing still! Hoping to go see it again before Idina finishes, and hopefully it'll work then
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| jo132000 |
Ah i was lucky then, when i saw it on the weds matinee (13th sept) it was working just fine, when i said to my friend 'Oh i know how they do that..' she went to me and smiled and went ' so do I she did the spell..' made me laugh, cause she was like I don't want to know...do not spoil it for me! | ||||||
| DramaRob |
Yeah when we went to see it at St. Louis me and a friend knew how everything worked for the most part, being in theatre. Our other friend wanted to know about some of the stuff and the surprises, but not all. But after Defy was done we all look at each other and said, Holy Sh*t! How'd they do that. I thought a pole came up from under the floor, but we eliminated that and knew it wasn't a fly harness. So then I looked when we got back and found out how it was done. |
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| BroadwayBailey |
That's amazing! I saw Wicked in Dallas last year, and thought it was harnessed...but now that's cleared up. It still doesn't take the magic out of it though! | ||||||
| Boq the great! |
If you buy or look in Wicked:The Grimmerie then it tells you and you will see how it is done. Very coool though!!! | ||||||
| Misto |
It's not worked in London at least twice, possibly more. | ||||||
| SapphireNight |
Ive heard about that happening. Must be quite annoying and embarrasing for all involved. | ||||||
| nickhutson |
Yes - I was at the fateful early Saturday matinee where she didn't manage to fly. I didn't mind as I had seen it in Chicago previously, but I was with a friend who had not seen it - and I felt sorry for him for him not being able to witness it. I told Stephen S a few days later it had not happened, and he just looked pretty scared, and said "That's....not....good".
I've heard a lot of people be upset about the effects in Wicked because she "doesn't fly". Also - people find this effect to be pretty weak and stuck in the 1980s. I like it because it doesn't over-do it; and it doesn't make you so jaw struck that you can still pay attention to the drama that's folding out in front of you. The broom effect in NY is meant to be the weakest of them all - which is sad. It's lovely in London and in Chicago - really flys and is not just held up by a stage hand. I heard original effects for the show were to be much bigger - flying dragons, flying houses, flying this...flying that. They obviously toned it down a lot! |
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| TR_Wolf |
Yeah but London cover for it nicely. As soon as they become aware that the lift wont be happening, the floor spotlamp, fans and mist are turned on (from No Good Deed) and Elphie runs down the middle of the stage, the trucks move away sideways as usual, the guards fall away, and she runs onto the spotlight, broom in hand, and simply continues "so if you care to find me...". Apparantly some of the people who were at the no-fly shows didnt notice a problem because of the compensation, and still enjoyed it. |
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| katethegreat |
Just think about it....flying wires would more than likely involve a harness - right around every part of you that you need to belt that top E. So yeah, I reckon it makes it easier!  Someone else said something about wires swinging and capes getting twisted etc - theres another reason! I think it also makes it more steady, like she really has control over what she's doing - as with what she's singing.
I think there's a similar locking/computer thing for Glinda and her 'bubble' cos when I went to see it I swear I saw Helen Dallimore needing a bit of help to get into it at one point |
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| Luc |
^On Broadway, just as Glinda was stepping off of the bubble, I saw a little hand pop up and unhook her. So, Glinda is attached to a wire while she's standing in her bubble. | ||||||
| nickhutson |
All for safety reasons. There is always someone who hooks her in. I wouldn't want to be flying around in a pendulam with no harness - I could easily lean forward and come smack down and land in a trombone.
I was thinking yesterday when I saw the show .... I've seen this Elphaba effect before...and it sprang to my mind! The exact same thing was in the original London show of Joseph - way back in 1992 or whenever it was. At the end - he stands on a lift thing - it lifts him up, and his coat is extended beyond it! Interesting! Still a great effect. Makes a chance from whizzing around on wires. My favourite effect in the show is the broom effect...3 times now...it's still makes me smile! Shame the BWay one is so poor.... |
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| katethegreat |
I'd want to be attached somehow! You can kinda see Glinda moving on and off her bubble - not one for you if have a fear of heights I think! |
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| glindaxglamour |
About the Glinda/bubble thing: When I saw it yesterday at the end a flying monkey went behind her and secured her in. It made it look like Glinda had wings for a moment....I thought it was funny
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| wicked_boy |
BTW, Glinda just wears a simple harness like pants sort of thing, not a full body harness that would be used if you were flying without the bubble and in mid-air, if you know what I mean. |
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| WickedElphie5808 |
I found a different video on how the Elphaba's defy gravity. WATCH IT!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZwGJpMRcq9M |
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| TR_Wolf |
How is that different? Thats the same video clip.
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