This is actually kind of a nice change of pace for me. My US Government kids are watching "Hamilton" right now. 4 classes In. A. Row. I mean, I love it and all, but...that's a LOT. #hatm
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This is actually kind of a nice change of pace for me. My US Government kids are watching "Hamilton" right now. 4 classes In. A. Row. I mean, I love it and all, but...that's a LOT. #hatm
Kristen Kobes Du Mez would agree. "Jesus and John Wayne" is a fabulous book. #hatm
Meet my viewing companion this evening. Her name is River and she's 3 weeks old today. I rescued her and her sister from a friend's backyard. I had to separate them because of inappropriate sucking, and she's had 2 butt baths today. It's obviously a terrible awful life. #hatm
I actually mostly hate Westerns. #hatm
1. The Worst Hard Time about the Dust Bowl. 2. All the movies I want aren't available to stream, but the MINUTE "Paradise Now" is available again, I'm storming the castle. 3. I grilled a bunch of chicken tonight. Plenty to eat the rest of the week now too. #hatm
This is Jessica Vosk talking about the "No Fly" #hatm youtu.be/ICgq7AJJNMU?...
Cherry picker encased in black fabric. When it doesn't work, it's a "no fly" show. The stories of those are just legendary. #hatm
She was singing Idina's battle cry at the end to start, but Stephen Schwartz told her to make it her own. She just NAILED. IT. #hatm
#hatm
And now, the trailer for "Wicked: For Good": youtu.be/f-cpHU0LSbQ?...
All of these extra "Unlimiteds" to give us a look at what everyone else is doing when they hear that Elphaba is "wicked." #hatm
Elphaba's hero origin moment.... #hatm
Defying Gravity just hits different when it's being sung (to perfection, BTDubs) by a Black woman. #hatm
This message from Morrible....How crushing for Elphaba. #hatm
Really? The pacing is pretty similar on Defying Gravity between stage and d screen. #hatm
"Give me my leg!" This improv line brought to you by Ariana Grande who insisted it be in the movie because she made Cynthia break when she said it. #hatm
"You have no real power!" Such a betrayal for Elphaba. #hatm
Michelle Yeoh played Morrible as a supportive mentor...right up until the gloves came off and she revealed herself as a villain. So. Good. #hatm
I'll be doing a podcast on that scene when the time comes.... #hatm
It's in Act II. #hatm
"The Wizard will see you now!" Excluded from the first script which caused Ariana to riot, and finally voiced by Stephen Schwartz. #hatm
I really like the "passing the torch" element of Idina and Kristin's cameos. Also, the woman who says "He can read it! He must be a wizard." is Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the musical and the script for the movie. #hatm
Apparently, Cynthia and Ariana DEMANDED these cameos. #hatm
Cameo alert!! INCOMING! #hatm
Even the title is spoilery. #hatm
Her "I'm Here" is DIVINE!! #hatm
That train is real, too. No CGI there. #hatm
It HAS to be in the movie. Nessa's character arc isn't complete without it. But the song was deemed too spoilery to put on the cast recording. #hatm
Nope. It's in Act II. I hear it will be on the soundtrack, though it's not on the cast recording. #hatm
My cats are so pissed right now. It's dinner time, but I'm letting them starve to watch Wicked. All seve of them are in the living room, staring at me. Joey's about to prove that, like Elphaba, he does cause commotions; he is one. #hatm
Two of my favorite lines are in this scene: "I don't cause commotions; I am one." "Excuse me. There is no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow." #hatm
But then cub in the bike basket and Toto in the bike basket.... #hatm
There's one line from this scene that was deleted and it irritates me more than any of the other lines that were omitted: when Professor Nikidik says (on stage), "All around us one hears the silence of progress." #hatm
Stephen Schwartz has said he would like to see thos extended "Popular" ending make its way to Broadway. #hatm
I'm curious. How are they different for you? #hatm
"Froat" was an Ariana Grande improv. #hatm
When I saw Wicked in San Antonio in...2008 (maybe??), Elphie and Galinda gave each other the giggles during "Popular." The orchestra had to riff for, like, two or three minutes while they got it together. It was great! #hatm
"That might be your secret, Elphaba, but that doesn't make it true." That was likely the first time anyone told Elphaba that. #hatm
The queer coding is REAL. #hatm
The tear and Ariana's "It's okay" slay me every time. #hatm
But then we don't get the wave. #hatm
On stage, this scene plays for laughs. It almost has to to be legible to folks in the balcony. The raw emotion and vulnerability here make this scene so much better and more impactful. #hatm
Oh boy....Everyone get out the tissues. #hatm
"In my personal opinion, you do not have what it takes. I hope you prove me wrong; I doubt you will." 🤣🤣 #hatm
Right before this scene with Morrible, the cast had a big party to celebrate Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win. #hatm
So...Animals are good enough to entertain at the Ozdust Ballroom, but not attend as patrons. Giving BIG pre-Civil Rights era America vibes. #hatm
Galinda mispronounces it as "Biq." #hatm
Ariana's delivery on "I'd give it away, but I don't hate anyone that much" gives me So. Much. Kristin Chenoweth. #hatm
Also...all sorts of foreshadowing in "Dancing Through Life" about all of the friends of Dorothy to come later.... #hatm
The Ozdust Ballroom is the biggest (and best) change from the stage show. It GUTTED me the first time I saw it. #hatm
Jonny Bailey was filing this, Bridgerton, and Fellow Travelers at the same time. He basically learned all of this choreography on planes between sets. #hatm
The book place. Rare books and so e medium rare. It's so damn good. So...the tornado wheel, as they call it, was practical. And cost a fortune, apparently, in insurance since one wrong move could seriously injure a dancer. #hatm
That horse is the same horse Jonathan Bailey used in "Bridgerton." His request. #hatm
I think this scene does "Something Bad" way more justice than in the musical. It helps--again--flesh out the Animal storyline. #hatm
Caissie Levy, who played the mother, is a former Elphaba. #hatm
He's just So. Charming. #hatm
Eh. I think here, she's young and impressionable. #hatm
That is Peter Dinklage, by the way, voicing Dr. Dillamond. #hatm
Almost, but not yet. #hatm
I love the added foreshadowing of Galinda and Elphaba fencing during "What is This Feeling?" Fallen house scene, anyone? #hatm
She goes on quite a journey here. I love the redemption angle of it--especially once we get to the Ozdust Ballroom. #hatm
She started at the lowest part of Shiz and ascended. It wasn't accidental. #hatm
So. Good. The West End revival was on PBS not long ago. #hatm
The two guys who host the "Sentimental Men" podcast ask every Elphaba they interview if they are a Wizard and I, Defying Gravity, or No Good Deed Elphaba. Most of them can't stand The Wizard and I. Who wants an 11 o'clock number 5 minutes into your performance? #hatm
It also keeps Elphaba blind to Morrible's real motives. #hatm
Nah...His lines are fantastic. And almost all improvs. #hatm
This part was what she was most nervous about: having to sing with Cynthia and Ariana. #hatm
Winnie Holzman does know how to turn a phrase in this. #hatm
Marissa Bode did that stunt herself, BTW. Bad ass. #hatm
Michelle Yeoh is such a fantastic Madame Morrible. #hatm
Dear Old Shiz is. #hatm
Yeah. This is much more a representation of the musical. Also, Jon M. Chu insisted that everything on set be accessible for Marissa Bode who plays Nessa...including her trailer. #hatm
I live that this scene took a throwaway song meant to allow Galinda a costume change on stage and really helped provide more depth to these characters. #hatm
The Animals are all, obviously CGI, but I LOVE the practical sets. #hatm
The Shiz University set was also practical, not CGI. #hatm
I took a friend to see the movie. She was shocked that a Black actress had never played Elphaba full time (until Lencia Kebede, who is in the role now). #hatm
Not really. There are a lot of plot points that get more fleshed out here (like this childhood memory). Also, Elphaba's dad is an asshole. #hatm
First big departure from the musical: on stage, the midwife is an antelope. Dulcibear is a new addition, as is the extended look into Elphaba's childhood (with powers that are not shown on stage). #hatm
It isn't even true here. Ariana Grande does a fantastic job of conveying Glinda's mixed feelings during this scene. #hatm
All of this first scene (the tulips and Munchkinland) is practical. No CGI (except Glinda's bubble). They planted 9 million tulips for that opening shot. #hatm
Mystery #1 of the evening: who's on the horse? #hatm
No! I HATE Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals. #hatm
The two tattoos in question. The first one is a memorial tattoo for Fiyero, my grumpy old man cat who died in February. The lyrics along the side are from "For Good:" ...like a handprint on my heart... The 2nd one I got in 2007(ish??) because I am Elphaba. #hatm
Eww....Phantom? Really? #hatm
LOTS of folks haven't seen the musical. Hence, the question. #hatm
1) I have two "Wicked" related tattoos. What do you think? 2) Pork tenderloin and broccoli cauliflower salad. #hatm
Hey, "Wicked" superfans who have seen the musical....How are we feeling about spoilers for Act II/"Wicked: For Good" during #hatm tonight? I know we'll probably have some folks who aren't familiar with the whole story. My plan is to simply say something is a setup for Act II and leave it at that.
Man...we should watch my favorite musical EVERY Sunday for #hatm. I have been massively productive today to I can enjoy tonight and still be ready to go to work tomorrow. "Wicked" really is witchcraft!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUDG...
Hey, #HATM friends...If you need something to tide you over before tomorrow night's "Wicked" extravaganza, here are the links to the Sentimental Men podcasts with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from last fall during the press tour for the first movie. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rzc...
Two words: Ozdust Ballroom. #hatm
I can tell you and I are going to be So. Hype. for this. I love it.
Are you serious?!? How much do I love you right now, @herberthistory.bsky.social? #hatm
Hey, #hatm fam--Sorry I can't join you tonight, but there's the small matter of my Thunder in game 7 of the NBA Finals, so....
He is the orangest damn orange cat--except he doesn't share the one orange brain cell; he hoards brain cells to plot world domination. But he is also the snuggliest little devil. I've had him since he was 3 weeks old. #hatm
This is what passes (pretty easily, mind you) for bonkers in my house. That's Cheeto. And that's a Brand. New. Loaf of bread. He absconded with it from the fridge while I was putting groceries away and took it to my bedroom on the other side of the house. F-ing Cheeto. #hatm
As a cat named Loki should be....Wishy is predictable, and I laugh at her all the time because her hisses don't scare me. Like, at all. #hatm
Wishy B will let me pet her, but usually only when she's on the bed. And after hissing at me a couple of times. And I can't pick her up without bloodshed...mine; not hers. Getting her to the vet is an adventure. But she my girl and I love her. #hatm
I used to volunteer with a neonatal kitten rescue. We themed the names of litters. Some habits are hard to break. Funshine is the siamese, and Wishy B is the tuxedo (Mama obviously got around). Wishy B's still a *little* bit feral. #hatm
I also have his sister, Wish Bear. Cheer Bear and Friend Bear went to rescue when they were tiny little Care Bears. #hatm