Jon M.Chu Visits London Cast Of Wicked

Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good, the epic conclusion to the global cinematic sensation, arrives in UK cinemas 21 November

The worlds of stage and screen united at the Apollo Victoria Theatre this weekend when Jon M. Chu, the lauded director of Universal Pictures’ global cinematic sensation, Wicked, and this year’s epic conclusion, Wicked: For Good, stepped on stage to meet the London company of the musical phenomenon in a unique celebration of two mediums telling one story.

The special meeting took place in the West End, where the iconic stage musical, which tells the incredible untold story of the witches of Oz, has recently celebrated its 19th anniversary in its London home. Wicked has been seen by more than 13 million people and has played nearly 7,500 performances in the capital alone. “One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), Wicked, winner of over 100 global awards, opened in London in 2006 and is already the 10th longest-running West End production in history.

Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and Emmy and Tony-nominated book writer Winnie Holzman have collaborated on Universal Pictures’ two-film adaptation of the musical, directed by Jon M. Chu and produced by the show’s creators: Tony and Emmy-winning powerhouse Marc Platt and multiple Tony Award-winner David Stone. Starring Academy Award-nominee Cynthia Erivo and Academy Award-nominee Ariana Grande, the first film, Wicked, opened in November 2024 and became the highest-grossing Broadway film adaptation in history, earning 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Wicked: For Good will be released in the UK on November 21, 2025.

Jon M. Chu joined the company on stage ahead of a performance, and the moment highlighted the powerful connection between the original stage musical and its film adaptations. Here, he was presented with a special gift, a 3D printed mini replica of the iconic Oz head, created by Wicked’s West End Head of Lighting, Paul Turner.

Jon M. Chu said of the visit: “When we first started the movie, the first place that I brought our heads of departments was in this theatre, so it’s great to be back to meet the whole company.  I’ve never stepped onto the stage of a Wicked stage production before… It’s stunning, it feels like I’m in the movie, and of course, you see the time dragon clock! To be part of the Wicked family is the dream of a lifetime. Now you get to check out the movie, and check out the show, what a dream.”

The London company currently stars Emma Kingston (Elphaba), Zizi Strallen (Glinda), Carl Man (Fiyero), Sarah Ingram (Madame Morrible), Michael Matus (The Wizard), Ross Carpenter (Boq), David McKechnie (Doctor Dillamond), Hannah Qureshi (Nessarose), and Laura Emmitt (Alternate Elphaba), Lydia Gerrard (Standby for Glinda), Iroy Abesamis, Zac Adlam, Steph Asamoah, Meg Astin, Rebecca Bowden, Shaun Chambers, Erin Gisele Chapman, Grace Durkin, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Aaron Elijah, Emily Goodenough, Aimee Hodnett, Nat Ingham, Holly Lawrence, Jemima Loddy, Josh Lovell, Rory Maguire, PaddyJoe Martin, JoJo Meredith, Ayden Morgan, Rina Punwani, Abbie Quinnen, Jemma Revell, Jeanie Ryan, Charlotte Anne Steen, Chris Tarsey, Hannah Taylor, James Titchener and Jacob Young. Please click HERE for company biogs. 

The celebrated stage musical imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Wicked reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming ‘Glinda The Good’ and the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi-Oscar® and Grammy® Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted). It is based on the multimillion-copy best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy® and Tony Award® nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series ‘My So-Called Life’). Musical staging is by Tony Award® winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello.

Performances continue Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm, and Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2.30pm. The following nineteen added shows are also on sale: Thursday 30 October 2:30pm, Friday 19 December 2:30pm, and Monday 22 December 7:30pm, Tuesday 23 December 2:30pm, Monday 29 December 2:30pm & 7:30 pm, Tuesday 30 December 2.30pm 2025 and Friday 2 January 2:30pm, Thursday 19 February 2:30pm, Thursday 2 April 2:30pm, Thursday 6 August 2:30pm, Thursday 20 August 2:30pm, Thursday 29 October 2:30pm, Friday 18 December 2:30pm, Monday 21 December 7:30pm, Tuesday 22 December 2:30pm, Sunday 27 December 7:30pm, Monday 28 December 7:30pm and Tuesday 29 December 2:30pm 2026.

The stage musical Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.

All photos by Matt Crockett

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk 

Education programme: www.WickedActiveLearning.co.uk

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