PEOPLE’s ‘Depraved’ Particular Version Goes Behind the Scenes of the Film (Unique)

There’s no have to go someplace over the rainbow to get all the news on Depraved, the extremely anticipated film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. PEOPLE’s particular version, which matches behind the scenes of the eye-popping spectacle starring Ariana Grande, 31, and Cynthia Erivo, 37, is on the market proper right here beginning Friday, Nov. 1.

Depraved tells the emotional origin story of the Depraved Witch of the West, the villain from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 youngsters’s e-book The Fantastic Wizard of Oz and the long-lasting 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

However earlier than the Depraved Witch was feared all throughout the land of Oz, she was merely Elphaba Thropp, a reserved and misunderstood younger lady who occurred to be born with inexperienced pores and skin and particular powers. At Shiz College, she meets fellow scholar Glinda, a bubbly (and sure, widespread) aspiring sorceress (and future Good Witch).

Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) turn out to be roommates, after which unlikely mates — till exterior forces come between them and check their bond.

The solid and creators of the film (Half 1 hits theaters Nov. 22, Half 2 is available in 2025) take PEOPLE inside the frilly manufacturing. Learn on for some set secrets and techniques from the particular concern — which additionally options interviews, photographs and an oral historical past of the unique Broadway present.

Grande hid sweet in her costume

As Glinda, the pop star wore many pink costumes harking back to cotton sweet — and in keeping with costar Michelle Yeoh, Grande’s outfits typically hid candy treats, too. 

“She’ll be consuming, like, sweet, and abruptly she’ll stuff it down her corset. We’re like, ‘What the heck?’ She goes, ‘By the tip of the day after I open my corset, all these items fall off!’” says Yeoh, who performs Shiz College headmistress Madam Morrible.

Erivo and Grande supplied baked items — and Uggs!

Newcomer Marissa Bode, who performs Elphaba’s youthful sister Nessarose, remembers acts of kindness from each Erivo and Grande. Bode says Erivo introduced home-baked cookies to set, and made vegan and gluten-free varieties “simply in case” any individual had dietary wants. “[It] was so candy that she’s considerate,” Bode tells PEOPLE.

The actress additionally remembers complimenting Grande on her Ugg boots. “I used to be like, ‘Oh my God. I all the time admire them, however I haven’t got a pair or something.’ Simply casually. After which the following day she actually had purchased me a pair of those black glitter Uggs,” says Bode. “Who does that? That is so type.”

Between takes, the solid sang songs — from different musicals

When director John M. Chu yelled minimize, Bowen Yang, 33, and Bronwyn James (who star as Pfannee and ShenShen, respectively, Glinda’s snide sidekicks) carried out tunes from Lease and Subsequent to Regular, with Grande and Erivo becoming a member of in. “Cynthia needed to be extremely aloof and reserved and within the demeanor of Elphaba. So it was refreshing to see her let unfastened in between takes,” remembers Yang.

Grande and Jeff Goldblum, who performs the Wizard of Ozhimself, broke out in songs from the musical Soiled Rotten Scoundrels. “We sang it collectively, after which she did it once more on my telephone. Oh my God in heaven — it was music, music, music,” says Goldblum, 72.

Michelle Yeoh was scared to sing

By her personal admission, the Oscar-winning Every little thing All over the place All at As soon as actress, 62, shouldn’t be a pure belter. “I really like singing. However usually it’s within the bathe, not when there’s different folks round,” she says. However she’d want to hold a tune to be able to play Madam Morrible, so she labored with a vocal coach earlier than heading to set. “I used to be hitting notes that I by no means thought that I’d attempt,” she says.

Nonetheless, efficiency nervousness was ever-present at first. “I might see a little bit concern in her eyes, for certain,” remembers Chu. However Yeoh says Chu and Erivo put her comfy. “Most of my singing elements are with Cynthia. She stated, ‘Simply sing it out, lady. I can hear you singing. Simply come out with it.’ So that they made me snug.”

Farmers planted 9 million tulip bulbs to create Oz

One may anticipate a big-budget film like Depraved to go all in on CGI for its results. However director Chu and manufacturing designer Nathan Crowley needed a sensible really feel for the land of Oz. “Individuals wish to contact stuff,” says Crowley. To that finish, he employed farmers to plant 9 million — sure, you learn that accurately — tulip bulbs on the soundstages in London and the Norfolk countryside.

Grande and Erivo influenced the set design

The leads of the film didn’t simply present up and say their traces. Crowley picked the celebs’ brains about Elphaba and Glinda, which helped him inform his choices in regards to the set. Says Crowley, “There have been many, many conversations with the actresses to see how they see their characters and the way the props relate to that character.”

Purchase PEOPLE’s Depraved particular version right here.