Jon M. Chu who is about to convey one of many greatest Broadway productions to the large display whereas increasing L. Frank Baum’s universe displays on the societal shifts brought on by the diversifications of Oz. The Depraved director admitted that the Yellow Brick Highway — referring to one of many hit melodies from Oz — is the highway they’ve been touring ever since Baum launched The Fantastic Wizard of Ouncesin 1900.
Its 1939 adaptation The Wizard of Ouncesstarring Judy Garland, grew to become a masterpiece and an iconography for follow-up motion pictures. “The Wizard of Ounceswas at all times kind of prophetic in a means. It was written at a time of America in transition,” Chu informed NBC Information. In accordance with him. in that period, the Nice Despair had simply run its course and folks have been about to go to warfare.
In the meantime, there have been questions on what the American dream would seem like “when the highway ends and what are the probabilities of the following factor,” he stated explaining the context of Wizard of Ouncess launch bringing a transition.
In accordance with Chu, the nation went by means of one other transition in 2003, when the Tony-winning Broadway musical Depraved debuted. “When Depraved got here round, it was a re-examination of that,” he claimed. “That was proper after 9/11 and about to enter warfare. So one other time the place America is in transition,” he defined.
As for the much-awaited Depraved musical that includes Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in main roles, it is going to be launched in Donald Trump’s presidential re-election period, one other essential time for the States. “That is the highway we journey,” he stated. Chu defined how in actual life there’s no “yellow brick highway” or wizards or different magical parts.
Being uncomfortable, possibly yelling at one another somewhat bit, forgiving one another, having some grace for one another is the one means out,” he added. Chu recalled that the musical got here to him in the course of the 2019 Pandemic which immediately made him join the dots in historic context. “I felt like, wow, this factor is so prophetic,” he stated.