Every Easter Egg in Wicked: Part 1

All the Easter Eggs in Wicked Part One

Welcome to MsMojo, and today, we’re pulling back the emerald curtain on the most impressive easter eggs, throwbacks, and other small details you may or may not have spotted in “Wicked: Part One.” If you haven’t seen the film or the stage show, we wouldn’t want to devastrate you with spoilers, so this is your warning!

#20: Shiz’ Library Books

Shortly after Fiyero arrives at Shiz, Galinda takes him on a campus tour, including a stop at “the book place” — that’s library to the rest of us. If, like many of us, you were too busy wincing at Fiyero’s gross mistreatment of the books or swooning at his every word, you may have missed the level of detail the props team put into making this library look real. As director Jon M. Chu shared, those are actually real books Fiyero’s dancing across. Indeed, if you were to pause on practically any book in this scene, you’d get an idea of the kinds of classes taught at Shiz. Justice for the books—they deserve bookmarks, not boot marks!

#19: Serving a Storm

Madame Morrible is a powerful sorcerer with a very particular specialty. Costume designer Paul Tazewell leaned into this with outfits that nod to astronomy, reflecting her control over the elements. But it’s Morrible’s hair that’s especially telling. Designed by Frances Hannon, her hairstyle is meant to resemble a cloud, with “tails as if the wind had whipped through them.” Hannon also hints that Morrible’s hair plays a bigger role as her character evolves. Without giving too much away, let’s just say you’ll want to keep an eye out for a “wilder” look as the winds of change blow her story in a new direction in Part Two.

#18: Ama Clutch in the East Dormitory

As you probably know, “Wicked” is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” While the musical takes plenty of liberties with its source material, the film still pays tribute to the book. For instance, it includes Galinda's friends Pfannee and Shenshen, although Pfannee is gender-swapped in the movie. However, a more subtle nod appears in the scene where Shiz’s incoming students get their room assignments. If you look under Galinda’s name, you'll spot Ama Clutch. In the book, she’s Galinda’s chaperone, but after she has an accident and needs medical care, Galinda ends up rooming with Elphaba, who is also without chaperone.

#17: “Just a Slight Gulch!”

Headshiztress, Miss Coddle, is honored to welcome Governor Thropp’s daughter to the university, well, just the one, it seems. Upon meeting Elphaba, she worries that there’s been an oversight or, as she puts it, “Just a slight Gulch.” Gulch? What’s a Gulch, you might ask. Or, if you’re a “Wizard of Oz” superfan, you may have picked up on the fact that this is a nod to one Almira Gulch. You know, that awful woman who uses her wealth and power to exact petty revenge on teenagers—and their little dogs, too? This isn’t the only way Miss Gulch is referenced in the movie, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

#16: Stripey Socks

We will, of course, get to some of the iconic footwear later on, but we just need a moment to talk about Nessarose’s socks first. You’ll notice that she tends to opt for a stripey design. Not to bring the tone down too much, but you may recall that one of the first (and pretty much only) things we see of the Wicked Witch of the East in “The Wizard of Oz” is a stripey pair of stockings. Don’t worry; that’s not really a spoiler. We already know the Wicked Witches of the East and West are sisters, and we doubt we’ve brought any houses crashing down on anyone by alluding to her fate, either.

#15: A Celebration of Hot Air Balloons

One thing the movie isn’t short on is a lofty motif of hot air balloons! It’s the same vessel that brought the Wizard to them, just like in “The Wizard of Oz.” We first spot one in Elphaba’s pop-up book as she tells her sister about him. Later, as Elphaba surveys the courtyard at Shiz, the camera zooms in on a mural of the Wizard, complete with a hot air balloon next to him. Let’s not forget, the Wizard also sends Elphaba her invitation for their audience by—you guessed it—hot air balloon! And, of course, there’s the actual balloon that Elphaba and Glinda try to escape in as they flee from the guards. Talk about inflated importance!

#14: There’s No Place like (H)Om-a-ha

During what was meant to be “One Short Day in the Emerald City,” Elphaba and Glinda catch a showing of Wiz-O-Mania, “presenting the absolute factual story of our wonderful wizard of oz.” The tale tells of the Wise Ones (don’t worry, we’ll get to them later), leaving a prophecy that someone will arrive in Oz capable of reading the lost language of the Grimmerie. What follows is a projection of the Wizard saying: “Omaha, Omaha.” We’re not sure if he was asking for directions or pulling a fast one on the Ozians, but they sure believed he fulfilled the prophecy! Who knew Omaha could sound so mystical? Eagle-eyed fans may have also made the connection between this moment and the Wizard’s final scene in “The Wizard of Oz.”

#13: “Over the Rainbow” Where “Bluebirds Fly”

Did you know composer Stephen Schwartz found a sneaky way to insert part of the “Over the Rainbow” melody into his score? There’s also another throwback to the iconic tune in Part One that is worth keeping an eye out for. In “The Wizard and I,” Elphaba dreams of how her life could change when she meets the Wizard. As the song picks up momentum, so does Elphaba. At one point, she takes a leap and you can just make out a rainbow behind her, you know, as if she’s jumping “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” As she lands, a flock of birds, no make that a flock of bluebirds, take flight.

#12: What’s in a Silhouette…

Speaking of homages to “The Wizard of Oz,” did you catch how Elphaba’s hand casts the same shape as Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch while she tries to cast a spell? Shadows and silhouettes also play significant roles in foreshadowing future events throughout the film. So, if you’re avoiding spoilers for part two, skip ahead now. When Boq first introduces himself to Galinda, he’s got quite the lean going, almost as if he was pulled straight out of this scene from “The Wizard of Oz.” Later on, during “Dancing Through Life,” Fiyero stands watching Galinda with his arms outstretched in a pose that, let’s just say, may serve him well in the future.

#11: “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is…”

Schwartz’s overture practically sets the gold standard for opening a show. It’s dramatic and pulls the audience into the story from the very first note. The film captures that same drama but with an additional twist. Just before transitioning into “No One Mourns the Wicked,” the melody takes an upbeat turn, hinting at a tune we all know well. If you sang along, you might have noticed the melody cuts off right before where the word “dead” would’ve been sung. Hmm, now that’s an interesting choice. Why wouldn’t they play the full line? Could it mean something? Guess we’ll have to wait for Part Two to find out.

#10: Familiar Friends Follow the Yellow Brick Road

The film opens with a birds-eye view of Oz, complete with a rainbow and the Emerald City in the distance. During a sweeping shot, Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion head down the Yellow Brick Road. Although they’re only briefly spotted from behind, they can be seen carrying the Wicked Witch’s broomstick after supposedly melting her. This is the most we see of Dorothy in the film, but the three friends she makes on her journey all play a larger role (even if you don’t recognize them). For those who haven’t seen the stage version of “Wicked,” we won’t give away too much. Let’s just say that much like the so-called Wicked Witch, things aren’t always what they seem.

#9: The Wizard’s Past Life

The Wizard may have plenty of tricks up his sleeve, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. When Elphaba and Glinda realize that the Wizard has no real powers, they escape behind the Emerald Curtain. The two stumble upon relics from the Wizard’s circus days, including the hot air balloon that brought him to Oz. Elphaba recognizes the Wizard for what he truly is upon spotting a poster for his magic act. The poster even features the Wizard’s real name. Well, not his full name, which was revealed to be Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs in the “Oz” books. Even so, Elphaba sees that everything about the not-so-wonderful Wizard was a lie, including the name his kingdom was built upon.

#8: Poppies

Elphaba and Fiyero grow closer after rescuing a lion cub who may or may not grow up to have a cowardly complex. The scene plays out pretty much as it did in the stage version with one clever twist. On stage, Elphaba casts a vague spell to incapacitate the others in the classroom. Here, Elphaba uses a bouquet of poppies that she brought Doctor Dillamond to spread a sleeping spell. This is a nod to the Deadly Poppy Field from the original “Oz” book and the 1939 film. In both, the poppies nearly send Dorothy into an eternal slumber. Elphaba initially doesn’t realize the power within the flowers, but she’ll surely remember this when she encounters Dorothy down the road.

#7: A Horse of a Different Color

The stage musical introduces us to Fiyero as he arrives at Shiz University with his driver, Avaric. In the film, Fiyero shows up to Shiz on a horse of a different color. We mean that literally. The colorful horse didn’t originate from L. Frank Baum’s books, but the 1939 movie. With Technicolor being a cornerstone of that cinematic classic, the filmmakers seized every opportunity to saturate the Land of Oz, right down to the horse pulling Dorothy’s carriage. In another change from the stage version, Elphaba is the first person Fiyero meets at Shiz. Just as his horse is a different color, Fiyero finds that Elphaba isn’t like any girl he’s ever met. Not because she’s of a different color, but because rather, something deeper.

#6: Lion in the Basket

Liberating the lion cub from his cage, Elphaba places him in her bicycle’s basket and rides into the forest. If you’re getting déjà vu, that’s because Elphaba did something similar (yet completely different) in another life. In 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” Almira Gulch takes Toto from Dorothy, cycling away with the Cairn Terrier in her basket. Thankfully, she doesn’t notice Toto slipping out and racing back to Dorothy. Although Dorothy and Toto escape Miss Gulch’s clutches, they meet a greener reflection of their old neighbor in Oz. Elphaba rescuing the lion mirrors Miss Gulch taking Toto. Of course, where Elphaba gets the lion to safety, we don’t even want to think about what Gulch would’ve done with the little dog.

#5: Breaking the Glass

Forced to share a dorm room, Elphaba would rather keep the door shut while Galinda wants it open. Finding a middle ground, Elphaba accidentally shatters the door’s glass with her magic, leaving it open even when it’s closed. In a way, this moment comes full circle during the climatic “Defying Gravity.” Taking flight, Elphaba bursts through a glass window, mirroring the aforementioned scene. This time, though, Elphaba purposely breaks the glass, reflecting how she’s gained control of her powers. In both scenes, Galinda inspires Elphaba’s actions, but for different reasons. When Elphaba broke the glass door, it was because Galinda got on her nerves. When she breaks the window, it’s because Galinda has given Elphaba the confidence to realize her unlimited potential.

#4: Erasing Animal History

The musical’s political commentary is given even more focus in this film with additional scenes dedicated to Doctor Dillamond and other Animals, who are treated as second-class citizens. When Elphaba first demonstrates her powers at Shiz, she accidentally causes several structures to crumble. One of them collapses to reveal an old mural that was built over. The artwork features a faculty of Animal academics, suggesting many species were once scholars at Shiz. That number has since shrunk, and soon enough, the contributions that Animals have made to Oz may be paved over for good in the name of quote-unquote “progress.” Even if Animals can’t talk in our world, there are parallels to how numerous cultures have essentially been erased from the history books.

#3: Ruby Slippers

Dorothy’s slippers were silver in L. Frank Baum’s book. Wanting to showcase Technicolor’s capabilities, MGM switched the slippers to red in their film adaptation. Being a product of the 1939 musical, the ruby slippers have rarely popped up in other interpretations of Oz. “Wicked” is no exception with Nessarose’s father gifting her a pair of silver shoes. However, the filmmakers do sneak in a reference to the iconic ruby slippers. Giving her new bestie a lesson in popularity, Galinda teaches Elphaba many things. This includes what shoes to wear, handing her a pair of red heels. They might not be exact replicas of the trademarked ruby slippers, but it’s clear what the filmmakers are doing while still staying in their legal jurisdictions. Speaking of shoes, if you take a look at the ones gifted to Nessarose, take special care to notice the tornado-esque heels, calling to mind her fate.

#2: Echoes of “For Good”

“Defying Gravity” might be the big showstopper, but “For Good” is the emotional high point of Elphaba and Galinda’s friendship. Since that tear-jerker doesn’t occur until Act 2, we’ll have to wait a year to hear Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande perform the duet. That doesn’t mean “For Good” is completely absent from this film. There are a handful of musical cues hinting at things to come. The most important moment comes during the Ozdust Ballroom sequence. Realizing the error of her ways, Galinda joins Elphaba on the dance floor. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship with both truly seeing each other for the first time. This is highlighted through an instrumental version of “For Good” playing in the background.

#1: Cameos in Oz

Erivo and Grande will surely be immortalized as cinema’s Elphaba and Galinda, but the film doesn’t forget their stage predecessors. Keeping it in the family, Galinda’s mother is played by Alice Fearn, who starred as Elphaba in the West End. A few other West End players drop into Oz, including Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington. For the Broadway crowd, the most notable cameos are saved for an extended version of “One Short Day.” Chronicling how the Wizard came to Oz are two Wiz-o-mania Superstars, played by the OG Elphaba and Galinda - Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. It’s not “Wicked” without them… or its writers, Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz! Holzman gets a special bit of dialogue, while the composer is given a special cameo as the guard who tells the best friends that the Wizard will see them now.

What’s the most Swankified easter egg you spotted? Let us know in the comments