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A Very Wicked Halloween (NBC): Ariana Grande’s Elphaba | Producer BTS
Project type
Primetime televised concert special on NBC celebrating Wicked’s 15th Anniversary: live-to-tape, multi-camera, music + host segments.
Date
October 2018 (NBC airdate: Oct 29, 2018)
Location
New York City, NY
Role
Producer, “Popular” segment: conceived & produced a new, interactive version of “Popular” with audience phone moments and live social triggers.
Role
Creative Director (Host): co-shaped host arc for Kristin Chenoweth; beat writing, joke setups, and choreo integration across on-air links.
Role
Vocal Coach: prepared hosting/solo vocals; pacing, breath, and consistency work for broadcast conditions.
Role
Star Stylist: partnered with Christian Siriano to secure and style all looks, incl. the one-of-a-kind pink feathered gown for “Popular.”
Video Feature
Network
NBC, A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway
Talent Highlights
Kristin Chenoweth (host/performer), Ariana Grande (“The Wizard and I”), Idina Menzel (host/performer)
Outcomes
(For Kristin Chenoweth) Post-broadcast lift: +12,500 Instagram followers, ~+10,000 on X; concert deployments of “Popular” averaged ~650% engagement spikes after show nights.
When NBC aired A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway, I served as Creative Director (Host) and Star Stylist for Kristin Chenoweth while also advising on show flow and audience moments. My job was simple to say and wild to execute: make America fall in love with Glinda all over again, give fans something they had never seen before, and do it live for primetime.
Host concept and script. Kristin and I built her host arc together, from cold open to sign-off. I wrote beats, crafted joke setups, and choreographed her solo moments so the hosting and the music felt like one performance.
Viral “Popular” redesign. I was asked to invent a new way for Kristin to perform her signature number. We turned “Popular” into a masterclass on modern fame, complete with phones up, selfies, and audience aisle work. She sings to individual phones, jumps off the stage, riffs new lyrics about followers, and even triggers an on-stage social post. After the broadcast the bit went viral, we folded it into her tour set, and it instantly became the showstopper. Immediate lift: +12,500 Instagram followers and nearly +10,000 on X. In concert, the piece has driven average engagement gains of about 650% after show nights.
Wardrobe with Christian Siriano. As Star Stylist I collaborated with Christian Siriano to secure and style every look, including the one-of-a-kind pink feathered gown Kristin wears for “Popular.” One dress, one night, zero copies.
Why this special matters. The broadcast also gave fans a first look at Ariana Grande embracing Elphaba material on national TV. That performance became a fun breadcrumb in her journey to Glinda in the film, and it electrified the fan base. Our backstage planning made sure the cameras, choreography, comedy, and couture all supported that cultural moment.
From talent badges to last looks, I lived in the rehearsal room and the truck to ensure every on-air beat was clear, camera-ready, and worthy of Wicked’s legacy. If you want a primetime-caliber boost for your live or televised project, this is the playbook I bring into the room.
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