Oh, the sweet enchantment of Oz! Fans of "Wicked" now embrace an opportunity to embark on a journey to Munchkinland, albeit in a manner somewhat akin to a dream. As Jon M. Chu embarked on bringing the Broadway musical to the big screen, the necessity for tangible sets became paramount. The grandiose production of "Wicked" sprawled across 17 stages and four expansive backlots, two of which stretched as far as four American football fields combined. Among these elaborate sets stood Munchkin Village, nestled amidst a mesmerizing field of tulips. To create this realistic wonder, a staggering nine million tulips were required.
Initially, production designer Nathan Crowley encountered some resistance, with questions arising about why he chose not to rely on visual effects for the tulips. Crowley stood firm, aligned with Chu's vision of capturing everything authentically on camera. "I insisted, 'This is what I must do, and you must embark on this journey with me,'" Crowley revealed to Variety. "And they did."
Crowley's subsequent challenge was to execute this ambitious plan. He turned to Adam Richards, his location manager, and declared, "We shall cultivate tulips, and we must immerse ourselves in the art of tulip farming." They fortuitously discovered Mark Eves, a tulip farmer from Norfolk, England, who generously offered to assist in planting and nurturing all nine million bulbs.
Crowley recounted, "They blossomed in hues akin to the rainbow, creating a breathtaking spectacle." Chu's film, an adaptation of the renowned Broadway musical, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, unraveling the tale of the two witches prior to "The Wizard of Oz."
The vast fields of tulips served as a stunning visual backdrop, captured masterfully by Alice Brooks' cinematography. The film's opening number, "No One Mourns the Wicked," is set in Munchkin Village, meticulously constructed by Crowley, with the tulips painting a picturesque canvas.
"I knew it could succeed because I had previously grown 500 acres of corn for 'Interstellar,'" Crowley said of his vision for the tulips. "I knew I could...with the right farmer by my side."
But what became of the tulips once production ceased? "Mark [Eves] replanted them," Crowley responded. "Tulip farming involves planting the bulbs, nurturing the flowers, and then harvesting them. The bulbs grow larger, and in the subsequent season, they are placed in a greenhouse, where they bloom anew. He took the bulbs and continued their growth."
Belmont Farms, owned by Eves, will welcome the public next April, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the magical world of the tulips and Oz's Munchkinland.
