Fifteen years in Wicked collide with grief, queer joy and the quiet rituals that keep a performer brave eight shows a week.
With part two of the Wicked movie now in theaters, John Corella celebrates the moment by revisiting his conversation with Justin Wirick, a longtime dancer with the Broadway National Tour of Wicked. What begins as a lighthearted holiday replay opens into a layered, intimate look at creativity, identity, resilience and the emotional depth woven into performing the same show thousands of times.
Justin shares how ritual, presence and community have sustained him through the demands of touring life, the pressure of staying fresh onstage and the grief of losing his mother. He reflects on the ways Wicked mirrors the lived experiences of queer performers who spend years learning to celebrate the parts of themselves they once hid. This episode is a reminder that the courage to keep showing up for your art and for your truth is its own form of defying gravity.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome and Wicked Movie Celebration
02:00 Justin Wirick on Nerves and Finding His Voice
05:30 Fifteen Years in Wicked and Touring Life
12:44 How Justin Finally Joined Wicked After Three Offers
17:41 Wicked Choreography: Stage vs Film
23:54 Justin’s Rituals for Calming Nerves Before Every Show
37:04 Choosing Joy and Staying Fresh After Thousands of Performances
41:08 Performing Through Grief After Losing His Mom
41:25 Why Wicked Resonates With LGBTQ+ Audiences
54:32 Staying Kind and Grounded in a Tough Industry
01:04:15 Dance Lightning Round and Where to Follow Justin
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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