‘Wicked: For Good’: Stephen Schwartz Performs ‘No Place Like Home’ and ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ and Explains the Songwriting Process Behind Them

An exclusive concert for approximately 70 attendees was held last Saturday morning at Steinway Piano in Beverly Hills, hosted by acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz. The gathering, timed to the pre-Golden Globes weekend, featured an audience of industry luminaries such as producers Jimmy Jam, Siedah Garrett, and Marc Platt, the latter being a key figure behind the cinematic adaptation of "Wicked." Schwartz, whose career spans decades and includes iconic works like "Godspell" and "Pocahontas," performed selections from his catalog, with a special focus on two Oscar-shortlisted songs written for the upcoming two-part "Wicked" film.

Jon M. Chu, the director of the movies, served as the event's emcee and joined Schwartz for a performance of classics like "Colors of the Wind" before delving into the new material. The duo presented "The Girl in the Bubble," sung by Ariana Grande in her role as Glinda, and "No Place Like Home," performed by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Schwartz, who has been the musical architect of the "Wicked" stage phenomenon since its 2003 debut, explained that the expanded film format allowed for deeper exploration of character costs, particularly for Elphaba. "No Place Like Home" arrives at a critical juncture where Oz's animals are fleeing persecution, forcing Elphaba to confront why she would sacrifice for a homeland that rejects her. This narrative tension, Schwartz noted, was something the stage version could only imply.

The songwriter revealed that a pivotal moment in the song involves an animal directly challenging Elphaba's decision to stay and fight rather than escape to safety. "We thought it was important to see how much she loves Oz, even though it hasn't been kind to her," Schwartz stated, highlighting the theme of belonging amidst alienation. Producer Marc Platt, whose extensive filmography includes "La La Land" and the long-gestating "Wicked" adaptation, significantly influenced the lyrics by framing Oz not just as a location but as "an idea. A promise." This conceptual shift, Schwartz connected to a broader, contemporary resonance, drawing a direct parallel to current political divisions and the responsibility to engage rather than disengage.

Schwartz elaborated on this modern analogy, musing on societal fractures. "Are we going to be turned against one another... what is our responsibility to that?" he asked, suggesting that Elphaba's fictional struggle mirrors real-world civic dilemmas where retreat might be safer but is ultimately untenable for those committed to their principles. This philosophical weight transforms the song's seemingly straightforward title into a complex meditation on idealism and sacrifice.

Regarding "The Girl in a Bubble," Schwartz described it as the moment Glinda's carefully constructed persona fractures. The song, performed by pop superstar Ariana Grande—whose casting brought significant contemporary fanfare to the project—sees the character abandoning her performative "Good Witch" soprano to confront her isolation. The bubble serves as a metaphor for Glinda's curated image and emotional detachment, a theme visually reinforced in the film through reflective surfaces that blur the line between the character and her facade. As the event concluded, director Jon M. Chu tapped the piano and declared, "This machine kills fascists," a deliberate reference to the folk-protest tradition famously associated with Woody Guthrie. This statement served as a powerful coda, underscoring the afternoon's central themes of art's capacity to challenge oppression and the enduring responsibility of the artist.