Image via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock

Broadway audiences got a rare treat this week when Wicked’s original stars reunited for a surprise performance — and all in the name of charity.

After a performance of Redwood on Thursday, April 3 at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City, Idina Menzel was met onstage by longtime friend and Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth. The two, who famously originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in 2003, delivered a heartfelt — and slightly improvised — rendition of their iconic duet, “For Good.”

The surprise took place following the show’s curtain call as part of Broadway’s annual spring fundraising campaign for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The performance was offered as a reward for the highest bidder in the audience, with two fans each donating $8,000 to step on stage and join the pair in the special moment.

Menzel and Chenoweth were playful and emotional throughout the song, forgetting a few lines and laughing through the slip-ups, before bringing the house to its feet with a standing ovation.

The moment was a full-circle celebration of their decades-long friendship. Menzel previously won a Tony Award for her role as Elphaba, thanking Chenoweth in her acceptance speech. Since then, the pair have remained close, co-hosting anniversary specials and appearing together at multiple Wicked milestones, including the 20th anniversary performance and the Los Angeles premiere of the upcoming film adaptation.

As fans wait for Wicked: Part TwoWicked: For Good — to arrive in theaters this November, Menzel continues to lead Redwood, a deeply personal new musical she co-conceived with director Tina Landau. Meanwhile, Chenoweth is preparing to return to Broadway this fall in The Queen of Versailles, set to open at the St. James Theatre in November.

Keep Reading