‘Dancing With the Stars’ Announces ‘Wicked Night’ Theme, Jon M. Chu to Guest Judge

Dancing With the Stars is set to celebrate the beloved musical Wicked with a themed episode on October 21, featuring performances inspired by the show and a guest appearance by its director, Jon M. Chu.

The sixth episode of the current season will see the celebrity contestants and their professional partners take on dances set to iconic songs from Wicked, including “Defying Gravity” and “For Good.” Confirmed pairings and dances include Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold performing a contemporary routine to “The Wizard and I,” and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten tackling a contemporary dance to “Defying Gravity.” The show will also feature a medley of several songs from the musical. This theme night is part of a season of new themes designed to attract a wider audience.

Director Jon M. Chu, known for his work on dance-focused projects like Step Up 2: The Streets and In the Heights, will join the judging panel for the evening. “It might break the internet,” said last year’s Mirrorball champion Joey Graziadei when announcing the weekly themes on the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast last month. While Chu will be in attendance, the cast of the upcoming Wicked: For Good film, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh, will appear via special video messages. You can learn more about the upcoming film adaptation here.

Comedian Andy Richter, a current contestant, expressed his excitement, stating he felt “great” and “can’t wait to wear green” in reference to the character of Elphaba. ABC has confirmed that no contestants will be eliminated following their Dedication Night performances last week, allowing all stars to continue into Wicked Night.

Officials stated that the show will continue with its regularly scheduled programming next week, following the conclusion of Wicked Night on October 21.