Call for Proposals for a special issue of Studies in Musical Theatre on the films Wicked and Wicked: For Good.

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https://www.intellectbooks.com/studies-in-musical-theatre#call-for-papers

The editors of Studies in Musical Theatre are pleased to announce a special issue on Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025). Studies in Musical Theatre is an interdisciplinary journal under the auspices of the International Society for the Study of Musicals (ISSM). We seek to publish innovative research in a variety of formats from both scholars and practitioners in the global musical-theatrical world.

Adapted from the long-running Broadway musical of the same name, these films bring the witches of Oz to new generations of audiences while maintaining ties to their stage predecessor and the legacy of L. Frank Baum’s legendary world. The editors invite contributions that address these films from a variety of viewpoints, including theatre studies, music studies, media studies, star studies, fan studies and beyond to explore this blockbuster journey to Oz. Possible topics might include:

• The politics of inclusion and exclusion (sexuality, race and racism, colorism, disability), 'wickedness' and 'goodness', and how they land almost 25 years after the original production. Alternatively, how the politics have been updated for the 2020s.

• Adapting the stage production into a screen musical, including the new songs, additional underscore, and cinematic vs. theatrical story-telling, as well as the films’ place in the landscape of Broadway shows adapted for film.

• The films’ place in the 'award show' circuit and campaigns for its stars.

• Technical factors such as live singing, practical sets, cinematography, and lighting design.

• Casting considerations and the personae Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring to the characters.

• The circulation of the texts, paratexts, and tie-in products in both physical and virtual fan cultures.

• Queer coding and subtext.

• Ghosts and palimpsests of witches past through cameos or musical and visual references to other versions of Oz.

• Musical and visual themes/leitmotives.

• Choreography and new iconic dance moves.

• Wicked and Wicked: For Good in translation or beyond the Anglophone world.

The editors welcome contributions in a variety of formats, including:

• Academic articles

• Conversations and roundtables

• Interviews

• Paired essays on similar themes

Submissions of any length up to 10,000 words will be accepted and should follow the Harvard Style Guide for citations. British spelling and punctuation is preferred. Questions should be sent to Naomi Graber (ngraber@uga.edu) and Lindsey Mantoan (lmantoan@gmail.com), and submissions should be submitted to both by 1 June 2026 for best consideration.