'Wicked' Hits Theaters With a Star-Studded Cast But No Sing-Along Allowed

'Wicked', the popular musical, has been turned into a movie starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. 

The film, which explores the early friendship of these two iconic characters from the Land of Oz, also features Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the head of Shiz University. 

Directed by Jon M. Chu, 'Wicked' is set against a backdrop of memorable songs from the Broadway show, including the hit 'Defying Gravity'.

The story follows Elphaba, a young woman with green skin who is misunderstood and faces prejudice, and Glinda, who is universally admired. Their relationship evolves amid political and social upheaval in Oz, after they meet the enigmatic Wizard.

Due to its origins as a beloved musical, 'Wicked' is filled with catchy tunes that fans might naturally want to sing along to. However, theaters are reminding moviegoers that singing during the screening is not allowed. 

Just before the film starts, a 30-second clip with scenes from 'Wicked' is played, instructing the audience to enjoy the movie silently. This includes refraining from talking, texting, singing, making loud noises, flirting, or being disruptive in any way.

AMC's no-singing rule isn't new and applies to all showings. It is intended to ensure that all guests can enjoy the film without interruptions. 

Ryan Noonan, a spokesperson for AMC, emphasized that this policy helps maintain a good experience for everyone in the theater.

While AMC Theaters has made exceptions in the past for concert films like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Beyoncé's Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, where singing and even dancing were allowed, traditional screenings require audience silence. In these exceptions, activities like dancing had to be non-disruptive, and costumes worn should not obstruct views.

Catch 'Wicked', a family-friendly movie rated PG, starting this Friday with some early previews available on Thursday.

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