Bethany Weaver Takes on the Role of Dorothy in “Wicked: For Good”

Bethany Weaver has been dedicated to dance for much of her life.

She recently stepped into the spotlight as Dorothy Gale in “Wicked: For Good,” which debuted in theaters on Friday. This is a role she hinted at a couple of years back.

In March 2022, Weaver posted an Instagram video of herself singing “The Wizard and I,” expressing a blend of excitement and nostalgia. She mentioned, “Today I did a little singing after work. I love teaching, but I really miss performing on stage. It’s not perfect, but I’m so happy 🌻 Also a positive statement that someday I’ll be in the evil world!”

The films, directed by Jon M. Chu, delve into the backstories of the characters from “The Wizard of Oz.” Along with the tales of Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), viewers will encounter familiar faces like the Scarecrow (Jonathan Bailey), the Tin Man (Ethan Slater), and the Cowardly Lion (Coleman Domingo).

In a shift from the Broadway version, Dorothy will play a more significant role in the film—though her face remains unseen. She appears only from behind and doesn’t have any dialogue.

Erivo noted, “I think that’s great because it allows everyone to maintain the Dorothy they know.”

Chu explained this approach: “If you were involved in this story, we didn’t want to trample on who you think Dorothy is. It’s still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she’s a pawn in the middle of it all.”

Universal Pictures kept Weaver’s involvement a secret until the film’s premiere. Although she is credited, her management profile only mentions unreleased segments of the “Wicked” project.

Weaver didn’t walk the red carpet during the film’s promotional tour but did share that she hails from Surrey, in southeast England. She trained at the Urdan Academy in London and graduated in June 2018, celebrating her milestone with an optimistic post about her future.

She has also expressed a love for Pilates, saying that when she’s not acting, choreographing, or performing, you can find her at the reformer or on the mat. “I’m so grateful for the little empire I’ve built for myself that allows me to live the life I’ve always dreamed of,” she remarked.

A notable change in “Wicked: For Good” is that Dorothy is no longer wearing her iconic ruby slippers. In the classic 1939 film, she famously takes off these shoes, which are tied to her adventures in Oz.

For this adaptation, Chu drew from the original book by L. Frank Baum, where Dorothy’s footwear was described as silver boots. Costume designer Paul Tazewell explained, “They’re not rubies. In the book, it was a strange little silver boot.” He added that the idea ties into the mythologizing of shoes in fairy tales, noting how they’ve evolved from silver to crystal in our imaginations.