How a Grammy-winning Detroit songwriter shaped vocal performances in ‘Wicked for Good’

Antea Birchett, a Grammy-winning songwriter from Detroit, played a crucial role as Cynthia Erivo's vocal coach in the film "Wicked for Good," notably for the performance of "Defying Gravity." Birchett's collaboration with Erivo began in 2019 during the actress's portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Nat Geo's Genius: Aretha. Birchett, who grew up in a musical family and has a background in songwriting and teaching, was invited by Erivo to join the project when she was cast as Elphaba. Their work involved technical coaching and artistic guidance during demanding musical sequences, highlighting Birchett's significant impact on the film.