Behind the world of Oz in the two-part “Wicked” films were the people responsible for choosing who would inhabit it. Long before filming began, casting directors were quietly shaping the production by selecting the actors who ultimately brought the story to life.
“Our job is to know every actor out there — or know how to find the ones we don’t,” said Bernard Telsey, one of the industry’s leading casting directors who, along with Tiffany Little Canfield, cast both “Wicked” movies.
Casting will receive long-awaited recognition at the next Oscars. The Academy Awards will introduce a new category honoring achievement in casting when the 98th ceremony airs live on ABC on March 15, 2026 — a milestone many in the field say is overdue.
“It’s hard for people to understand what we do because it all happens behind closed doors,” Telsey said. “This award will strengthen the profession and raise awareness of our work.”
The Emmys already feature three casting categories, and the Critics Choice Awards added one this year. Casting directors also have their own long-running Artios Awards. But the Golden Globes and Tony Awards still exclude the craft.
“When casting is excellent, it can feel invisible — because it blends so well you don’t notice the fingerprints,” said Destiny Lilly, president of the 1,200-member Casting Society and a colleague of Telsey. She noted that casting often begins before most of the production team is hired.
Telsey’s company, The Telsey Office, casts projects across film, television and theater — from movies such as “Mary Poppins Returns” to series like “The Gilded Age” and “Only Murders in the Building.” He made his name in theater, shaping casts for Tony-winning shows including “Hairspray,” “Kinky Boots” and “Maybe Happy Ending.”
“Wicked” and its sequel “Wicked: For Good” were among his team’s most ambitious undertakings, requiring hundreds of performers across more than a year of filming on multiple continents.
Though Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande now seem inevitable as Elphaba and Glinda, their casting wasn’t guaranteed. “You don’t really know until they’re in the room,” Telsey said. “Then you see the magic.”
Telsey stays current by attending theater four or five nights a week and spending weekends watching TV and films. His team meets twice a week to discuss emerging talent. “Every day you feel like you’re behind,” he said. “There are always more actors to discover.”
Casting directors typically begin by discussing a project’s vision with the director, writers and producers before assembling actors to audition. Lilly recently made waves by recommending comedian Bill Burr for his Broadway debut in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” believing his energy suited Mamet’s dialogue.
She emphasized that crossover between stage and screen is now routine. Telsey agrees: “Good acting is good acting. The technical demands differ, but the craft is the same.”
Telsey, whose breakthrough came with the original casting of “Rent,” said the rise of global productions, streaming platforms and virtual auditions has dramatically reshaped casting. “We’re always expanding our reach,” he said. “Time is short, budgets are shrinking, and the need to find the right cast quickly is only growing.”
