Lorna Luft is confident her legendary mother, Judy Garland, would have been a fan of Wicked. “She would’ve loved it,” Luft, 72, told PEOPLE at the opening night of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends on Broadway, April 8. When asked which song Garland might’ve loved most, Luft laughed, “I have no idea. But she would’ve loved it.”
Garland, who famously portrayed Dorothy in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, passed away in 1969. Her legacy lives on through her children—Luft, Joey Luft (70), and Liza Minnelli (79)—and through the timeless world of Oz, now reimagined in Wicked.
The hit film, based on the Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. It explores the backstory of Oz’s witches, focusing on friendship, power, and politics. It earned 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
Luft also praised the night’s honoree, calling Sondheim “a national treasure to all of us.”
Meanwhile, Grande—who called Glinda her dream role—was moved to tears often on set. She was even gifted Glinda’s original wand from the 1939 film during The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2024.
The sequel, Wicked: For Good, hits theaters November 21, 2025, and fans are curious to see if Dorothy’s presence will extend beyond a cameo.
One thing’s for sure: Garland’s spirit remains woven into the story—and Luft believes she’d be cheering it on.
Source: People Magazine