“It's incredibly difficult to do, even in a film situation because you have to have very clear notes and you have to practice it over and over again. “It’s a military thing,” Moore added. “So you can imagine how difficult it is to do it in a live show.”
In the end, the group only worked the cameras five times between Friday and Sunday and rehearsed it twice on Sunday before the show began. Then there was the fact that the stage was circular, which added to the complexity. And the giant Barbie heads didn't arrive until Thursday. “That was a really, really challenging part,” Moore said.
However, it was Gerwig who wanted the entire audience in the Dolby auditorium to get up and dance. Before the big number, a video recorded inside the ballroom appeared, urging those seated to turn on the lights on their phones and sing along. According to Moore, on the first call with everyone involved, Gerwig said, “Really my dream for this is for everyone to be up and singing. “That is my only dream.”
Simu Liu, who played Ken in the film and joined Gosling on stage, said that from his point of view, “everything developed extremely quickly,” adding, “Mandy Moore is an excellent choreographer.”
When he first heard about Moore, he spoke to his fellow Kens from the film, including Gatwa, Scott Evans and Kingsley Ben-Adir, who decided to take part, although he admitted that “nerves were running high” and added: “There is no many rooms that are more intimidating.
When it was over, he said, the Kens were elated: “Yes! “I think we did it.”
Kyle Buchanan contributed with reports.