Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo Sings Live For ‘Wicked’
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande speak onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Something Wicked-ly good this way comes. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are so committed to the Wicked world that the two stars have insisted that they sing live for the upcoming film. Like theater geeks worldwide, Grande, 30, and Erivo, 37, have been waiting more than 20 years for the musical to be adapted for the screen. The Wicked musical started on Broadway in 2003 and has been ongoing for over 20 years already.
How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Became Wicked
In a new interview with Vanity Fair published Thursday (March 21), Grande, who plays Glinda the Good Witch, playfully admits to “stalking” Marc Platt, the producer behind both the Broadway production and the film to play Glinda. For ten years, the “imperfect for you” singer” would ask him, “‘Knock, knock, any developments? Is there an audition coming this year or next year? I would like to start preparing today.'” Taking the role seriously, Grande would also show up to audition at least 30 minutes early.
Then, Erivo, who plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, impressed the producer and director Jon M. Chu with her Emmy, Grammy, and Tony. Erivo doubted she would be “seen” for the role and was one of the last people brought in. However, she got the call and was already “training like a boxer.” After singing for Platt and Chu, they knew she was the perfect fit.
Wanting to minimize the use CGI as mushc as possible, director Chu wanted to imitate the practical set of 1991’s Hook. So, Wicked’s yellow brick road was made completely with mud and an actual train transporting the witches to the Emerald City. As for the vocals in the film, the director said Ariana and Cynthia said, “‘F— the pre-records. We’re going live.'” Skeptical at first, Chu was worried about having “a lot of wind” in their air pipes. Not missing a beat as the professionals they are, the stars replied confidently, “‘Yeah. That’s what we do.'”
For the film’s most iconic song, “Defying Gravity,” Erivo was strapped to a harness, “flying” over the Western sky, belting high notes without missing a note. The English actress gave kudos to Grande for jumping on a chandelier over her head while singing.
(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Live Singing For Musical Films
Singing live for musical films isn’t common. There are only a few popular films where the actors were actually singing on camera and not lip-synching to pre-recorded tracks. D—s: The Musical (2023), Les Misérables (2012), The Rose (1979), A Star is Born (1976), At Long Last Love (1975), The Love Parade (1929), and The Cocoanuts (1929) are musical films that are either completely or mostly sung and recorded live on camera.
The first part of Wicked releases in theaters later this year on November 27. Watch the first look below:
9 Empowering Songs For Women
Women rule the world in many ways. In music, these female artists have contributed one, many, or all of their songs to elevate, empower, and inspire other women. There is something about the power of media and art that has a long-lasting impact on women and girls from all around the world that transcends language and time.
What Women’s History Month Is About
With March being Women’s History Month, we observe how women have contributed to history and changed the lives of others. For us, music is so powerful for something that doesn’t require your eyes but to listen. This year’s theme celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” This theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand the need to eliminate bias and discrimination from individuals’ lives and institutions for a positive future, said the National Women’s History Alliance.
Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California as a “Women’s History Week” in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.
In 1980, an association of women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance), successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Since then, many activists and advocates have continually pushed Congress to recognize the achievements of women in the United States.
Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, International Women’s Day eventually turned into Women’s History Week in 1982. Following that accomplishment, the official Women’s History Month website states: “Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as ‘Women’s History Week.’ In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9, which designated the month of March 1987 as ‘Women’s History Month.’”
Empowering Songs For Women:
We celebrate Women’s History Month to remind everyone of the achievements of women throughout the years in our culture and society, and why it’s important to study them and their important moments in history. Keep scrolling to see our top 9 picks of the most empowering songs for women across all genres:
Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.
