Cynthia Erivo experiences a ‘Wicked’ good summer

Cynthia Erivo, the Oscar-nominated star of “Wicked” (2024), is enjoying a busy summer. Her second studio disc, “I Forgive You” (Verve/Republic), was released on June 6, right before she hosted the Tony Awards telecast on June 8. She also has a slew of concert dates, including a turn in the title role of “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Aug. 1-3 at the Hollywood Bowl with Adam Lambert (as Judas) and Raúl Esparza (as Pontius Pilate). Erivo also will join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Edwin Outwater, on Aug. 15 at Ravinia. 

The Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning British actress, singer and producer also is promoting “Wicked: For Good,” the second half of the two-part film version of the hit Broadway musical, in theaters on Nov. 21.

Released last November, “Wicked” became a global phenomenon and earned more than $750 million worldwide at the box office, becoming the biggest Broadway musical adaptation of all time. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best actress for Erivo as Elphaba and supporting actress for Ariana Grande as Galinda and two wins (for costumes and production design)

In “Wicked: For Good,” changes are in store for Elphaba. “She’s able to access her rage more,” Erivo recently told Billboard magazine. “The scent I wore changed. The makeup changed. [There are] little shifts that bring you to a more mature version of who Elphaba becomes. And she is delicious in this next one.”

Erivo and Grande haven’t performed much “Wicked” material together offscreen, although they did join forces at this year’s Oscars to sing “Defying Gravity.” Erivo also performed “Home” from “The Wiz,” while Grande belted out “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.”

This fall, they’ll get a showcase when NBC presents the latest “Wicked” concert special, which will air on Nov. 6, two weeks ahead of the release of “Wicked: For Good.” The two-hour special event will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscar ceremonies) and will start streaming next day on Peacock.

Joining Erivo and Grande will be their co-stars and surprise guests to perform songs from the first movie — “and maybe, just maybe, a little bit from the upcoming film,” NBC teased in its announcement.

Erivo might sneak in a song or two from “I Forgive You,” her first album since her debut disc “Ch. 1 vs. 1” (2021). She co-wrote many of the disc’s 20 tracks with producer Will Wells and songwriter Justin Tranter. In the Billboard interview, Erivo mentioned that she especially appreciated the album’s production for allowing her “the freedom to improvise and layer vocal lines over the melody.”

“Wicked: For Good” once again features new songs by Stephen Schwartz and is helmed by “In the Heights” screen director Jon M. Chu. Returning are “Bridgerton” star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard and newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose.

The musical “Wicked,” which lays out the back story of “The Wizard of Oz,” is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history. The show won 2004 Tony Awards for best actress in a musical (Idina Menzel), costume design (Susan Hilferty) and best scenic design (Eugene Lee).

Other upcoming projects for Erivo, who made her Broadway debut in 2015 as Celie in “The Color Purple,” include a film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone and a solo production of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” on London’s West End in 2026.