Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s viral 'Wicked' auditions from 2021 leave fans in awe

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As 'Wicked' dominates the box office, fans are now getting a glimpse of the journey that brought Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to their iconic roles.

A recently surfaced clip from Peacock's 'Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked' showcases audition footage of the two stars from 2021, featuring Grande singing 'Popular' as Glinda and Erivo belting out 'Defying Gravity' as Elphaba.

Behind the scenes of 'Wicked' magic

The behind-the-scenes footage highlights the intensity and dedication that went into securing their roles. Cynthia Erivo revealed that her audition lasted a grueling three hours, performing alongside two other actresses. Reflecting on the process, she shared, “It was a pretty emotional day. I threw everything into that audition,” as the clip showed her acting with a broom in hand.

For Ariana Grande, the path to playing Glinda involved years of persistence. “I stalked (producer) Marc Platt for 10 years, wondering when an audition would be possible,” Grande admitted. Once she got her chance, she committed fully, attending daily voice and acting lessons to adapt to the musical’s unique demands.

“I wanted to shed my pop star persona,” Grande said, recounting how she auditioned without makeup and left her final test emotionally and physically spent. “By the end, my eyelashes were nowhere near where they should be,” she joked.

Viral 'Wicked' audition tapes of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo captivate fans

The release of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s audition tapes for 'Wicked' has sent fans into a frenzy, sparking admiration for their commitment and talent.

Fans didn’t hold back their praise on social media. One wrote, “Cynthia and Ariana both are great artists.” Another declared, “Iconic performance.” Excitement for the musical’s success was palpable, with a fan commenting, “Wicked going to be a blockbuster!!”

The demand for wider access to the documentary is growing. “I need them to release this documentary available for everyone like yesterday,” one user exclaimed. Another simply said, “GIRL THIS WAS AMAZING.”

One user wrote, "Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande brought powerful energy to their WICKED auditions, showcasing their incredible talent."

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