Cynthia Erivo wants fans to sing along during 'Wicked' screenings
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has no problems with moviegoers singing along during cinema screenings.
Erivo, who stars in the film as Elphaba, was recently asked about her thoughts on whether Wicked sing-alongs are acceptable.
“Good. I’m okay with it. We spent this long singing it ourselves—it’s time for everyone else to join in. It’s wonderful,” she told hosts Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Savannah Guthrie during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 28.
This is not the first time that Erivo weighed in on the matter. In an interview with NBC News, she said, “I say if you come the first time and you sing through, sing through, but come a second time and let us sing to you.”
Her co-star, Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, meanwhile said it’s something that's tempting to do, adding that she “understand(s) it if you do, and if you don’t.”
“If someone throws popcorn at you, or their phone or something, maybe stop,” she quipped.
There's been an ongoing debate about sing-alongs since Wicked premiered in theaters this month. American movie theater chain AMC Theaters even warned against it via a 30-second advisory featuring scenes from the musical fantasy film as they told viewers that "silence is golden."
"No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies," a voiceover for the pre-show video states.
AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan explained to The Indianapolis Star that the video is an example of an "occasional policy reminder" made for a specific movie.
“AMC has a long-standing policy that prohibits disruptive behavior," he said. "The Wicked pre-show spot incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show."
Some theaters have also put up a sign at their ticketing counter warning against belting out the film's hit songs in cinemas.
Helmed by Jon M. Chu, the movie adaptation of the famous stage musical tells the untold story of the witches of Oz. It centers on Elphaba, a young woman with unusual green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Glinda, who is popular and gilded by privilege and ambition but has yet to discover her true heart.
After meeting as students in the fantastical Land of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda unexpectedly form a close bond. Their friendship, however, gets tested after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, even as their lives take very different paths.
Aside from Grande and Erivo, the film also stars Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, and Ethan Slater.
Wicked: Part One opened in local cinemas on Nov. 20, while its second part is slated for 2025.