Cynthia Erivo | 'Wicked'

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Episode featuring Cynthia Erivo | 'Wicked'

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Introduction

In the December 30, 2024 episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award-winning actor and singer Cynthia Erivo. Cynthia is not only celebrated for her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry but is also gearing up to headline the Stonewall Day concert in New York City. The episode delves into her upcoming role in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the musical Wicked, her experiences at the Tony Awards, collaborations with fellow artists, and her perspectives on Pride Month.

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Cynthia Erivo’s Role in Wicked and Interaction with Idina Menzel

Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba in the new movie adaptation of Wicked, set to release in November alongside Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda. Colbert expresses excitement about Cynthia’s performance, highlighting a heartfelt moment where Cynthia presented alongside the original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, at the Tony Awards.

Stephen Colbert [01:09]: "You are gonna be playing the part of Elphaba in the new movie of Wicked."

Cynthia Erivo [01:43]: "Green girl power indeed."

When asked about the interaction with Idina Menzel, Cynthia shares her initial reaction:

Cynthia Erivo [01:48]: "I saw like five-year-old Cynthia come out and be like, good, thank you very much. I didn't know what to say, which is why the only thing that came out of my mouth was that's all I could think of."

She further reflects on attending her seventh Tony Awards, emphasizing the close-knit and community-driven nature of the Broadway scene.

Cynthia Erivo [02:12]: "I think there's something really special about this particular show, this particular award ceremony because everyone's so in community. I love it. It makes me very happy."

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Collaboration with Ariana Grande and Building On-Screen Chemistry

Cynthia discusses her collaboration with Ariana Grande, describing their working relationship as more familial and synergistic than purely professional.

Cynthia Erivo [03:42]: "She's like my little sister. There's just... She's just a really singular, special being."

She emphasizes the seamless understanding between them, which enhances their portrayal of Elphaba and Glinda in the film.

Cynthia Erivo [04:16]: "We really just understood what we both needed in order to play these characters to do this film."

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Preparation for the Role: Creating Elphaba’s Playlist

Stephen Colbert inquires about Cynthia’s method of immersing herself in her character, specifically through music. Cynthia elaborates on how she curates a playlist that reflects Elphaba’s personality, aiding her in accessing the character's emotions and traits daily.

Cynthia Erivo [04:46]: "I think I get in the mindset of the character to choose the music. And then I use the music to access the character every day."

Her playlist includes a diverse range of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Snow Allegra, and Quubs, each contributing to representing different facets of Elphaba’s character, including rage, insecurity, and love.

Cynthia Erivo [05:04]: "I've got some Kendrick Lamar. I've got some Beyoncé. I have some Doja Cat. I have some Snow Allegra. I have a really wonderful artist called Quubs on there."

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Connecting with Elphaba: Personal Reflections and Character Insights

Cynthia shares her personal connection with Elphaba, highlighting the character’s journey of self-acceptance and reconciliation with her identity. She discusses how Elphaba’s struggle to fit in resonates with her own experiences, leading to a profound understanding of the importance of self-acceptance.

Cynthia Erivo [05:54]: "Elphaba has this wonderful way of having to reconcile with all of the pieces of herself... she sort of discovers all that she is."

This deep connection underscores Cynthia’s approach to embodying Elphaba, emphasizing authenticity and vulnerability in her performance.

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Pride Month and the Stonewall Day Concert

As the episode progresses, the conversation shifts to Cynthia’s upcoming role as the headliner for the Stonewall Day concert on Pride weekend. When asked about the significance of Pride in 2024, Cynthia articulates a powerful message about unity, historical struggles, and representation.

Cynthia Erivo [06:51]: "Pride is a reminder to everyone that when we come together and fight for each other's rights, that's when things get done."

She further emphasizes the importance of visibility for young individuals seeking role models and representation, advocating for authenticity and open expression.

Cynthia Erivo [06:51]: "Pride is a reminder to be that, to be out loud, to be yourselves fully, so that young people who don't see themselves get to see mirror images of themselves."

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with Stephen Colbert expressing his appreciation for Cynthia Erivo’s presence and contributions, while promoting her upcoming performances and the broader content available on Paramount+. Cynthia reciprocates the gratitude, reaffirming her commitment to her roles and advocacy.

Stephen Colbert [07:36]: "Cynthia Erivo, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen Colbert [01:09]: "You are gonna be playing the part of Elphaba in the new movie of Wicked."
• Cynthia Erivo [02:12]: "I think there's something really special about this particular show, this particular award ceremony because everyone's so in community."
• Cynthia Erivo [04:46]: "I think I get in the mindset of the character to choose the music."
• Cynthia Erivo [05:54]: "Elphaba has this wonderful way of having to reconcile with all of the pieces of herself."
• Cynthia Erivo [06:51]: "Pride is a reminder to everyone that when we come together and fight for each other's rights, that's when things get done."

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This episode offers listeners an in-depth look into Cynthia Erivo’s multifaceted career, her personal connections to her roles, and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, all delivered with the wit and charm characteristic of Stephen Colbert’s hosting style.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

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Hey, welcome back, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, my first guest tonight is an Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winning actor and singer. Next week she'll be headlining the Stonewall Day concert here in New York City. Please welcome back to the Late Show, Cynthia Erivo. Hello.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Hello.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hi.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Hi.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nice to see you. See you again. It's always love to have you on. Thank you. Now, I'm sure many people already know this, but you are gonna be playing the part of Elphaba in the new movie of Wicked.

[Cynthia Erivo]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

That comes out this November. This is which I want to talk about, which I want to talk about in just a moment. But what just happened on Sunday night is that you presented with the original Elphaba, Idina Menzel at the Tony Awards here in New York City. And she. This is actually a really lovely moment. She took a moment to say this. I'm just gonna go off the script real quick to see how excited I am to see what I know is gonna be an amazing performance in that movie that you're doing. I love you and I just wanna say green girl power.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Green girl power indeed.

[Stephen Colbert]

Had you guys talked about Elphaba or Wicked before that moment?

[Cynthia Erivo]

No. So that you saw like five year old Cynthia come out and be like, good, thank you very much. I didn't know what to say, which is why the only thing that came out of my mouth was that's all I could think of.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go with what?

[Cynthia Erivo]

You know, like three.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go with what?

[Cynthia Erivo]

You know.

[Stephen Colbert]

How many Tonys have you been to now?

[Cynthia Erivo]

Ooh, that's about number seven.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Cynthia Erivo]

I think.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is it still fun? Is it still dazzling? I love it.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yeah. It's one of my favorites. I think there's something really special about this particular show, this particular award ceremony because everyone's so in community. I love it. It makes me very happy.

[Stephen Colbert]

The Broadway community is very close. It's actually a small group of theaters.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now you're heading back to the theater heading back to Broadway, actually, at Lincoln Center. Okay. Starting next week, performing in a production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's exciting. For those of us who are fans of you and fans of Sondheim at the same time, what was your introduction.

[Cynthia Erivo]

To Sondheim being alive was probably like the gateway from Company. From Company, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

When did you hear that? Like, how old were you?

[Cynthia Erivo]

I wanna say I was about 17 or 18.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Before I'd seen the show. And then I. A wonderful friend of mine, Adrian Lester, played Bobby in the Donmar Warehouse production of it. And I had sneaked a preview of it on YouTube, which I was not supposed to do. Don't do that. But I loved it. And I had fallen in love with it, with the music that way. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, as I said, here you are. Here you are as Elphaba, which is coming out. Coming out at Thanksgiving alongside Ariana Grande, who is playing Glinda. What was it like working together? Had you guys done anything together before this?

[Cynthia Erivo]

No, that was the first time we'd done something together. And honestly, it's gotten beyond a working relationship. She's like my little sister. There's just. She's just a really singular, special being. And we seem to have just, like, found this kismet space for one another. And working with her was a dream just because we really just understood what we both needed in order to play these characters to do this film. And I'm lucky. Cause I feel like I've wandered away with a person who I love for life.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. How long have you been working on this? Because this is not one. There's two. The first one comes out in November. How long has this process been?

[Cynthia Erivo]

It's been about a year. We worked on it for about a year.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's a long time to get a movie together.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I understand that. You make a playlist.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

For yourself?

[Cynthia Erivo]

I do.

[Stephen Colbert]

For characters that you're gonna portray.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm curious. What's Elphaba's playlist? And is it you to get into that character or do you get in character to choose the music?

[Cynthia Erivo]

So I think I get in the mindset of the character to choose the music. And then I use the music to. To access the character every day. Right. So I listen to it on the way to work. So I make it and listen to it on the way to work. It's sort of representative of this person's personality and who she is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Who do you got? What do you got on there?

[Cynthia Erivo]

So I've got some Kendrick Lamar. I've got some Beyonce. I have some Doja Cat. I have some Snow Allegra. I have. There's a really wonderful artist called Quubs on. On there. There's a couple songs that I couldn't say the lyrics of. Cause.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cause this is a family show.

[Cynthia Erivo]

It's a family show. But, yeah, I sort of messed around with her rage and her insecurity and her love and all of those things. So I tried to make a really varied playlist of who the person is to listen to.

[Stephen Colbert]

So after doing that work and spending so much time with Elphaba at this point, um. What. What, what. What's your kindred spirit with her? Where. Where are you guys connecting?

[Cynthia Erivo]

I think Elphaba has this wonderful way of having to reconcile with all of the pieces of herself. I think when you meet her, she's trying so hard to. To fit. She knows that she's. She doesn't fit, but she tries her best to fit in with people and. And she tries to hide some of the things that. That make her special. And by the end, she sort of discovers all that she is. And I think that's the thing that I realized that you can only really give yourself fully if you are okay with who you are. Completely. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well.

You'Re headlining the Stonewall Day concert on Pride weekend, June 28th.

Yeah.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Happy Pride, everyone.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I'm just curious, what does. What does Pride and Pride Weekend or Pride Month mean to Cynthia Erivo in 2024?

[Cynthia Erivo]

I think there's a wonderful thing about pride in the celebrations that take place all over the country. But I think for me, pride is a reminder to everyone that we. When we come together and we fight for each other's rights, that's when things get done. And it's also to remind us that there are people who came before us who. Who also were fighting. And also for me particularly, there are so many young people who don't see themselves and who are seeking for people to see themselves in. And Pride is a reminder to be that, to be out loud, to be yourselves fully, so that young people who don't see themselves get to see mirror images of themselves.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cynthia, thank you so much for being here. It's always lovely. You can catch Cynthia Erivo performing at the Stonewall Day concert here in New York City on Friday, June 28th. Cynthia Erivo, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives. God, I love this job.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Now streaming on Paramount.

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Cynthia Erivo]

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[Stephen Colbert]

It's a new beginning for both of us. We're out of time. The fire's here.

[Cynthia Erivo]

Pick up the pace. Get out. Get out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Get out. Get out. I have to do this myself. For me.

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