Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande opened the 2025 Oscars with an epic efficiency medley of three songs throughout “The Wizard of Oz” universe.
Grande, clad in a glowing crimson robe, started the set with a robust rendition of “Someplace Over the Rainbow,” wowing the group as she emerged from a cloud of smoke with an evening sky background.
Cynthia Erivo (L) and Ariana Grande carry out onstage throughout the 97th Annual Academy Awards Hollywood March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
As Grande exited the stage, Erivo walked out in a voluminous white robe to carry out a canopy of Diana Ross’ “The Wiz” from the 1978 movie of the identical identify.
The 2 then joined forces to convey the home down with “Depraved” favourite, “Defying Gravity” as the group roared right into a standing ovation.
In a touching second, the digital camera panned to fellow “Depraved” star Ethan Slater within the crowd. He had tears in his eyes as he clapped proudly for the efficiency.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande carry out onstage the 97th Annual Oscars March 2, 2025 in Hollywood.
Kevin Winter/Getty Pictures
Erivo, Grande and Slater starred within the 2024 “Depraved” film. Erivo portrayed Elphaba Thropp, the protagonist of the movie, who’s misunderstood due to her inexperienced pores and skin. Slater portrayed Boq.
Elphaba forges an unlikely friendship with Glinda (Grande). On the finish of “Depraved: Half One,” Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship reaches a crossroad after they meet the Wizard of Oz and their lives take completely different paths.
The Jon M. Chu-directed movie is an adaptation of the Broadway musical based mostly on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, “Depraved: The Life and Occasions of the Depraved Witch of the West.” Maguire’s e-book explores characters from L. Frank Baum’s “The Fantastic Wizard of Oz” and its sequels.
Going into the awards present, “Depraved” had 10 Oscar nominations, together with finest image.
Erivo and Grande had been additionally nominated for finest actress and finest supporting actress, respectively.
For Grande, the function of Glinda has been one she at all times wished to play.
“I had the unimaginable privilege of seeing the unique Broadway forged of ‘Depraved’ after I was 10, and I simply felt a direct bond,” Grande mentioned in a Common Photos featurette for “Depraved” launched final yr.
Erivo has additionally shared how the function of Elphaba is one which she holds pricey.
“I felt like I acknowledged one thing within the character,” Erivo informed “The View” in November. “That feeling of being on the surface, being a bit completely different, not becoming in. And so there was one thing about it that felt acquainted, and I felt that it was essential to be part of that storytelling, as a result of I can perceive it.”
She added, “I at all times felt like I used to be completely different. I am a little bit of an odd one out, usually. I stroll into the room, and particularly on this explicit subject of labor, I am completely different … and I do not know easy methods to be something aside from that.”
