Cynthia Erivo claimed that people watchingWickedin movie theaters should sing along to the songs.Wickedis based on the critically acclaimed Broadway musical of the same.Wicked’s storyfollows Erivo as Elphaba, who later becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Ariana Grande-Butera as Galinda, the future Good Witch of the North with the pair meeting prior to the events ofThe Wizard of Oz. With the release of the musical, there has been an ongoing conversation about whether theatergoers should be singing along with the musical or not.
As reported byVariety, Erivo states thatshe thinks it’s great people can gather in a movie theater to singthe songs featured inWicked. Since theWickedmusical premiered on Broadway in 2003, fans have known the words to songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” for years. Therefore, Erivo believes viewers should join in singing the songs in the theater, calling it “wonderful.” Read her full quote below:
Good. I’m OK with it. We spent this long singing it ourselves — it’s time for everyone else to join in. It’s wonderful.
Singing In Theaters While Watching Movies Like Wicked Is Controversial
People Have Gotten Upset At Fans Singing During Wicked
Since therelease ofWicked, fans have debated whether it is appropriate to sing along to the songs in a movie theater. While some argue that it is very rude and obnoxious to sing in a movie theater full of strangers, others argue that singing along to the songs is the best way to watch a musical.Wickedhas received rave reviews and people have flocked to theaters all over the world to watch stars like Erivo and Grande-Butera sing in the movie, and the Elphaba actor is definitely not about to tell people to stop expressing their joy in theaters.
Johnson argued that people spent their hard-earned money to watch a movie in theaters, and should enjoy the movie the way they want.
The topic of singing in movie theaters has become even more relevant over the last week or so, sinceMoana 2released just one week afterWicked.Moana 2also features several songs, andDwayne Johnson encouraged moviegoers to sing alongwhile watching the movie. Johnson argued that people spent their hard-earned money to watch a movie in theaters, and should enjoy the movie the way they want. Therefore,Erivo and Johnson agree that fans should be free to sing as much as they want in a movie theater.
Our Take On Erivo’s Response To People Singing In Movie Theaters
Different people are going to seeWickedin theaters for different reasons. Some moviegoers might be longtime fans of the musical and know all the words to the songs, while others may just be going because they’ve seen positivereviews forWicked. This is why there is no clear answer to whether singing in a movie theater is appropriate.
On one hand, viewers want to be able to hear the actual performers inWicked, but on the other hand, people should be encouraged to enjoy a movie how they want. However, it is worth noting that specific singalong screens forWickedwill be released in theaters on December 25 for those who want to join in on the singing.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
