Wicked
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this:
I had the privilege of witnessing an extraordinary opening at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2nd. The enchanting duo from “Wicked,” Ariana and Cynthia, graced the stage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre and treated us to a mesmerizing musical tribute inspired by the magical land of Oz.
Ariana donned a custom Schiaparelli gown reminiscent of Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, while Cynthia chose a white Vivienne Westwood number adorned with floral patterns and a hint of green at the hem, honoring her “Wicked” character Elphaba.
The performance began with Ariana singing the timeless “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” originally sung by Judy Garland in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Following this, Cynthia paid tribute to her role in “Wicked” by performing “Home,” a number made famous by Diana Ross in the 1978 film adaptation of “The Wiz.”
To conclude their performance, the pair joined forces on stage to belt out “Defying Gravity,” a powerful number from the Broadway sensation “Wicked.” The crowd was left spellbound, rising to their feet in a standing ovation at the end.
In the audience, it was heartwarming to see Ethan Slater (Boq from the film adaptation of “Wicked” and Ariana’s partner) and Lena Waithe (rumored to be dating Cynthia) expressing their emotion as they cheered from the crowd. Their affectionate moment can be seen in the video above.
