Ariana Grande has shared why she selected to be credited underneath her complete identify, Ariana Grande-Butera, within the after “Wicked” movie adaptation.
The pop superstar, 31, performs Glinda the Just right Witch within the first a part of the two-film order, eager to strike theaters Nov. 22.
Regardless that identified professionally as Ariana Grande, the singer shocked audiences at early screenings of “Wicked” through the use of her complete identify within the credit. In a recent interview with Australian reporter Justin Hill, Grande defined that the use of her “little girl name” felt like a method to honor her deep connection to the musical.
“Technically, it’s my little girl name,” Grande defined. “It felt like a homecoming for me. I feel like I came home to myself in many ways, learning from Glinda and Elphaba. That was the name I had when I first saw ‘Wicked’ at 10 years old, and it just felt like a lovely way of honoring that moment. It felt full circle.”
Grande noticed “Wicked” for the primary generation two years then her folks, Joan Grande and Edward Butera, break. At an public sale for Broadway Cares, Joan received a behind the scenes travel for Ariana, the place they met untouched forged participants Norbert Leo Butz, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
Chenoweth, who performed Glinda within the untouched Broadway manufacturing, celebrated Grande’s casting in 2021 through sharing a nostalgic photograph from their behind the scenes assembly.
“From the moment we first met, I knew you were meant for this role,” Chenoweth, 56, wrote on Instagram. “Congrats @arianagrande! You’ll be the most amazing Glinda, especially with @cynthiaerivo by your side. 💗💚 I love you!! 🧚♀️👑🪄”
Directed through “Crazy Rich Asians” filmmaker Jon M. Chu, “Wicked” additionally stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum because the Charmer, and Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond.
Grande spoke fondly of her first assembly with Chenoweth all through a June look on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” “Kristin invited me into her dressing room, and we ended up spending a lot of time together,” she recalled. “Her dog peed on the couch, and we cleaned it up together. It was so magical.”
Chenoweth gave Grande a witch’s wand and “magical shower gel,” which Grande nonetheless cherishes. “I dip my little pinky in it every day,” she mentioned, “and I really think it’s magical.”
Grande’s love for “Wicked” is well-documented. In 2011, she posted a tweet expressing her dream to play games Glinda: “Loved seeing “Wicked” once more… superb manufacturing! Made me notice once more how badly I wish to play games Glinda at some time in my week! #DreamRole.”
She additionally proved her “Wicked” superfan condition when she carried out “The Wizard and I” for NBC’s “Wicked” 15th anniversary special in 2018.
In spite of her hobby and vocal ability, Grande admitted that touchdown the position of Glinda was once no longer simple. In a Nov. 1 interview at the “Sentimental Man” podcast, she referred to as the audition procedure a “challenge.”
“Anything on this scale has to be earned,” she mentioned. “It’s fun to reframe people’s perceptions and prove what I can deliver. I get why people might doubt me based on what they know of me, but I’ve worked hard for this.”
“Wicked” opens Nov. 22, with the second one phase scheduled for let fall Nov. 21, 2025.
