Cynthia Erivo encourages moviegoers to sing-along aloud while watching Wicked in theatres

Cynthia Erivo, the British actress and singer portraying Elphaba in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked, has voiced her support for fans singing along to the musical in theaters. Her comments came during an interview with Hoda Kotb on NBC's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast on November 28, 2024.

The discussion arose as fans of Wicked debated whether singing along during screenings enhances or disrupts the viewing experience. Kotb asked Erivo for her opinion, noting the enthusiasm many fans show for the musical's iconic tunes. Erivo responded positively, saying:

"Good! I'm OK with it. We've spent this long singing it ourselves, it's time for everyone else to join in. It's wonderful."

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Cynthia Erivo's support for singing aloud sparks debate amid AMC's policies and upcoming sing-along screenings

AMC Theatres has taken a firm stance against audience singing. Ryan Noonan, a spokesperson for the theater chain, emphasized AMC's policy prohibiting disruptive behavior. Noonan told IndyStar on November 21:

"AMC has a long-standing policy that prohibits disruptive behavior. The 'Wicked' preshow spot [which includes 'no singing'] incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show."

Despite the mixed reactions, fans will soon have a designated opportunity to sing along with their favorite Wicked tracks. Special interactive sing-along screenings are set to begin on Christmas Day, playing in approximately 1,000 theaters across North America. These screenings will allow audiences to participate freely, belting out iconic songs like Defying Gravity and The Wizard and I.

Some Wicked attendees have been caught filming portions of the movie on their phones and posting them online. This behavior, aside from being disruptive to other viewers, is also illegal and has drawn criticism from theater operators and filmmakers alike, as stated by the AMC Theatres spokesperson.

However, the sing-along screenings planned for the Christmas season offer a specific framework for audiences to enjoy the film's songs. Such screenings mentor fans of musicals like The Greatest Showman and are designed to maintain the level of fan participation as well as respect the theatrical experience.

Since its release on November 22, 2024, Wicked has proven to be a major box-office success. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film debuted with a global opening weekend of $164.2 million, as stated by SlashFilm.

Critics and audiences alike have praised the performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who portray Elphaba and Glinda respectively, for bringing the beloved Broadway characters to life.

The film adaptation of Wicked is being released in two parts, with the second installment set to premiere on November 21, 2025. In the meantime, fans can continue to enjoy the first part, which features live vocal takes of classics such as Popular, What Is This Feeling?, and Dancing Through Life.

Cynthia Erivo has several notable current and upcoming projects in her career. Her performance alongside Ariana Grande has garnered critical acclaim. Additionally, Cynthia Erivo recently appeared in Poker Face Season 2, where she joined a star-studded cast in the critically acclaimed series by Rian Johnson. Earlier in 2023, she produced and starred in Drift, a film about a Liberian refugee, which premiered to positive reviews at Sundance.

Looking ahead, Cynthia Erivo is slated to headline a special benefit concert with the Colorado Symphony on May 10, 2025. This event, part of the Symphony's Frontier Gala, will feature her powerful renditions of Broadway classics and other iconic tracks, further showcasing her vocal prowess.