The celebs of “Depraved” Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the Oscars with a spirited tribute to the cinematic variations of Oz, culminating in a rendition in “Defying Gravity” from their nominated movie.
After a montage of traditional onscreen Los Angeles moments — a nod to the current fires — Grande emerged, singing “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” in a glowing crimson costume, evoking Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Erivo then took the stage, belting “Residence” from “The Wiz.”
Grande then returned for “Defying Gravity,” earlier than Erivo introduced all the things residence together with her emphatic battle cry. The group roared and gave them a standing ovation. The digital camera caught their co-star Michelle Yeoh in tears.
Whereas Grande and Erivo have been primarily joined on the hip through the promotional tour for the movie and, in fact, harmonize onscreen, they’ve hardly ever carried out stay collectively. They sang a duet on the 2024 Met Gala, singing “When You Imagine,” an Oscar winner for the 1998 movie “The Prince of Egypt.” That ballad, famously recorded by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, was written by the “Depraved” composer Stephen Schwartz.
“Depraved” — a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” that focuses on the character of the Depraved Witch of the West, in any other case often known as Elphaba — has 10 Oscar nominations, together with one apiece for Erivo and Grande, nominated within the main and supporting actress classes, respectively.
Whereas the film isn’t a finest image front-runner, it’s the highest-grossing nominee, coming in fifth on the 2024 worldwide field workplace, simply forward of fellow nominee “Dune: Half Two.” Together with a efficiency from “Depraved” within the ceremony is probably going a draw for audiences who may not have seen, say, “The Brutalist,” which has been comparatively troublesome to look at because it slowly expanded its theatrical launch.
“Depraved,” directed by Jon M. Chu, turned a phenomenon, partially due to the wave of merchandise it spawned in addition to the viral moments it generated. Take, as an illustration, the interview by which a reporter advised Erivo and Grande that folks had been “holding house” for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity.”
Grande and Erivo’s look on the telecast can also be a reminder that they could be again subsequent yr. “Depraved” solely covers the primary act of the Broadway musical on which it’s primarily based. The sequel, “Depraved: For Good,” is due out in November.
