Ariana Grande Reportedly Signs on To Play Elphaba in ‘Wicked’
If you care to find her, look to the Western sky — Ariana Grande will reportedly take over the role as Elphaba the witch in the Broadway smash Wicked.
Grande, who said she dreamed of playing the role during a Carpool Karaoke segment in August 2017, has evidently made the dream come true, according to The Sun. The site says she'll soon take over for current Elphaba actress Jackie Burns.
"This is a huge feat for Ariana," a source told the site. "The role of Elphaba is one of the most coveted parts to play on Broadway. Only a very select group of actresses have been chosen over its 13-year run and Ariana is in talks to take the gig. Bosses believe she’s got the acting talent to take it on and think it’s a bonus that her pop star appeal can pull in fresh audiences."
Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, opened on Broadway in 2003, and Elphaba has been played by Idina Menzel, Stephanie J. Block, Marcie Dodd, Kristy Cates and more Broadway greats. An offshoot of The Wizard of Oz, it tells the the "Untold Story of the Witches of Oz."
Grande, all the while, has reportedly finished recording her fourth studio album, which is said to be a particularly "personal" work, according to TMZ. A single could arrive as soon as May, according to the report.
Photos From Ariana Grande on Tour: