Cynthia Erivo joins ‘Wicked’ audition and debuts Elphaba’s battle cry

“Bad” fans should tune in to “The Tonight Show” this week: Cynthia Erivo, star of the upcoming blockbuster, stopped by the NBC late night show to talk about her audition process, watch two behind-the-scenes clips from the film and the special and – most exciting of all: debut Elphaba’s iconic battle cry ‘Defying Gravity’.

During her interview with Jimmy Fallon“The Color Purple” star revealed that her audition for the film lasted three hours. That was especially tough for Erivo because it took place during the ‘craziest weekend’. The night before her audition, the Broadway star performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

“I was very sick at the end. I was in bed for four days the next week with a fever of 104,” Erivo revealed. “I was done.”

As for her co-star, Erivo didn’t know Ariana Grande was in talks to play her counterpart Galinda until the duo actually worked together. Erivo said the two had “instant chemistry.” “It was really easy,” she told Fallon, noting that their voices “worked together” as they practiced on the song “For Good.”

But Fallon wasn’t playing around with this particular interview. First he showed his audience a clip of Erivo hanging from wires, zooming around a sound stage and singing ‘Defying Gravity’ as loudly as possible. That clip is part of “Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked,” a behind-the-scenes special premiering next Tuesday on NBC. He also shared a short clip of Erivo singing part of “The Wizard and I” in the film.

His biggest surprise, however, was a live performance by Erivo. “Defying Gravity” – the signature song from “Wicked” centering on Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West – ends on a distinct set of notes. That part of the song is often used in the marketing for the musical, a piece of music that Fallon called Elphaba’s “battle cry.”

“I did it a little differently,” Erivo revealed.

The singer and actress then debuted her version of the battle cry in all its musical glory. Earlier in the interview, Erivo also showed off her flute skills. Watch the full interview above.