Synopsis
At the 97th Academy Awards, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lit up the stage with enchanting performances from 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Wiz', and 'Wicked', captivating the audience and honoring the legacy of Oz amid a heartfelt tribute to Los Angeles.Key Takeaways
- Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo stole the show at the Oscars.
- Their performances celebrated iconic musicals from 'Oz'.
- The event included a tribute to Los Angeles.
- The musical 'Wicked' received multiple nominations.
- Other artists also performed at the ceremony.
Los Angeles, March 3 (NationPress) The Oscars were truly unforgettable as singer-songwriter Ariana Grande and actress-singer Cynthia Erivo enchanted the audience, launching the 97th annual ceremony with a mesmerizing musical medley featuring selections from 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Wiz', and 'Wicked'.
Following a heartfelt tribute to Los Angeles, which is healing from recent wildfires, Grande took the spotlight to deliver a touching performance of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from the 1939 classic 'The Wizard of Oz'. This was followed by Erivo, who captivated the crowd with her rendition of 'Home' from the 1975 musical 'The Wiz', as reported by 'Variety'.
The two Academy Award nominees then collaborated for a powerful performance of 'Defying Gravity', the show-stopping finale of the first act of 'Wicked'.
According to 'Variety', Grande, whose dazzling dress was embellished with a ruby red slipper, momentarily stepped back to allow Erivo, dressed in a strapless white gown adorned with floral designs, to showcase her character's iconic battle cry. When Erivo reached that soaring final note, the audience erupted into a standing ovation for the two leading ladies.
It can be confidently stated that the celebration of 'Oz', both on stage and on screen, was exceptionally “pop-u-lar” at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
The incredibly talented Grande and Erivo portray the bubbly, pink-loving Glinda and the green-skinned Elphaba in 'Wicked', a musical that tells the story of the first act of the beloved Broadway hit.
Beyond its box office success, the musical adaptation boasts 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Grande.
This year’s ceremony also featured performances from other artists, including Queen Latifah, Doja Cat, Lisa from Blackpink, and British singer Raye. Notably, this year's Oscars did not include performances of the nominees for Best Original Song.
