ARIANA GRANDE, CYNTHIA ERIVO BOW WICKED FOR OZ FANS

Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning artist and Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning global superstar Ariana Grande arrived at the State Theatre, Sydney on Sunday for the star-studded Australian premiere of Wicked.

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring stage musicals, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular cinematic event, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians; In the Heights).

Erivo and Grande were joined by their co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater at the first stop on the global ‘Journey Through Oz’ premiere tour, with the State Theatre and its surrounds transformed into a whimsical tribute to Munchkinland.

The ‘Journey Through Oz’ tour is a series of themed premieres across five international cities - Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City and London - offering audiences an unparalleled experience of the film’s wondrously crafted fantasy world.

Wicked is the previously-untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths.

Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Fans can follow The Journey Through Oz on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and join the global conversation using #WickedMovie.