Culture
Cynthia Erivo Makes a Surprise Visit to the Choir She Sang in as a Kid to Perform a Touching Wicked Number
Cynthia Erivo Goes Back to Her Old School with a Glad Surprise
One of the highlights of Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo, 38, went back with BBC Radio 1 to her old place to surprise the students during a choir practice session this week. Erivo, who sings the role of Elphaba in the next movie-musical, originally made her first big move on stage at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School in Clapham Park, London, twenty years ago.
So now, through a YouTube video dated Nov. 18, which is a break from the film’s press tour, she goes back to her old place and makes a connection with the new generation of performers.
Cynthia Erivo Comes to Former School Unexpectedly to a Choir Emotional Wicked Visit
“By the way, they have no clue that you are here,” Greg James, BBC Radio 1 host, tells Erivo as they are about to enter the rehearsal room.
James goes in first and informs the girls choir that they will be filming a video of “For Good” to send to Erivo who secretly listens just outside the door. While they are performing, the star of Wicked arrives and the students cannot contain their screams.
After meeting the room, Erivo sits and listens, her eyes full of tears.
“I was at this school, and I left it more than 20 years ago, so coming back and hearing you sing that song is really amazing,” she said to them. “Good job, everyone. It’s a great pleasure to see you all and be back here.”
Cynthia Erivo Gets Emotional Watching Her Old School’s Choir Sing Wicked
After seeing the choir, Cynthia Erivo was so deeply touched that she said to the kids, her voice cracking, that she ‘is not okay at all,’ completely overcome with emotion.
Moreover, she decided to stay on the spot for a while to respond to their queries, recalling her own journey and giving them some pieces of advice if they want to make a career in the entertainment industry.
“I was literally in your place, and I had some really amazing teachers, who helped and guided me,” she said to them. “You start to figure out what you want, and don’t hesitate to ask for those things. Don’t be afraid to dream of those things, and then don’t be afraid of the hard work that will follow – because it definitely will.”
Cynthia Erivo Walks Down Memory Lane at Her Former School
In a part of the video that was not shown, Greg James took Erivo to the corridors of La Retraite — her old school — to see the photos of her productions during her school days which according to him are now “proudly” displayed in the corridors of La Retraite.
Erivo, gathering her wits, sees pictures from My Fair Lady, which she estimates she did at around 14, and also a video of her as the lead in Guys and Dolls.
“She displayed talent from early years and her behavior has not changed even though she is now a grown woman,” Ruth Coyle, the school’s Director of Admissions, Careers and Technical Education, told HELLO! in January.
School Describes Cynthia Erivo As A “Wonderful Role Model” For Students
In addition to that, Ruth Coyle mentioned that the memory of Cynthia Erivo’s time at La Retraite is documented in The
Legacy Book, a record that looks back at the most important and famous alumni.
“Erivo is such an amazing role model for the students because they are able to realize that nothing is out of their
reach,” said Coyle. “I find it very inspiring that she did all her stunts by herself, so while she was hanging in the air,
she was actually singing — that’s just proving a point that you can get whatever you want.”
