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Cynthia Erivo photographed in 2015

On the way to Wicked: Cynthia Erivo’s stage musicals – in pictures

Long before her big-screen success as Elphaba, the British actor lit up the stage with performances in Sister Act, The Color Purple and other hit shows

Cynthia Erivo photographed in 2015 Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian
Fri 21 Nov 2025 12.47 CETLast modified on Fri 21 Nov 2025 12.57 CET
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Anna Mateo (Consuelo) and Cynthia Erivo (Leila) I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky @ Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Cynthia Erivo, right, with Anna Mateo in I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2010. A ‘songplay in two acts’ by John Adams, its title came from a comment made by a survivor of the 1994 Californian earthquake. Erivo ‘sang deliciously’ wrote Fiona MaddocksPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
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Joanna Riding, Laura Brydon and Cynthia Erivo in The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg by Kneehigh @ Gielgud Theatre
The following year, Erivo starred with Joanna Riding and Laura Brydon in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Kneehigh’s adaptation of the Jacques Demy film, seen here at the Gielgud theatre, LondonPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
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The cast of Sister Act with Cynthia Erivo who will be playing Deloris Van Cartier, at the Swan theatre, High Wycombe
In 2011, Erivo hit the road in a touring version of the musical Sister Act, playing Deloris Van Cartier (the role played on screen by Whoopi Goldberg)Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock
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Christopher Colquhoun (Mister) and Cynthia Erivo (Celie) in The Color Purple @ Menier Chocolate Factory
Erivo took on another role associated with Goldberg when she played Celie in a 2013 Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple, co-starring Christopher Colquhoun, left. Michael Billington called Erivo’s performance ‘career-defining’Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
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Cynthia Erivo in Lift by Craig Adams and Ian Watson @ Soho Theatre.
In the same year she starred in the musical Lift, about strangers in an elevator, by Craig Adams and Ian Watson at Soho theatre, LondonPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
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Simon Lipkin (Barlow), Cynthia Erivo (Chenice) and Alan Morrissey (Max) in I Can’t Sing
In 2014 Erivo starred at the London Palladium with Simon Lipkin, left, and Alan Morrissey, right, in I Can’t Sing!, a send-up of TV talent shows by Steve Brown and Harry HillPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
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Elizabeth Chan (Peto), Sharon Rooney (Gadshill), Ashley McGuire (Falstaff), Karen Dunbar (Bardolph) and Cynthia Erivo (Poins). Henry IV, Donmar Warehouse
Erivo has starred in straight plays as well as musicals. In 2014, she played Poins (alongside Elizabeth Chan, Sharon Rooney, Ashley McGuire and Karen Dunbar) in Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female production of Henry IV at the Donmar Warehouse in LondonPhotograph: Helen Maybanks
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Cynthia Erivo & Jonathan Groff ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, Royal Festival Hall, London
Erivo with Jonathan Groff in a one-off 2015 concert performance of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Royal Festival Hall, London, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Photograph: Darren Bell/Shutterstock
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Damian Humbley and Cynthia Erivo in Songs for a New World at St James Theatre
With Damian Humbley in Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World at St James theatre, London, in 2015Photograph: Darren Bell
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Brooks, Covington, Erivo, Jackson, Compere, Webb in The Color Purple
Erivo made her Broadway debut in 2015 with a New York transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory’s The Color Purple, also starring Jennifer Hudson. ‘When I let rip,’ Erivo told the Guardian that year, ‘I let rip!’Photograph: Matthew Murphy
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Cynthia Erivo and Jason Robert Brown perform during “The Last 5 Years” concert for the Brady Center to prevent Gun Violence at Town Hall in New York City
Erivo performing The Last Five Years with composer Jason Robert Brown at a New York concert to prevent gun violence in 2016Photograph: Jenny Anderson/WireImage
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Michelle Obama embraces Erivo at a 2016 Broadway event for girls’ education
Michelle Obama embraces Erivo at a 2016 Broadway event for girls’ educationPhotograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Cynthia Erivo performs onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards
Erivo performed Can You Feel the Love Tonight at the 2019 Tony awards in New YorkPhotograph: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
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Erivo took the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar at a Hollywood Bowl production of the rock opera in 2025, costarring Tyrone Huntley (left) and Phillipa Soo (right)
Erivo took the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar at a Hollywood Bowl production of the rock opera in 2025, co-starring Tyrone Huntley, left, and Phillipa Soo, rightPhotograph: Farah Sosa
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Erivo at the Wicked: For Good premiere in New York in 2025. Next year she returns to the London stage to play Dracula (and 22 supporting roles) at the Noël Coward theatre
Erivo at the Wicked: For Good premiere in New York in 2025. Next year, she will return to the London stage to play Dracula (and 22 supporting roles) at the Noël Coward theatrePhotograph: John Nacion/Variety/Getty Images
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