As the highly anticipated Wicked film adaptation takes the world by storm, pop superstar Ariana Grande is reflecting on her own theatrical roots and the profound impact the project has had on her artistic journey. In a candid interview, the multi-Grammy winner opens up about the "healing" experience of portraying the iconic role of Glinda the Good Witch, and how it has reignited her love for the stage, hinting at a potential shift in her future creative endeavors.

Ariana Grande's Theatrical Homecoming: A Transformative Journey

Reconnecting with Her Theatrical Roots

Ariana Grande's rise to fame has been a whirlwind, from her breakout role on the Nickelodeon series Victorious to her meteoric success as a chart-topping pop sensation. However, the singer-actress has never forgotten her theatrical beginnings, having made her Broadway debut at the tender age of 15 in the musical 13. Now, as she takes on the role of Glinda in the highly anticipated Wicked film adaptation, Grande is finding herself drawn back to the stage, a homecoming that has proven to be a deeply transformative experience."I'm gonna say something so scary. It's gonna scare the absolute s— out of my fans and everyone, but I love them and they'll deal, and we'll always be here," Grande confessed on the Las Culturistas podcast, hinting at a potential shift in her creative focus. "I'm always gonna make music. I'm always gonna go onstage, I'm always gonna do pop stuff, I pinky promise. But I don't think doing it at the rate I've been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years."

The Healing Power of the Stage

For Grande, the process of embodying the role of Glinda has been a profoundly healing one, allowing her to reconnect with the theatrical side of her artistry that first ignited her passion for performance. "I think I love acting. I love musical theater," she explained. "I think reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that, finding roles to use these parts of myself, and put them in little homes and characters."This renewed connection with her theatrical roots has sparked a desire within Grande to explore more acting and stage-based projects, a shift that could potentially reshape the trajectory of her illustrious career. "I think reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that, finding roles to use these parts of myself, and put them in little homes and characters," she revealed.

A Transformative Collaboration

The Wicked film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, has proven to be a transformative experience for Grande, both professionally and personally. As she steps into the iconic role of Glinda, the singer-actress is not only honoring the legacy of the beloved Broadway musical but also tapping into a deeper well of artistic expression."I'm always gonna make music. I'm always gonna go onstage, I'm always gonna do pop stuff, I pinky promise," Grande reassured her devoted fanbase. "But I don't think doing it at the rate I've been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years."With the first Wicked installment set to premiere in November 2024, followed by the second film in November 2025, Grande's journey with the project is just beginning. As she navigates this new chapter, her fans and the theater community alike eagerly await to see how this transformative experience will shape the next phase of her illustrious career.