Cynthia Erivo on Why ‘Wicked’ Ballroom Dance Scene Was ‘Sometimes Painful’ to Film

The story of love and friendship between two legendary witches in “Wicked” inspires tears in real life, both on and off screen.

The upcoming film, which hits theaters Nov. 22, is the first of a two-part release and focuses on the relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) — sorry, Golinda – during their time at Shiz University.

During one scene, “there wasn’t a dry eye” in the audience, Hoda Kotb told Erivo and Grande in an interview that aired TODAY Nov. 14.

The party scene, set in the Ozdust Ballroom, marks a turning point for Erivo and Grande’s characters’ friendship after Elphaba is the subject of ridicule. Filming the moment was as emotional as watching it, Erivo said.

“It was a really big day,” Erivo said. “Sometimes painful. Sometimes happy. It took a lot of heart because everything is out there for everyone to see. It’s a very vulnerable space to walk into.”

Elphaba and Glinda perform an emotional dance sequence during the ballroom scene. Erivo told Hoda and Savannah Guthrie that the cast provided a “wall of protection” in that moment.

“I’m so grateful to have been able to do that and go through any of the little wounds that I have and the little wounds that Elphaba has and to have shown everything,” Erivo said.

Grande explained that the scene in the film lasts 10 minutes, and every time they filmed it, the scene was performed in its entirety. During each take of the “12-hour day,” Grande said, “you can hear a pin drop.”

“Every (supporting cast) in the room … every dancer, everybody kept it with us,” Grande said. “And I think all of our hearts are still kind of in that space.”

As the “extraordinary day” ended, Grande, director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt “just surrounded Cynthia,” she said.

“We just hugged her and said, ‘I think it’s time to go to bed,'” Grande said.

To play Elphaba, Erivo said she had to learn to wear her vulnerabilities on her sleeve, a contrast to her typical “caregiver” role in real life.

“All of (Elphaba’s) vulnerabilities kind of had to be on the outside — that’s what she leads with,” Erivo said. “Even though there’s a kind of thin veneer that holds it together and safety, there’s still this feeling of not really being safe, not really knowing yourself.”

To be present and vulnerable, Erivo and Grande discussed “taking care of each other” before filming.

“We had never met before this. And then when we found out we were cast, we took some time together, sat on my floor in my house and talked. And it was easy,” Erivo said of their first meeting.

“And we had a very real conversation in the beginning about taking care of each other,” Grande added. “And if there’s anything, tell me.”

The two said they reached an agreement: “If there’s something going on in your world that takes up too much on a big day, like every day on this set, I can hold some of it for you, with you, and vice versa ,” Grande explained.

“We just wanted to—,” Grande added before Erivo finished the sentence.

“— Be there for each other,” she said. “Make room for each other.”