Amid the film’s success, Broadway alumni Lenny Rapp and Cynthia Erivo are both preparing new music. As part of the Rolling Stones’ “Musicians on Musicians” series, the two superstars discussed their upcoming music and other aspects of their careers on stage and screen.
Rapp recalled seeing Erivo’s “The Color Purple” on Broadway when he was 16 years old. This was the second time she had seen it on Broadway. “When you started performing, I was like, ‘OK, she’s different. She’s on another planet, another level,'” she recalled.
Although her heart was drawn to music, Rupp chose a career in the performing arts at the urging of her parents. “I… basically followed, or at least tried to follow, what (Hadestown star) Eva Noblezada (did),” she said. Rupp and Noblezada both had success competing in high school Jimmy Awards before beginning their respective careers. But even though Rapp appeared in the Broadway production of Mean Girls, she was eager to step away from the “hierarchical” business of the show, at least for a time. “I knew what I wanted…I’m not doing this to stay here, I’m doing this to do more. .”
Rapp told Erivo that he was working on new music and was looking forward to it. “That’s all I want. I’ve had my album name for months,” she admitted.
Erivo is also producing a new album, which was recorded during the filming of Wicked. She said maintaining the routine of working on two projects at the same time is an “insane” feat. “I’m in London and I’m talking to a producer who’s in Los Angeles. Then we get together in Los Angeles and record everything and do a big session for the old week or two. Then I go back and finish filming. ” he explained. Erivo. But just like rapping, she’s also looking forward to sharing new music. “Some really beautiful music came out of those sessions… It’s exactly what I dreamed of.” This is her first new album since her debut recording. Both albums are in the works, but no official release date has been set yet.
Erivo made her Broadway debut reprising her role as Celie in the critically acclaimed revival of The Color Purple. She first played the role in London’s Menier Chocolate Factory in 2013 and won several awards for her Broadway performance, including the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Erivo has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her leading role in the film Harriet and for her original song. She will next be seen as Elphaba in the highly anticipated film Wicked.
Earlier this year, Rapp appeared in the musical film version of Mean Girls, reprising her role of Regina George from the Broadway production. Her first studio album, Snow Angel, was released in 2023 and featured songs such as “Pretty Girls,” “Tammy Hearts,” and “Talk to Much.”
Photo by Bruce Grikas