Ethan Slater Did Triple Duty for HisWickedAudition Tape, Playing Boq — as Well as Glinda and Nessarose (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ethan Slater in November 2024.Photo:Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Ethan Slatercan do it all!

“I did two scenes and sang Boq’s songs, ‘The Ozdust Ballroom’ and ‘March of the Witch Hunters,’ which is the second movie," Slater says inPEOPLE’s new specialWickededition.

“But,” he continues, “I should say that I didn’t have anyone to read with at the time, so the tape I sent in is me playing Glinda and Nessa off camera, and then me reading with a video of myself.”

Calling the decision to play three characters at once in his audition tape “so bold,” Slater adds, “I can’t believe I got away with it. But I knew I wanted to take my time with it …  and I couldn’t get somebody to spend that time with me, so I just did it with myself.”

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Ariana Grande (left); Marissa Bode; Ethan Slater.Marleen Moise/WireImage; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic;  John Nacion/getty

Marleen Moise/WireImage; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic;  John Nacion/getty

Wickedmarks Slater’s first major film. He had auditioned long ago for Boq on Broadway, though he didn’t get the role.

However, he did later get the title role inSpongebob Squarepants, a musical version of the hit Nickelodeon television series, which earned him a Tony Award nomination.

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The upcoming film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, stars Grande, 31, as Glinda, oppositeCynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba. (The musical’s original Broadway cast includedKristin ChenowethandIdina Menzelin the roles, respectively.)

Ethan Slater (left) and Ariana Grande (right).Media-Mode/SplashNews

Media-Mode/SplashNews

According to Slater, getting to work with such a large ensemble of talented actors was an experience life no other.

“The thing that felt really special is how much everyone cared about their characters,” he tells PEOPLE. “When you’re working on something that’s been around the world for 20 years and these are characters that the fans love and care about, it’s really important that the actors portraying them in a movie of this scale care as much as everyone else. And everyone did.”

“To watch Cynthia navigate her love for Elphaba, to watch Ariana navigate her love for Glinda and how they were able to imbue their performances, it was revelatory, it was so beautiful,” he continues.

Speaking specifically of Grande, who he iscurrently dating, Slater says, “One of the things that was really fun to see is, she has a masterful grip on comedy, and she’s so funny and so physical, and it never feels like a joke on top of the character. It always feels like it’s coming right from Glinda. You get lost in the performance — she justisGlinda. Even in those incredibly funny physical moments.”

Buy PEOPLE’sWickedspecial editionhere.Wickedwill be released in two parts, with the first arriving in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.

source: people.com