CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On a chilly Wednesday, a crowd of enthusiastic fans gathered in the streets, eager to see Cynthia Erivo, the renowned star of “Wicked,” as she was honored as Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year.
Erivo, dressed warmly in a parka and showcasing her signature long fingernails, greeted fans with kisses and gestures of affection as she proceeded in a car alongside members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals in Cambridge. A fan presented her with a red rose while others held signs celebrating her talents and contributions to the arts. Members of the theatrical group showered her with kisses on the cheek, further amplifying the joyous atmosphere of the event.
The parade lasted about half an hour and featured a variety of entertaining elements, including marching bands, a mechanical bull presented in a pickup truck, and performers from the Blue Man Group, who enlivened the air with colorful confetti.
“She’s such an icon,” remarked Onovughakpor Otitigbe, a 21-year-old Harvard student from New York, expressing her admiration for Erivo. “She’s done so much for Black women, especially in theater,” she continued, sharing her excitement about seeing Erivo in person. “As a Black woman in theater myself, it was just really amazing… Oh my gosh, I got so many selfies. Me and my friend, we chased her from the beginning to the end of the parade.”
Later in the day, Erivo was presented with the Pudding Pot award during a celebratory roast, where she endured a series of playful jabs about the length of “Wicked” before the comedians were playfully ushered off stage. She took part in a whimsical finger-painting contest, attempting to create an abstract representation of her “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande. The crowd erupted in cheers as she showcased her vocal talents in a singing competition, ultimately receiving a blue Pudding Pot from members of the Blue Man Group, one outfitted as a witch and another using a leaf blower to create dramatic effects with her cape. The traditional Pudding Pot followed soon afterward.
Expressing her gratitude to the crowd, Erivo described her day as “fantastic.” Speaking to reporters afterward, she noted the significance of receiving recognition from a theater organization for her contributions. “It means a great deal actually because theater doesn’t really leave you, the craft that you love, the work you are put through, the standard you build,” she articulated. “It helps to build the work you do on screen… To be awarded for things I’ve done on stage means a great deal. It means it’s still shining through, which is quite nice.”
In addition to her star role in the hit musical, Erivo is a distinguished two-time Oscar nominee and has also received an Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award.
She gained widespread acclaim initially with her stunning performance in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” earning the 2016 Tony for best actress in a musical. Her rendition of songs from the production on the “Today” show garnered her a Daytime Emmy for outstanding music performance in a daytime program, and the show’s soundtrack secured the Grammy for best musical theater album in 2017.
Most recently, Erivo starred in and produced the film “Drift,” which tells the poignant story of a young Liberian refugee escaping to a Greek island from a war-torn background. Additionally, she garnered an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic series “Genius: Aretha” in 2021.
Before Wednesday’s festivities, Hannah Frazer, the Events Coordinator for the Man and Woman of the Year, remarked, “We are holding space for Cynthia Erivo’s arrival. We’re sweeping out our broomstick closets and prepping some wicked smart humor as we eagerly await her in February. Before she flies off with her Pudding Pot, she’ll have to work a little magic to earn it.”
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, established in 1844, proudly declares itself as the world’s third-oldest theater group still in operation. Following the celebratory roast, Erivo was set to attend a performance of the 176th production by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, titled “101 Damnations.”
In a related note, actor Jon Hamm, known for his role as Don Draper on the acclaimed AMC series “Mad Men,” was recognized as the 2025 Man of the Year and received his own Pudding Pot on January 31.
Since 1951, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals has honored remarkable actresses with the Woman of the Year award, recognizing prominent figures such as Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, and Annette Bening.
