CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A lively crowd braved the chilly weather on Wednesday to celebrate Cynthia Erivo, the star of “Wicked,” who was honored as the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Woman of the Year at Harvard University.
Dressed warmly in a parka, Erivo waved at the enthusiastic fans and expressed her affection by blowing kisses and enthusiastically mouthing “I love you” as she traveled in a vehicle alongside costume-clad members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. One devoted fan offered her a red rose, while others held up signs that praised her immense talent. She even received affectionate cheek kisses from a couple of the theatrical members who accompanied her.
The parade lasted half an hour and was filled with festive entertainment, including marching bands, a mechanical bull perched in the back of a pickup truck, and performers from the famed Blue Man Group, who brightened the atmosphere with colorful confetti.
“She’s such an icon,” remarked Onovughakpor Otitigbe, a 21-year-old student at Harvard from New York, who was part of the cheering crowd.
“Cynthia has accomplished so much for Black women, especially in the theater world,” she continued. “As a Black woman involved in theater myself, it’s incredible to finally see her live … I took so many selfies! My friend and I chased her from the beginning to the end of the parade.”
Erivo, who gained prominence through her stellar role in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” has been recognized with two Oscar nominations, an Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2016 for her extraordinary performance. Additionally, she showcased songs from the production on the “Today” show, where she earned a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Performance in a Daytime Program. The soundtrack of the show was also awarded Best Musical Theater Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Last year, Erivo not only starred in but also produced “Drift,” a film that tells the story of a young Liberian refugee seeking refuge on a Greek island after fleeing a war-torn homeland. In 2021, she received an Emmy nomination for her stunning portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic series “Genius: Aretha.”
“We are making preparations for Cynthia Erivo’s visit,” said Hannah Frazer, the Events Coordinator for the Man and Woman of the Year initiative. “We’re dusting off our broomstick closets and gearing up with some wickedly clever humor as we await her arrival in February. Before she departs with her Pudding Pot, she’ll need to weave some magic to earn it.”
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, recognized as the world’s third-oldest performing arts group, has been in existence since 1844. Erivo is set to receive her Pudding Pot award at a celebratory roast that evening, followed by a performance of the theatrical group’s 176th production, “101 Damnations.”
Actor Jon Hamm, known for his iconic role as Don Draper in the AMC series “Mad Men,” has been named the 2025 Man of the Year, having received his own Pudding Pot on January 31.
Since 1951, the Pudding has been honoring notable actors with the Woman of the Year award, with past recipients including luminaries like Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, and Annette Bening.
