Trumpets blaring the inspiring melody to "Defying Gravity" lulled all of Cambridge to the heart of Harvard Square, where the Hasty Pudding Theatricals celebrated their 75th Woman of the Year, Cynthia Erivo, with an unforgettable parade. Erivo floated down Massachusetts Ave atop an emerald green Bentley, waving to her adoring fans. The streets flooded with Bostonians of all ages giving flowers to the star.

The Pudding's President and Cast Vice President, Catherine Stanton '25 and Bernardo de Moura Sequeira '26, accompanied Erivo in vibrant outfits featuring Wicked's signature color scheme of vibrant pink and green.

Members of Boston's beloved Blue Man Group showered the singer with streamers and confetti. Amidst the frigid weather, Erivo's contagious smile warmed up the city and filled each onlooker with joy.

Before slipping into Farkas Hall, Erivo joined students from The Pudding for a kick line and final wave. She paused to look around and soak in the full extent of the parade. Dancers in extravagant feather headpieces and a live band on the sidewalk watched in awe, mesmerized by Erivo's magnetic personality. She screamed, "I love you, Boston!" as her final goodbye of the afternoon.

Preparations began for the celebratory roast hosted that evening. Guests filled the lobby dressed for the occasion. One woman sported a bedazzled pair of Elphaba's glasses from the movie, green lipstick, and sleek green suit pants. Harvard put Erivo through the wringer to receive her Pudding Pot. First, she listened to a string of student stand-up comics impersonating people like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Burr. The cheekiest moment of the night is when they told Erivo she would not have to finger paint because of her nails, and a student wearing a "paint" name tag skulked away sadly. They had Erivo compete in a speed-painting contest and awarded her with an Oscar...a trophy for a "pretty ok" painting given to her by a student named Oscar.

Everyone's favorite moment of the night is when Erivo competed in a riff-off to find the true Elphaba. Caitlin Berne '25 and Gabrielle Green '27 gave it their best shot, helped by Zach Halberstam '25 holding an "applause" poster. The room fell silent when it was Erivo's turn. Without missing a beat, Erivo effortlessly sang the iconic battle cry, and the "silence" poster could not hold the audience back from releasing the loudest cheers of the night. Everyone in the theatre understood that they just had the privilege of experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The Pudding pulled out one last trick before handing Erivo her award. The Blue Man Group popped up again, dressed as Elphaba. They walked out on stage in their classic, idiosyncratic style and presented Erivo with a blue cauldron. They wielded a leaf blower, causing Erivo's outfit and the Blue Man's cape to fly in the wind. She shared how the blue was a nice change and that she hoped she could keep the cauldron, too.

Finally, "101 Damnations!" writers Rodmehr Basidj '26 and Jackson Coombs '26 presented Erivo with the real Pudding Pot. She smiled ear to ear as the theatre roared with applause, a reminder of Erivo's measurable impact in the entertainment world and beyond.

Next, Erivo traveled to the third floor for the press conference, joined by moderator Chaelon Simpson '26. As expected, many questions centered around her love of theatre and unforgettable performance in Wicked. One member of the press applauded Erivo for her participation in the roast and asked if she would be interested in exploring comedic roles in the future. Erivo's face immediately lit up, and the glint in her eye and giddy expression signaled she had a secret. She revealed that there is an upcoming project she thinks we'll be excited to see, leaving everyone on the edge of our seats.

Following Boston correspondent Samantha Davidson asked Erivo how song and music helps convey a character's story, like Elphaba, in a way that dialogue alone cannot. "I always feel like music and song are the precipice between when the words...are not enough anymore," she shared. Erivo continued, "I think that they always push the story along, but it's also that intimate truth that the character has in the music. I love when you can combine both song and acting together because I think you get a bit more insight into who the person is...The best kind of musicals are when the songs are because there just isn't anywhere else you can go. You have to sing. There is nothing else you can do because the emotion's too big just for words." Her response demonstrated her deep love and appreciation for the art form and gave everyone a glimpse into why she gravitates toward projects like Wicked.

Erivo posed for one final photo op with Jane Josefowicz '25 and Avery Hansberger '25 in embellished parrot and elephant costumes before attending the premiere of The Pudding's 176th production, "101 Damnations!"

See what all of the well-deserved fuss is about for yourself at the "101 Damnations!" residency at Farkas Hall through March 9. "101 Damnations!" follows goody-two-shoes Claire Ickle-Eror, who has been condemned to Hell due to what she believes was a typo. Hijinks ensue as Lucy Fur plots to expand Hell and Claire seeks to escape.

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TO PURCHASE TICKETS to the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 176th production, visit https://www.hastypudding.org/buy-tickets/, email tickets@hastypudding.org, or contact the HPT Box Office at (617)-495-5205. The show will be performed at Harvard University’s historic Farkas Hall at 12 Holyoke Street from February 7th to March 9th before traveling to New York City for showing on March 14 and 15. You won't want to miss this!