do you remember the first time you saw yourself in the mirror as elphaba?, very real. and it was s all of a sudden oh she's in the room, this woman we've been thinking of and imagining. now exists. ♪♪ >> the british-born erivo has been dreaming about elphaba, a role originated on broadway by stage legend idina menzel, since her days at the royal academy of dramatic art. ♪♪ what was your relationship with the broadway show and the material? >> by the time i left drama school, i knew this music by heart. when i was 25, i decided to take myself on a solo date to "wicked" in london. and immediately fell in love with the story and with these characters and with elphaba particularly. just because of how different she was and how out she felt. i just wish i could -- >> what? you wish what? >> we knew the film was beg made. i asked no one to tell me. i really wanted to be a part of it, but i didn't want to let myself be hurt by not being asked to come in. so i just waited, and when it finally came my way was raring to go. >> director john chu said we found elphaba.

elphaba flies into the skies.d work. >> jimmy: nice. there you go, cody. that's the answer you're looking for. i'm sure you can watch it now. it's guillermo's birthday. when you sing happy birthday in a group of people. >> yes. >> jimmy: do you shame everyone by really lighting it up or do you hold back and sing with the group? >> i like the homer simpson where you sort of go back into the bushes. because there is an expectation that i will be the one that's presenting the happy birthday song. >> jimmy: i see. >> but i like for it to be a group effort. >> jimmy: yes. >> however, there are some friends that will get, you know, happy birthday voice notes where i will do a happy birthday song for them. >> jimmy: oh. a special song? >> the happy birthday song, but my way. >> jimmy: would you do a little bit of it for our friend guillermo here on his birthday? [ cheering ] ♪ happy birthday to you, birthday to you ♪ >> guillermo: wow ♪ happy birthday dear guillermo ♪ >> guillermo: wow! ♪ happy birthday, happy birthday,

elphaba. ..elphaba. you can room with miss glinda. what?! no. have you seen the papers?me. i happen to agree with them. what if i don't want it? no sane man would want the papacy. some of our colleagues want it. what if i know in my heart that i'm not worthy? you are more worthy than any of us. i'm not. well, then tell your supporters not to vote for you, pass the chalice. and let it go to him? i could never live with myself. vaccination? 0k. not going on a vacation. by the way, ijust want to say, my wife is a huge fan. - blood type? 0h, hey, it's your birthday. happy... she sobs. as you heard there, the vatican thriller conclave is expected to do well. it has already collected 12 bafta nominations. tom brook has been speaking to the film's cast and director. the pope is dead. the throne...is vacant. conclave is a film chronicling political intrigue at the vatican, as we observe the fictional cardinal lawrence, played by british actor ralph fiennes, presiding over the election of a new pope. he finds himself at the centre of intense politicking. this is a conclave, aldo,

cynthia, since you're a tony winner and you play elphaba in the new musical, "wicked," these songs willhia, why don't you start us off? press the button, and we'll see what you're about to sing. >> okay. [ generator beeping ] [ laughter ] >> jimmy: okay, "all that jazz" from "chicago." >> okay. >> jimmy: like, a country -- roots -- ♪ you give us a country beat here. oh, yeah, there you go. cynthia erivo, ladies and gentlemen. here we go. put your hands together. ♪ ♪ come on babe why don't we paint the town and all that jazz ♪ ♪ i'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down and all that jazz ♪ ♪ start the car i know a whoopee spot where the gin is cold but the piano's hot ♪ ♪ it's just a noisy hall where there's a nightly brawl and all that jazz ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: yee-hoo! that's how you do it! all right, you're good. you're great at this. >> okay. >> jimmy: you're gonna be great at this. >> okay. >> jimmy: this is a fun game. all right, it's my turn. here we go. let's -- what do i got? [ generator beeping ] all right. [ light laughter ] all right, well, hey -- so

what did elphaba give you? >> green ears.f kids and parents couldn't get out of their heads. ♪ the cold never bothered me anyway ♪ >> reporter: what's your relationship with "let it go"? >> my relationship with "let it go" is fabulous. i mean, it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. people always say do you get sick of a song like that. maybe they think i'm lying, but i really don't. ♪ let it go, let it go ♪ ♪ can't it back anymore ♪ >> when i was a little girl, if i dreamt i would be singing a song like this, i wouldn't have believed it. i would have because i was cocky when i was little and i actually, you know, believed in myself and thought definitely going to happen for me. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: but the task of writing idina menzel's next big song went to someone who never had written for a big broadway star, or for anyone. "redwood" is composer kate diaz's first show h but you'd never know it. >> from a songwriter's performance, what's it right to write for the idina menzel? >> amazing. i never had written for

. >> elphaba in the spotlight. ♪ it's me ♪ >>> a major announcement from kenny chesney. ♪♪ >> the countryood ♪ >> from flintstone, georgia. >> celebrating sweet 16. >> hi to our friends. >> girls trip from iowa. >> good morning to my girls in whites field, kentucky. >> celebrating two years cancer free from fort pierce, florida. >> hi to my mom watching in peabody, massachusetts. >> here for gi's retirement. >>> welcome back to "today" on this thursday morning. thank you so much for joining us. a good little crowd outside as we start to roll into the weekend. we're going to head out in just a bit. laura jarrett is in for savannah. s.g. is a little under the weather. >> she's trying to recover from the dance moves you put on "fallon" last night. >> is that what it is? you know what, we're not going to see those dance moves again. we'll tell you about them later. >>> let's get to your news at 8:00. right now, we are going to start with that breakthrough in the middle east. israel and hamas agreeing to a ceasefire paving the way for an end to 15 months of fighting. but overnight some new air

cynthia erivo and ariana grande brought elphaba and glinda to life with their looks.danielle brooks shut it down, and emma stone was exquisite in mint green, wardrobe malfunction and all. ♪ but haute couture isn't just for award shows. sometimes the press tour can be the perfect runway. just ask zendaya. -so you're showing up, and you just want to do your best. -between this dress with an eye catching cutout that she wore in nyc and this suit and skirt combo that served gigabyte realness, and of course, her futuristic fembot look that she wore to the london premiere, zendaya turned the "dune: part two" press tour into an ultimate fashion showcase. -zendaya eats every time. -i mean, this carpet, that carpet, this carpet, that carpet. -and if we're talking celebs who changed the fashion game this year, we have to talk beyoncé. no one rocks denim, cowboy hats and fringe like queen bee. "cowboy carter" revitalized rodeo style and brought that good old western wear into the mainstream. but while beyoncé was rocking a full cowboy esthetic, charli xcx was focused on a single

cynthia erivo on playing elphaba with oscar nominations a few days away.hat is settling in. it's worse up there in the north bay, too, and out towards the central valley. that will be with us through 9 a.m. you can see this very foggy shot, 101, in san rafael. after we mix out of this fog, it will be a cool day with some hazy sunshine. we expect those offshore winds to return going on into tomorrow >>> ahead on "sunday today" our highs and lows of the week including a dad doing dad things. racking up millions of views with his hack for snow removal. >>> up next, our sunday spotlight on the milk man still making his rounds in a snapshot from another time. "sunday today" is coming right back. when you really need to sleep. you reach for the really good stuff. zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. its non-habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil. (grandpa) i'm the richest guy in the world. (man 1) i have time to give. (man 2) i have people i can count on. (grandma) and a million stories to share. (vo) the key to being

and she was my first elphaba, so it's very exciting. had clinical depression which, you know, at the time was called, "your mother's lazy." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: yeah, yeah, at the time, yeah, that's what they called that. yeah. >> but two years after that time that this takes place, my mom became the director of a a local college, a theater director, and she directed about 25 musicals in the -- >> jimmy: no way. >> -- the next 20 years and saw a star in everyone. like, you know, she died, like, eight years ago. and at her funeral, like, you know, anyone could get up and talk. and some guy got up who none of us knew who he was. and he goes, "i was her waiter at applebee's, and she asked me if i sang or acted. and i said, 'i don't know.' and she said, 'why don't you come down and audition and we'll find out?' and that year i was curly in 'oklahoma!'" [ laughter and applause ] >> jimmy: i love that story. >> and i was in -- >> jimmy: i love that story. >> isn't that so sweet? >> jimmy: that's awesome. yes! >> you'll love this little adde

she had an elphaba nod there. so she had her nod there.ed. they completely did it and i loved the fact that ariana wore a yellow to represent the yellow brick road. this was a vintage dress from 1966. she found it at a vintage store. and it belonged to an old studio exec's wife and had never been worn before. >> it was giving that audrey hepburn vibe. >> how about zendaya? >> she can't go wrong. >> she cannot. >> she came, she was referencing joyce bryant. a singer, activist from the early days. it was like saffron, gorgeous silk gown, a matching pump and this incredible tiffany bling. but we weren't looking at that b bullgari diamond. we were looking at the one on her finger. rumors, rumors, rumors, maybe an engagement ring. >> who is she with? >> tom holland. >> i was like, i don't know. >> i have no idea. okay. selena gomez, who is engaged. and looked so gorgeous. >> never looked better and happier. she was so happy showing us the ring. she wore this prada custom dress. her stylist told me this blue was to evoke calm and clarity. those

she is cynthia erivo, who of course, plays elphaba, the green witch, in wicked, a movie that did overpporting actress. the movie, got ten academy award nominations. a great conversation with cynthia erivo coming up this weekend over on nbc sunday today, and we'll be right back here on. >> morning joe. >> we will. >> emu and doug. >> you'll be back. >> emus can't help people customize and save hundreds on car insurance with liberty mutual. you're just a flightless bird. >> no. he's a dreamer, frank. >> and doug. >> well. i'll be. that bird >> well. i'll be. that bird really did it. only pay for what tap into etsy for home and style finds like custom shelving for less than 50 dollars to make more space. or linen robes under 75 to get you cozy. for affordable pieces to help you welcome big changes, etsy has it. decline, which means if i get denied, my fico score won't get a ding. sounds good to me. >> get the free. >> experian app now! >> here you go. >> is there any way. >> to get a better price. >> on this? >> have you checked single care? >> before i pick up my prescription? i always