‘Wicked’ Star Ethan Slater on His ‘Dumb’ Self-Tape Audition for Boq and How Therapy Is Helping Him Get Through This ‘Crazy Ride’

As I delve into the captivating journey of Ethan Slater, a talented performer who has graced both Broadway and our screens, it’s impossible not to be moved by his resilience and determination. Born and raised in New Jersey, he faced bullying during his childhood due to his striking red hair, but instead of letting it dampen his spirit, he channeled that energy into his passion for performing.

Ethan Slater is adjusting to the spotlight that encompasses both his personal and work life.

He’s set to appear on the big screen for the first time, playing the role of the lovelorn Boq in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Marissa Bode. Last year, speculation about Slater and Grande’s relationship arose online, which coincided with the news of their divorces from their former partners.

Slater confirms that his therapist is the one he relies on during these challenging times under the spotlight, and he praises him for being incredibly useful,” or simply, “Slater leans on his therapist, who has proven to be very helpful.

To this point, the individual, aged 32, had garnered acclaim and adoration from Broadway enthusiasts primarily due to his Tony Award-nominated performances in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.

In numerous aspects of life, be it fame or career or anything else, what truly matters is having a solid support system by your side. I’m incredibly fortunate to have friends and family who are supportive, grounding, helpful, loving, and caring. This journey is already feeling like a wild ride, with ‘Wicked’ not premiering for another two days yet. It’s all just getting started, this whirlwind of events. But I’ve been truly thankful to have these good people I can rely upon, and hopefully they can lean on me too.

https://playlist.megaphone.fm/

Instead of asking Goldblum (the actor portraying the Wizard) for guidance, Slater casually inquired about his expectations and potential outcomes. Goldblum’s response left Slater amused as he joked that he had never taken on a project of such scale before. However, this claim seemed dubious to Slater since Goldblum is well-known in the industry. Goldblum then reassured him by saying that every undertaking feels significant and it’s about finding strategies to cope.

The following Q&A has been edited and condensed for clarity. Listen to the full interview on “Just for EbMaster” above or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Are you going to do a “Glicked” double feature?

I’m eagerly hoping that it works out. I’m planning to arrange it in my schedule for a span of about seven hours, and then head over to IMAX for the immersive experience. I truly look forward to it.

Is this your initial major film project? Do you prefer to attend the cinema, choosing a spot towards the rear where you can casually observe the crowd’s response while keeping a low profile with your hat on?

I’m torn between two thoughts. On one hand, attending these premieres and sharing the movie with people has been wonderful. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this project, and it’s heartwarming to see everyone’s hard work appreciated by others. Plus, I adore going to the cinema, and I believe experiencing a film in that specific theater can create a truly unique atmosphere. However, on the other hand, there’s a sense of embarrassment as well.

It’s not as though a casual evening out with Ariana would allow us to slip unnoticed, without drawing some attention.

In our outing, we’ll don hats and masks. A friend of mine, Danny Skinner, who I worked with on “SpongeBob,” and I have watched every “SpongeBob” movie together, including the one we filmed ourselves. We can’t help but stand out, given our resemblance to SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star when we’re side by side. It’s quite an unusual sight. We attempted to remain incognito at the tour in Philadelphia, but were quickly recognized, with people exclaiming, “Hey, Ethan! Hey, Danny!” To which we replied, “What do you mean?

‘Wicked’ Star Ethan Slater on His ‘Dumb’ Self-Tape Audition for Boq and How Therapy Is Helping Him Get Through This ‘Crazy Ride’

Tell me about the first time you saw “Wicked” on stage? How old were you?

In the sixth grade, which was when I turned 11 years old, I had the opportunity to watch the original Broadway production of “Wicked” in spring 2004. I believe it was in May, prior to the Tonys, as we went on a school field trip. As for my childhood memories, they’re not always crystal clear, but I vividly remember the experience itself and the bus ride back. I think the cast album had already been released, and we were all singing along for the entire journey. Reflecting now, while working on the film adaptation of “Wicked” 21 years later, it’s remarkable to realize that this performance played a significant role in igniting my passion for theater and music, especially Stephen Schwartz’s compositions in both “Wicked” and “The Prince of Egypt.” It may seem incredible, but it truly impacted me, shaping my life, first in subtle ways, and eventually in more profound ones.

What was it like walking onto the “Wicked” set for the first time?

Upon my initial day in London, Jon engaged me in an enlightening conversation that lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours. We delved into the topic of Munchkin identity and the culture of their land, a subject he addressed with everyone due to his exceptional nature. He shared some insights, yet he encouraged me to contribute based on my research findings and acting instincts. This openness, although potentially awkward and intimate, was met with genuine enthusiasm by Jon. He responded warmly, “Tell me more. I’m intrigued! What have you discovered?” Our dialogue flowed freely, creating a beautiful exchange of ideas.

What was your audition like?

In my eagerness to excel, I found myself in a predicament. There was nobody around to rehearse with me, and it was a self-taped audition. I ended up recording all of Glinda’s lines, singing Nessa’s parts, and reading along, off-camera. It resulted in quite a bit of ‘Ethan’ on that tape… It felt so foolish. Such a poor decision it was. And as I look back, I find myself thinking, “I can’t believe I’m sending this, but it’s the deadline, and I think I’m good enough and whatever.” I sent it off, but in my heart, I knew, “There’s no hope for this.

Did you personally know Cynthia and Ari before you got the part?

Not at all had we truly interacted before that point. We’d merely shared a brief encounter, but substantial conversations were yet to unfold between us.

What was it like seeing yourself for the first time in full Boq hair and makeup?

Although Boq’s hair shares a resemblance with mine, I chose to accentuate the architectural aesthetic by adding numerous hair extensions, numbering in the hundreds.

It wasn’t a wig?

Indeed, my hair, supplemented with extensions, is what you see. Throughout the year, I usually kept it in an elegant top knot, but when I didn’t, I had to put some effort into styling it or else it would droop and appear quite absurd. It was a rather peculiar lifestyle, yet it was full of fun.

You kept the extensions in when you weren’t filming?

Every three weeks, the procedure involved taking them out, allowing my scalp time to readjust, giving me a trim, and then two days of reinserting them. The initial day took seven hours, followed by an additional three hours on the second day for the reinsertion process, and another haircut was required once they were all in place.

When are you going back to Broadway?

As of now, I’m undecided and have no definite plans. I’m eagerly hoping for a solution to arise soon. My affection lies with Broadway performances and the Broadway community, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.

What’s your dream musical?

I’ve got a little pitch, which is that I think…Tevye the Dairy Man would probably be around 38 years old, maybe nearing 40. So I think in my late 30s leading to 40, I want to play Tevye [in “Fiddler on the Roof”].

That doesn’t have to be Broadway. You could do a movie, Jon Chu’s “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Jon Chu’s “Fiddler on the Roof” — that’s a stunning idea.

I want 10 percent.

You know what? If we can put this thing together, 10 percent is yours.

Check out my interview with Slater at the “Wicked” premiere in Los Angeles, just below. Discover his thoughts on the childhood bullies who used to mock him because of his red hair.

2024-11-24 00:18

‘Wicked’ Star Ethan Slater on His ‘Dumb’ Self-Tape Audition for Boq and How Therapy Is Helping Him Get Through This ‘Crazy Ride’

Read More

Minority Mindset