Ariana Grande teases stage-related project plans

Hotly tipped to be garlanded with an Oscar next spring, it seems Ariana Grande isn’t exiting the wider theatre world even after the Wicked excitement ends.

Grande is about to reprise her role as Glinda (or Galinda) Upland in the second part of the Wicked big-screen adaptation, and is on the press circuit for the new flick ahead of its release later this month.

Speaking to the New York Times today, Grande confirmed that she had a “stage-related” project coming soon. She said: “It’s not on Broadway, but it’s something that I’m very excited about and inspired by.”

While Grande and her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo have denied plans to join the Broadway or West End versions of Wicked, the singer’s comments have set tongues wagging – with the confirmation that it isn’t a Broadway show naturally leading some to speculate as to whether it’s West End-based.

Grande began her career in musical theatre, making her Broadway debut at 15 in 13: The Musical before achieving global fame as a recording artist and actor. She has since released multiple chart-topping albums.

Social media posts have ratcheted into overdrive over the possibility of Grande appearing in a West End musical revival, especially when she has a number of equally talented former West End and Broadway stars in the Wicked movie cast, including Erivo (soon returning to the stage in Dracula) and Sexiest-Man-Alive winner Jonathan Bailey.

In the meantime, Wicked: For Good is preparing to fly its way into cinemas on 21 November.