This week, the much-anticipated second part of the Wicked series arrives in movie theaters, drawing buzz from bewitched fans around the globe. The juggernaut films, starring Cynthia Erivo as misunderstood Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as bubbly, popular Galinda Upland, are a film adaptation of the stage musical derived from Gregory Maguire’s Wicked Years. The books explore the origins of characters from Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, inviting audiences to reimagine the so-called Wicked Witch not as an inherently evil villain but as a victim of prejudice and propaganda.
Empathetic, moving, and politically aware, the saga continues to reach new audiences in no small part thanks to Erivo’s powerhouse performance as the witch in question. She was lauded for her exceptional vocals, stirring vulnerability, and layered, dynamic understanding of Elphaba’s kind, complex character. Whether you already have tickets lined up for a midnight screening of Wicked: For Good or you’re feeling curious after catching the latest trailer, there’s no better time to celebrate the remarkable talents of the film’s showstopping star. Here are some of Cynthia Erivo’s best performances in audio.
Fans desperate for more of the world of Oz won’t want to miss Cynthia Erivo’s fresh narration of the story that inspired it all. Gregory Maguire’s Wicked is both a vividly crafted reimagining of the story so familiar to audiences across the globe and a prequel that lends additional understanding and depth to a character written off as a mere antagonist. We’re all familiar with the story of Dorothy Gale, who is swept off to the land of Oz in a tornado that carries her far from home. But quite a lot happened before Dorothy reached the Yellow Brick Road. Maguire pulls on that thread, introducing us to a new side of the Wicked Witch of the West, more kindly known as Elphaba Thropp. Born with green skin, Elphaba is immediately ostracized from her community, but her wits and promising magical abilities offer her the opportunities of a lifetime. But Elphaba cannot sit idle while injustice threatens the lives of her fellow Ozians, drawing ire and kicking off a mounting conspiracy. There is simply no one better to narrate Wicked than Cynthia Erivo; her deep understanding of Elphaba’s character and motivations lend additional heart and spirit to this modern classic.
Distressingly prescient, George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984 remains as relevant today as it was when first published in 1949. But Joe White’s Audible Original adaptation (which features Cynthia Erivo as Julia, the lover and co-conspirator of protagonist Winston Smith) brings this futuristic fable to new life. “Orwell’s 1984 is part of my sci-fi fan origin story—and it remains one of my favorite books to this day," gushes our resident sci-fi expert Sam. “I could scarcely stop listening, entranced by the performance as if hearing this story for the first time. It manages to be faithful to Orwell’s original novel and yet entirely reinvigorating. Hands down, one of my favorite listens I’ve heard in my tenure here as an editor."
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story The Yellow Wallpaper is a triumph of feminist literature, a foreboding and grim listen that unspools the horrors of misogyny-laden 19th-century rest cures for “hysteria” and the overwhelming toll of confinement to the domestic sphere. Cynthia Erivo’s narration is masterful, eerie, and haunting as the story progresses and the protagonist begins to slip, little by little, into madness. The narrator, a young woman, is largely sequestered in a single room fitted with barred windows and an immovable bed. But the room’s most off-putting feature is its wallpaper, a grotesquely yellow pattern that shifts and mutates. This story, powerful and unnerving, is sure to stick with you long after its conclusion.
Cynthia Erivo’s Simply More is a testament to the power of author-narrated storytelling. A selection for 2025’s Best of the Year, this blend of memoir and well-being is as inspiring as it is reflective and heartfelt. “It's not hard for Cynthia Erivo to convince us that she achieves a level of sacred, spiritual connection with her listeners every time she performs," my fellow editor Haley wrote. "That fact has long been evident in the audiobooks space, just as it is in the world of musical theater. And her new audiobook is no exception. In Simply More, Erivo uses the metaphor of running a marathon to tell the story of how she learned to thrive as her most authentic self, and passionately aids the listener on their own presumed journey of acceptance. If anyone dares to ever tell me again that I am too much, I will channel my inner Cynthia and proclaim that I’m simply more.“
Cynthia Erivo lends her voice to the third and final book in Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series, bringing the fan-favorite young adult fantasy to an epic conclusion. Inspired by the cultures and mythos of West Africa, the trilogy follows Zélie Adebola, a young woman forced to fight back against a regime determined to destroy magic and all those who wield it. In the last installment, Zélie must face her largest foe yet, coming face to face with the monarch who captured her and her people. Carrying the torch from Audie Award winner Bahni Turpin, Erivo certainly had big shoes to fill. But she delivered with aplomb, bringing a quiet beauty to this riveting listen.
Florence Nightingale is perhaps one of the most revered women in history. The founding mother of modern nursing, Nightingale revolutionized medical care in Europe and across the world, advocating for better, more sanitary conditions in hospitals. This work of historical fiction explores Nightingale’s path to legend, long before she became known as “the Lady with the Lamp.” With great care and tremendous tenderness, Cynthia Erivo brings voice to Nightingale’s innermost thoughts and reflections as a chance trip abroad introduces her to the medical field and the possibilities of the future. But before she can begin her training, she must first contend with Victorian social expectations and her own family’s less-than-encouraging thoughts on her intended career path.
For little listeners and their caregivers, Cynthia Erivo’s picture book Remember to Dream, Ebere offers a gentle, thoughtful story underscoring the importance of imagination and all that is possible. This listen is perfect for bedtime, as it mirrors the evening routines of so many children and their parents, a tuck under the covers and a wish for a good night’s rest. When Ebere’s mother puts her to bed, she reminds her daughter to dream big and boldly. In a gentle, wistful tone shimmering with hope and whimsy, Erivo takes listeners on a journey through Ebere’s dreams, setting off on a wild intergalactic rocketship ride through the universe.
Can’t get enough of Elphaba? Spend more time with the Wicked protagonist in this prequel, exploring Elphie’s childhood and trailing the young witch through all the moments, big and small, that ultimately led her to the gates of Shiz University. From sibling rivalries with favored younger sister Nessarose and troublemaking Shell to her earliest endeavors at seeking justice for the Animals of Oz, Elphaba’s early years are central to understanding her character arc and development throughout the Wicked Years. Listeners called Erivo’s performance “soothing” and “melodic,” with one commenting, “This story takes on a whole new feeling with Cynthia Erivo narrating it, because it feels like Elphaba herself is telling you about her childhood.” We can’t say we disagree.
Historical fiction fans will find themselves swept up in this moving family saga set against the backdrop of World War II. In 1939, sisters Hazel and Flora flee London to a rural village in the English countryside. There, Flora, 14, comforts five-year-old Hazel with stories of magical lands and faraway escapes. That is, until Flora disappears without a trace. The story picks up two decades later, when Hazel, whose life is turning out to be quite successful, receives a mysterious package that nods to the imaginary world she and her sister created all those years ago. Cynthia Erivo matches every shifting tone of this heartfelt novel, bringing to life both the mystery and soul of the story, which excavates the wonders and horrors of a family’s past and the possibility of hope and healing.
