Cynthia Erivo at the Hollywood Bowl: Covering Barbra & Whitney; Introducing Co-Star Kylie Minogue and Never Standing Still (7 Best Moments)
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Erivo told the audience that just four days before the show, she had a chest infection and no voice. The star was in strong voice on show night.
Never let it be said that Cynthia Erivo lacks nerve. She opened her Hollywood Bowl show on Thursday (Oct. 15) with covers of “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” the Barbra Streisand show-stopper from Funny Girl , and “I Have Nothing,” Whitney Houston ’s power ballad from The Bodyguard. If Erivo didn’t quite match the sizzle Streisand brought to “Parade” or the vocal firepower Houston delivered on “I Have Nothing,” let’s be fair: Who on earth could?
Erivo, 39, was signaling that she would like to be considered in that company. Her show at the Bowl — her second time headlining the landmark venue — established that she deserves to be. She was warm and personable throughout the set. She was always in motion, walking the length of the catwalk and venturing into the audience more than just any performer this side of Bruce Springsteen . She certainly got her steps in.
Erivo engaged in improvised vocal riffing near the end of several songs. The first time or two it was impressive, but she overdid it. By about the sixth time, it became tedious.
In one of those extended outros to a song, Erivo told the audience (in song) that just four days before the show, she had a chest infection and no voice. “I held on to the hope that anything can happen,” she sang. That hope was fulfilled because Erivo was in strong voice on show night. She sang parts of several songs with little accompaniment, and borrowed a trick from Dionne Warwick , who often pulls the mic far away from her mouth to show that she really doesn’t need amplification.
The show left me wondering why Erivo hasn’t had more recording success. She has yet to crack the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and her second studio album, 2025’s I Forgive You , spent just one week on the Billboard 200 (at a less-than-impressive No. 165). When is her recording success going to catch up to her fame and stature? (Erivo has won two Grammys, a Tony and a Daytime Emmy and has received three Oscar nods.)
Erivo was backed by the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, consisting of studio musicians who work on Hollywood soundstages, conducted by Anthony Parnther. Mark Meadows is her musical director.
Here are the seven best moments from Erivo’s Hollywood Bowl concert.