Ethan Slater on His Role in ‘Wicked,’ Personal Life, and Career Milestones

Ethan Slater, the American actor, singer, writer, and composer, has been making waves in the entertainment industry with his recent and upcoming projects. Most notably, he is set to play the role of Boq in the highly anticipated two-part film adaptation of the musical ‘Wicked,’ directed by Jon M. Chu. This adaptation features a star-studded cast, including Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, along with Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, and Jeff Goldblum.

Slater’s career has been marked by significant milestones, including his Tony Award-nominated performance as SpongeBob SquarePants in the musical of the same name. He won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for this role, which was directed by Tina Landau and ran on Broadway from 2017 to 2018.

In addition to his work in ‘Wicked,’ Slater has recently appeared in the Broadway revival of ‘Spamalot‘ at the St. James Theatre, where he played the roles of the Historian, Prince Herbert, and others. His other notable theater credits include ‘Assassins‘ and ‘Good Night, Oscar,’ for which he received a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination.

On the personal front, Slater has been in the news for his recent divorce from his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay. The divorce was finalized in September 2024, following reports that he had begun dating Ariana Grande.

Slater’s journey to stardom began with his early education at Georgetown Day School and later at Vassar College, where he studied drama. His first theater appearance was at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2015, and he has since become a recognized figure in both theater and film.