Legendary former basketball player and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson will replace “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo as the final distinguished guest of the 2025-2026 Face to Face Speaker Forum season, Wake Forest announced on March 2.
“Given the caliber of the speakers we bring to Face to Face, we know these types of changes are always a possibility,” Executive Director of Face to Face Sue Henderson said.
Johnson, who shattered records throughout his long career with the Los Angeles Lakers, remains a prominent figure in the sports world as owner of the Washington Commanders and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles Football Club and esports franchise Team Liquid. He will speak on Tuesday, April 14 at LJVM Coliseum. ESPN college basketball analyst and author Jay Bilas will moderate the conversation.
Johnson was originally scheduled to speak at Wake Forest in September 2025, but postponed his visit due to unforeseen circumstances. The Demon Deacons’ own “Hometown Hero” Chris Paul stepped in instead.
“We are really excited that we still have the opportunity to hear Magic Johnson this season after he was unable to attend in September,” Henderson said. “I’m really looking forward to hearing about his career in business as well as his years on the basketball court.”
Due to a conflict related to her one-woman “Dracula” show currently playing in London’s West End, Erivo is no longer available to visit campus on Wednesday, April 15, as previously scheduled. Instead, she will speak on Wednesday, September 16 at LJVM Coliseum. Ticket sales to her keynote event will begin on August 3.
A Tony, Grammy and Daytime Emmy winner known for her powerful vocals and acting, Erivo is currently most famous for starring as Elphaba in the “Wicked” film adaptations.
“Cynthia Erivo’s career is on fire right now, which is, of course, why she had to reschedule,” Henderson said. “I look forward to hearing how she is balancing her amazing career and what drives her passion to perform. I know we will be in for a real treat when she takes the stage in September.”
Some students, especially graduating seniors, expressed disappointment at the news.
“Hopefully I will still get to go to the event in September, but I know a lot of seniors who are really sad about the change,” senior Hannah Reynolds, a Presidential Scholar for Theatre, said.
After seeing Kristen Chenoweth as the original Glinda actress from the Broadway production of Wicked, Reynolds was excited to see both Elphaba and Glinda during her time at Wake Forest.
“My freshman year, Kristen Chenoweth spoke at Face to Face, so it would have been full circle to see Elphaba at the end of my senior year,” Reynolds said.
Despite the date changes, both Johnson and Erivo will remain a part of the Face to Face speaker series in 2026.
“A magical end to this season and a wicked start to the next,” the email from Face to Face said.
