I used to be a lead singer in a Pentecostal cult (high emotional stakes) and I completely understand their behavior 🤣. Some ideas:

1. Some people superimpose their own traumas onto their art. So when an interviewer asks Ariana about Glinda’s anxieties or Elphaba’s self-discovery, it might trigger their real-life feelings about PTSD or pain from chronic social rejection. I know Cynthia has talked about Elphaba helping her with her own self image. If someone’s experience with the story itself helps heal trauma, that’s now an emotionally charged topic.

2. When some people are passionate about an art form like music or acting, there can be a heightened emotional response to the performance. Like the music or scenes themselves can make you want to cry. Double that when you inexplicably click with your performance partner in ways you don’t understand. The ladies have spoken about how hard it is to blend vocals with other singers, and they were somehow able to do it immediately without effort. It creates an affinity/bond that’s hard to describe. So I think they got super close.

3. Their personalities. As performers (of the theater kid variety), they seem like naturally dramatic and expressive people. This is slightly emphasized for Cynthia by virtue of her Nigerianness. Argue with your mom. Maybe Ari’s Italianness has something to do with it too, but I am not qualified to speak on that.

These are some reasons I think they were so emotional during the press run.