Lencia Kebede
Lencia Kebede | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1993 (Age 32) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | Occidental College |
| Occupation | Musical theatre actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Known for | Wicked |
Lencia Kebede (October 1, 1993) is an American actress and singer. She is the first Black actress to play the role of Elphaba full time in the musical Wicked on Broadway.[1]
Early life
Kebede was born in Los Angeles, California to an Ethiopian American family.[2] She grew up performing in church choir and community theatre programs.[1]
Kebede attended Occidental College, double-majoring in Diplomacy & World Affairs and politics. She participated in the college's Glee Club, as well as its theater and music departments.[3] While pursuing her bachelor's degree, Kebede spent a semester interning at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, where she attended General Assembly meetings and took notes for the Guatemala ambassador.[1]
Career
Upon graduation, Kebede decided to pursue professional theatre. Her first few jobs included a stint at Tokyo Disneyland[3] and the role of Joanne Jefferson in the 20th anniversary tour of Rent.[4]
Kebede joined the national tour of Hamilton in 2019[3] as an ensemble member. In 2023, she began performing as Angelica Schuyler, a role she played for two years.[1]
On March 4, 2025, Kebede made her Broadway debut as Elphaba in Wicked. Kebede is the first Black actress to play the role full time in the 21-year-old Broadway production. She is performing alongside Allie Trimm as Glinda.[5]
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Category | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Rent | Joanne Jefferson | 20th anniversary non-Equity tour | Replacement | [4] | |
| 2019–23 | Hamilton | Ensemble | U.S. National Tour (Angelica company) | [3] | ||
| 2023–24 | Angelica Schuyler | U.S. National Tour (Philip company) | Replacement | |||
| 2025 | Wicked | Elphaba | Gershwin Theatre | Original Broadway production | Replacement | [5] |
References
- ^ a b c d Tillet, Salamisha. "An Actress of Many Passions, Now Making History in ‘Wicked’" Archived 2025-05-06(Date mismatch) at archive.today, The New York Times, May 6, 2025
- ^ Kennedy, Mark (2025-03-07). "Broadway's 'Wicked' welcomes Lencia Kebede, its first Black, full-time Elphaba". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ^ a b c d "From 'Hairspray' to 'Hamilton'". Occidental College. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Mark (2018-08-16). "Broadway's 'Wicked' welcomes Lencia Kebede, its first Black, full-time Elphaba". Playbill. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ^ a b "Get a 1st Look at the New, History-Making Cast of Broadway's Wicked". Playbill. Retrieved June 14, 2025.