“Wicked,” playing at the Gershwin Theatre on W. 51st St., has its first full-time Black Elphaba on Broadway, a role played by Lencia Kebede. This classic musical is beloved, and for good reason. After recently experiencing the show I had the opportunity to speak with Kebede, a very talented young person about the musical and the incredible role. A Q&A follows.
AmNews: Lencia, you play the character with a happy energy. Why did you make that choice?
LK: At first it wasn’t really a choice, it’s just who I am, which is kind of funny. Despite what I’ve been through in my life, I’ve always had this hope for goodness and equality in the world and I identified with that in Elphaba. I think we both have this optimist, realist perspective of the world. I think hope is a big part of her spirit and drives many of her decisions in the story. She’s only 18 and in the beginning she finally allows herself to dream. I wanted to highlight that no matter how different you are in your life like Elphaba is, you still have the power to believe what you want to believe and I just love that about her spirit.
AmNews: You seem to be having such fun with it. What does it mean to be the first Black full-time Elphaba?
LK: For me it’s an opportunity to break barriers of precedent in the entertainment industry. It’s an opportunity for me to elevate myself in the story, my community through my eyes, also open doors for other people who are not the sort of typical casting type in the entertainment industry, whether it’s TV, film or on stage on Broadway. It’s an opportunity to show the world that just because somebody is different or they’re not the historical choice for a role, it’s worth it to examine and give opportunities to everyone.
AmNews: How did you hear of the audition and how many times did you do callbacks?
LK: This was a pretty long process and before this I was in “Hamilton.” I got the audition through my agent. I was on tour with “Hamilton” at the time. It was three months of auditions, about five or six rounds, a few online and self-tape, some I had to fly to and from New York to LA. It was an intense process.
AmNews: When did you find out you had the role?
LK: I found out on election night last year, November 4th. I remember telling my friends and family, whatever the outcome of the election is, at least one Black woman won today.
AmNews: When you performed “No Good Deed” you killed it, but what is your favorite number in the show and why?
LK: Thank you. “No Good Deed” is definitely my favorite. I feel like it’s her breaking point, but as an actor it’s just so satisfying, finally allowing my character to feel the feelings she’s been concealing for so long and it’s also this song of radical resignation from the pressures and opinions of the world around her. She says, fine I’m going to be a wicked witch. So, I admire her tenacity and her willingness to ostracize herself even more from the world around her in the name of protecting herself.
AmNews: How was it to come into a show like “Wicked” the same day as your co-stars, Allie Trimm (Glinda), Natasha Yvette Williams (Madame Morrible), Jenna Bainbridge (Nessarose) and Daniel Quadrino (Boq)?
LK: It was such a huge celebration. All of us had our friends and family in the audience so every first entrance in the first scene was 35 seconds of applause. There was a lot of pausing. This is my first time in “Wicked” and it’s my Broadway debut as well, so it was an adjustment to get used to the audience reaction at that moment. It was exciting, once we started and got through the first scene it was smooth sailing.
AmNews: What has the growth of the cast relationship been like?
LK: It’s wonderful. The closer each of us get offstage, the stronger the relationships with the characters are on stage. It’s been so interesting to watch our trust grow with each other. With my Glinda, Allie Trimm, we have so many little moments when we are playing around with each other on stage.
AmNews: Where did you get your professional training? Where were you born and raised?
LK: I trained in church and choirs, in musical theater programs in high school and youth theater companies. In college I got to take acting classes, while not majoring in it. I attend Occidental College. It was an amazing experience. My training came from experiences performing in ensembles since I was eight years old.
AmNews: What does performing mean to you?
LK: Performing is a form of expression. Being an artist is so vulnerable and so liberating to me. Nothing makes me feel more free and whole and through the characters I play it’s healing for me and I hope it can be really healing for others. I really enjoy doing interesting pieces that are educational resources in some way. I like art that challenges people’s thinking. How they think about themselves and the world. I love being a part of that, it’s so fulfilling for me as an artist.
AmNews: What types of reactions have you received from the audience?
LK: So much love. They’re laughing, they’re crying with us. Sometimes I hear them sniffle. They’re so invested with us, it’s such a pleasure to be able to aid others in feeling healing. Sometimes we walk through life just being efficient and sometimes that doesn’t leave room for healing experiences and I love that this show pulls on the heartstrings so much. You can’t just sit there and not feel anything. I love to hear that live in the Gershwin every night.
AmNews: What advice would you give to a young Black child watching you on that stage?
LK: I would tell a Black child that just because you don’t see yourself in a position that you want to be in, doesn’t mean you don’t belong there. You’re worth it. It’s worth it to take a risk on how the world perceives you to achieve your dreams, to fulfill your heart and what you want to do in life. Having familial support was so important in such a tumultuous career path — in being an artist, being in the entertainment industry, and especially being a minority actor. I would tell them to really lean on their people because it can be very difficult.
AmNews: What do you do to unwind doing eight shows a week?
LK: I love to spend time in nature. It’s quite difficult in New York, but I go to the parks. Nature really helps me to get grounded and be centered. I remind myself of my values by slowing down and just being around nature. I will find somebody’s park or water.