Actress, singer, and performer Lencia Kebede of “Wicked — The Musical” recently made history as the first African American woman to play Elphaba full-time on Broadway.
Kebede is a first-generation Ethiopian-American from Los Angeles, who spent five years touring with “Hamilton,” most recently in the role of Angelica Schuyler. Being a part of the musical “Wicked” marks her Broadway debut.
New Dramatists Luncheon
She was just at the New Dramatists Luncheon, which honored Idina Menzel and Tina Landau. On being a part of this event, Kebede exclaimed, “It’s a blessing. I feel really honored.”
New Dramatists is one of the country’s leading playwright centers and a nationally recognized new play laboratory.
Kedebe on ‘Wicked — The Musical’
Kedebe is drawn to “Wicked” (the Broadway musical) for several reasons. “I love what Wicked means to people and I love that it can mobilize people of all demographics to stand up for what they believe in and fight for what they want,” she explained.
Advice for young and emerging performers
For young and aspiring performers who wish to pursue theatre, Kebede remarked, “Work hard and don’t listen to the naysayers. If you can believe in yourself, you can do anything.”
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, she revealed, “Fierce.”
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, Kebede expressed, “Success is subjective.”
“To me, success means feeling fulfilled in what I do and feeling stable in my life and my relationships and feeling adventurous,” she concluded.
To learn more about Broadway performer Lencia Kebede, follow her on Instagram.
For more information on “Wicked — The Musical,” visit its official homepage.
