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 Elphaba full time in Wicked on Broadway. [1]
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]
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]
| 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] |