Lencia Kebede Is First Black Elphaba on Broadway

Lencia Kebede will take over playing Elphaba on Broadway this spring, becoming the first Black actress to assume the role full time on Broadway. 

Kebede, who most recently played Angelica in the National Tour of Hamilton, will be joined by Allie Trimm, who was the Glinda standby from December 2021 through March 2024, as Glinda. The two will start in the roles March 4. 

Mary Kate Morrissey, who is currently playing Elphaba, and Alexandra Socha, who is currently playing Glinda, will play their final performances March 2. Additional new principal casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

Kebede spent five years with Hamilton and has toured nationally and internationally with Rent, playing Joanne. She also sang backup for Beyoncé.

In 2022, Brittney Johnson made history when she became the first Black actress to take on the role of Glinda full time. Kebede’s historic moment also comes after the success of the Wicked film, where Cynthia Erivo has been lauded for her portrayal of Elphaba. 

Trimm made her Broadway debut as Patrice in Jason Robert Brown’s 13: The Musical and starred as Kim MacAfee in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie. 

Wicked has been running at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway since October 2003 and remains one of the highest–grossing shows in the industry each week. The show has been performed in 16 countries, translated into six languages and seen by more than 70 million people worldwide.

The musical features a score by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and direction by Joe Mantello. Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone serve as producers.