Lencia Kebede

Lencia Kebede is an Ethiopian-American actress and singer born on October 3, 1993, in Los Angeles, California. She is recognized as the first Black actress to play Elphaba full-time in the Broadway production of Wicked.

Kebede grew up participating in church choir and community theatre. She pursued her undergraduate education at Occidental College, where she double-majored in Diplomacy and World Affairs and politics. During her time there, she was a member of the college's Glee Club and engaged with its theater and music departments. A semester-long internship at the United Nations headquarters in New York City was also part of her college experience, during which she attended General Assembly meetings and served as a note-taker for the Guatemala ambassador.

Following her graduation, Kebede turned to professional theatre. Her early career included a position at Tokyo Disneyland and a role as Joanne Jefferson in the 20th anniversary tour of Rent. In 2019, she joined the national tour of Hamilton as an ensemble member, later taking on the role of Angelica Schuyler in 2023, a part she held for two years.

Kebede made her Broadway debut on March 4, 2025, stepping into the role of Elphaba in Wicked, performing opposite Allie Trimm, who played Glinda. Her run in the role marked a historic milestone, as she became the first Black actress to portray Elphaba on a full-time basis in the production's 21-year Broadway history. She played her final performance as Elphaba on March 1, 2026. Her Broadway credits also include Hamilton.