Broadway has apparently taken a color-conscience cue from Hollywood with new casting announcements in the long-running smash hit “Wicked.”
Days following Cynthia Erivo opened the 97th Academy Awards with a magical “Wizard of Oz”-themed medley supporting her Oscar-nominated turn in the big screen adaptation of the musical, Lencia Kebede became the first Black woman to take on the role of Elphaba in a full-time capacity in the original stage production.
“Wicked,” which has been in performance at New York City’s Gershwin Theatre since 2003, officially welcomed Kebede among five new cast members — including NaTasha Yvette Williams, Allie Trimm, Jenna Bainbridge and Daniel Quadrino — on Tuesday.
Before joining ‘Wicked’, Kebede spent five years touring with ‘Hamilton.’ (lenciakebede / Instagram)
The first generation Ethiopian American hails from Los Angeles and is no novice to big blockbuster musicals. She spent five years touring with “Hamilton,” most recently in the role of Angelica Schuyler.
But Kebede has officially made her Broadway debut as the good witch turned bad.
“I’ll never forget this day — the day my dreams came true — first bow in Oz,” she captioned an Instagram carousel of images captured on her opening night.
While Kebede isn’t the only Black woman to appear in “greenface” on Broadway, she’s the first to do it full-time. Tony Award nominees Saycon Sengbloh and Lilli Cooper have appeared as standbys, while Brandi Chavonne Massey served as an understudy throughout the production’s two decade-plus run.
Written by Winnie Holzman with music by Stephen Schwartz, “Wicked” has experienced renewed interest following the release of Jon M. Chu’s critically acclaimed film adaptation starring Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.
Part one of the two-part series became the highest grossing movie based on a Broadway musical ever at the U.S. box office. “Wicked” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and named Best Film by the National Board of Review.
Erivo, who’s British, garnered her second Oscar nomination for Best Actress with her performance of Elphaba. She was first recognized for her work as Harriet Tubman in 2019’s “Harriet.”
Before the follow-up, “Wicked: For Good,” hits theaters this November, fans can watch “Wicked” when it begins streaming March 21 on Peacock. Or head to Broadway to see Kebede work her wicked ways live on stage.