Lencia Kebede

Lencia Kebede (born October 3, 1993) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for becoming the first Black actress to play Elphaba full-time in Wicked on Broadway.

Early life Kebede was born in Los Angeles, California to an Ethiopian American family. She grew up performing in church choir and community theatre programs. 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.

Kebede joined the national tour of Hamilton in 2019 Kebede played her final performance as Elphaba on March 1, 2026. She has returned to Broadway in Hamilton, reprising her role as Angelica Schuyler.

Theatre