Lencia Kebede ’16 began her historic Broadway debut as the first Black woman to play Elphaba in “Wicked” full time on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater in New York City March 4.
According to Kebede, seeing an LA performance of “The Lion King” as a child originally sparked her interest in live performance art. Kebede said after seeing “Wicked” on Broadway in middle school, the show became her definition of Broadway and Elphaba, a dream role.
“When I found out that I got Elphaba, I started cracking up laughing,” Kebede said. “The idea of getting to play such a difficult role on Broadway, as well as holding a piece of history — being the first Black full-time actor in the role — was comical to me. It was this perfect combination of my aspirations; I could be challenged creatively […] as well as make a positive impact on the entertainment industry and on my minority community in itself.”
A Diplomacy & World Affairs (DWA) and Politics double major at Occidental, Kebede said her liberal arts education rounded out her understanding of the various characters she has played on professional stages.
“Elphaba represents a community of people who have felt othered. Specifically in the current political climate, she represents what it means to fight for what’s right even when the majority says otherwise,” Kebede said. “Elphaba is a powerhouse of a person, and she never lets the fact that she is different [from] those around her stop her from fighting for what she believes in, and I love that about her.”
According to Kebede, her majors taught her work ethic, critical thinking and writing and research abilities, which helped her take a logical approach to her creativity. Kebede said her liberal arts education has allowed her to analyze her characters as potential real people and then add her own creative spin to them. Kebede said by drawing from so many different studies across the world, she is able to better portray a holistic representation of a different human being.
“To be able to play a character that makes people feel that they can, that they have the power to do and act as they please regardless of how the world is treating them, is so gratifying,” Kebede said.
According to Kebede, her primary areas of study were distanced from musical theater at Occidental, which further sparked her desire to perform. She said she participated in “Hairspray” her first year and built relationships with professors in the theater department. According to Kebede’s director in “Hairspray,” Alan Freeman, she is an extraordinary talent, but remains down to earth.
“Her relationship with her castmates was wonderful,” Freeman said. “She’s a very positive, sunny and friendly person. I wish she’d done more theater, but she was interested in other things so she needed to pursue that, too.”
Kebede said the theater department helped support both her academic and artistic endeavors.
“[The professors] were so supportive in connecting me with industry professionals and Oxy alumni who were already doing what I aspired to do,” Kebede said. “I was very grateful for the investment that my theater professors made in me, even though I wasn’t even a theater major.”
One figure who has stayed at Kebede’s side for the past decade is Director of Choral and Vocal Activities and Glee Club Director Desiree LaVertu. According to Kebede, LaVertu became a vital aspect of her life the moment Kebede came to Occidental and has continued to support Kebede throughout her professional career.
“One of [Kebede’s] many gifts is that she’s not only an amazing singer and actor, but she has an amazing work ethic, and she’s very strategic and insightful and thoughtful about her path and her journey,” LaVertu said. “She is a really great model to students now of having a dream and making it a reality.”
According to Kebede and LaVertu, LaVertu remains Kebede’s voice coach to this day.
“Once [Kebede] decided [professional theater was] what she wanted to do, she set a really high goal for herself,” said LaVertu. “I encouraged her because she’s so profoundly gifted, and I knew, as a vocal instructor, that she had the voice and stamina to make it.”
Kebede returned to Occidental in 2022 to perform at former President Harry J. Elam Jr.’s inauguration. According to Kebede, she looks back on her time at Occidental fondly and said the school was instrumental in her post-graduation goals, so returning to campus is always fulfilling.
“Some of my best friends were made on that campus, and the most transformative moments for me emotionally and personally also happened in college,” Kebede said. “Feeling like a little part of this historical moment for a college that I have such fond memories of felt like such an honor.”
According to Kebede, she participated in The William and Elizabeth Kahane United Nations Program and studied abroad in Buenos Aires during her time at Occidental. Although nothing could truly prepare her for eight theatrical performances a week, she said these programs helped her build communities in new places, which she said was beneficial as she joined the “Hamilton: World Tour,” and now, for her “Wicked” run on Broadway.
“From living abroad and living in New York for the United Nations Program, I watched myself build a community for myself in a new place,” Kebede said. “[The programs] got me used to finding stability amidst instability — meaning in a new place, in a new environment that I had never experienced before.”
Over the past nine years, Kebede has toured with “Rent” and “Hamilton” and worked as a backup singer for Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella rehearsals. However, she said she remains deeply connected to her alma mater, continuing to praise Occidental.
“It’s so hard to know what you want to do or what path you want to go to, but there’s always a little voice inside pushing or pulling you to or from something,” Kebede said. “If you believe you are one thing, you are. And the more you fight for your truth, the more you can achieve anything you want.”
Contact Abigail Montopoli at montopoli@oxy.edu
