Broadway “Wicked” welcomes Lencia Kebede, her first pioneering full -time black Elphaba

Green tears sailed when Lencia Kebede went down in history this week Broadway, He will develop into the first black actor who took the role of Elphab full -time at Broadway “Wicked”.

“It is difficult to even indicate one emotion, because I feel that it changes every five minutes,” said The Associated Press, still buzzing the day after her debut. “I woke up and still felt in the world of OZ.”

Kebede, the Ethiopian American of the first generation of Los Angeles, spent five years visiting “Hamilton” Recently within the role of Angelika Schuyler. On Tuesday, he entered “Wicked”, meant her debut at Broadway.

“Opposing gravity”

Kebede has already undergone an emotional author before the curtain finally fell. He sings “Act 1 Showstopper” Defing Gravity “, shooting within the air and the strength of the moment torn it.

“When at the end of the song I started sobbing the lights. Not just a delicate tear. I had to slow down wonderfully, “he says.

“I really felt like I was flying, it’s the easiest way to do it. I felt that I was doing it myself, although my own power – my vocal power, my emotional power, the power of all my African ancestors. “

“If I fly solo/at least I fly for free/to those who ground me, back from me/tell them how I oppose gravity,” she sang.

“Everyone deserves a chance to fly,” says Kebede. “I design this message that regardless of who you are, how you look, where you come from, you deserve liberation and deserve to be strengthened in the way the character feels at the moment. I just think I’m taking the whole audience in my arms. “

Thank God, it was a break. “I had to regroup,” he says with laughter. “My makeup artist was:” Just let go, just cry, after which we are able to clean it. “

Who watched Kebede’s “Wicked” debut?

There were about 60 families and friends within the audience – mother, her aunt and uncles, her many cousins, her boyfriend, buddies from other programs, her agent and directors, and even the director of the College choir.

“My whole family was in the audience – just everyone I have ever loved, with anyone who loved me and supported my life, is just like under me, raising me and holding me,” he says.

“It was very important to me to have people there I could share this moment, so I could say their faces:” I could not be here with out a piece of your heart you gave me. “

Sister Elphabas

Popularity Film led by Cynthia Erivo He didn’t weaken the appetite to the Broadway version, which was opened in 2003 with the songs of Stephen Schwartz and the book Winnie Holzman. During Christmas, it took a surprising $ 5 million over nine performances, which suggests the best gross weekly within the history of every Broadway show.

Kebede joins the black women wearing green women who played in Elphaba, an inventory containing Saycon Sengbloh and Lilli Cooper, Both standby on Broadway; Brandi Chavonne Massey, Broadway evaluation; And Alexia Khadime, full -time West End Elphaba.

Others who played this role for years are Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, Jessica Vosk, Eden Espinosa, Ana Gasteyer and naturally, Idina Menzel, which won the Tony award within the role in 2004.

The profession changes

Kebede graduated from Occidental College in 2016 with a double direction of diplomacy and global policy, intending for a legal profession or public policy. In her last 12 months she had itching, which she had to stipulate.

“I just had this creative desire in terms of telling stories in a theatrical way that I missed,” he says. “So I sat down my mother and thought:” Listen, I believe I want only a couple of years to find this creative undertaking. “

Her first skilled work was the production of “Memphis” within the Musical Theater West, after which an internship at Tokyo Disney and a concert at “Rent”. In addition to the years on the best way with “Hamilton”, Kebede also sang support for Beyoncé during Coachell’s rehearsals.

“I think that the rigorous nature of concerts has prepared me a lot for it,” he says. “I feel very equipped – physically, vocally, emotionally. I feel that I know how to care for my body and mind, how I have to cool down emotionally after such an intense experience for three hours. “

Magic Night

On his debut night, Kebede tried to maintain a set of mental screenshots, face rolls and feelings. When she turned to get behind the scenes, she felt love.

“My grandmother and my father are over when I was in high school and I just took a moment to contact my angels,” he says. “It was, for God, it was electric.”

The family returned behind the stage after the exhibition for photos and a visit, she was toasted in a close-by bar by friends, finally ate something, after which returned home to attempt to sleep.

“My battery was dead. I mean, I could not even move. I could not move my face. I just drank tea by playing jazz. I needed to turn it off – he says.

And then she needed to do it again the following night.