The Broadway production of “Wicked” has revealed two new lead performers. On March 4, Lencia Kebede will step into the role of Elphaba and Allie Trimm will take over the role of Glinda at the Gershwin Theatre. The pair will succeed Mary Kate Morrisey and Alexandra Socha, who will depart the musical on March 2.
Kebede spent five years touring with “Hamilton,” starting out in the ensemble and eventually assuming the role of Angelica Schuyler. Her additional credits include playing Joanne in “Rent” on tour and singing backup for Beyoncé. Kebede’s casting marks not only her Broadway debut, but also another milestone: Kebede will be the first Black actor to play the role of Elphaba full-time (as opposed to serving as standby or understudy for the role).
Trimm is no stranger to “Wicked”’s world of Oz, having served as the Glinda standby for over two years. Trimm’s additional credits include playing Kim MacAfee in “Bye Bye Birdie.” Trimm made her Broadway debut as Patrice in “13,” alongside Ariana Grande, who is currently featured in the 2024 motion picture adaptation of “Wicked” as Glinda.
In addition to Morrisey and Socha, the current principal cast of “Wicked” includes Donna McKechnie as Madame Morrible, Brad Oscar as the Wizard, Jordan Litz as Fiyero, Jake Pedersen as Boq, Natalie Ortego as Nessarose and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamond.
Featuring a score by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked” provides a backstory to the events depicted in “The Wizard of Oz.” The Joe Mantello-directed production opened on Oct. 30, 2003, and recently became the only Broadway production to gross in excess of $5 million in a single week. The musical’s aforementioned film adaptation earned $164.2 million in its opening weekend and won the 2025 Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Grande made her Broadway debut alongside Trimm.
“Wicked” is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
