It’s hard to imagine a world where Ariana Grande isn’t Glinda in Jon M Chu’s adaptation of Wicked, having just received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. She embodies the spirit of the character and has become so intrinsically linked to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba,

Wicked is getting a new Elphaba, and she’s about to make history: Lencia Kebede will be the first Black actress to assume the role full time in the Broadway company. Kebede, who recently starred in the touring company of Hamilton,

Kebede takes on the role after Erivo starred as the green witch in the film adaptation. Erivo previously commented on the lack of Black actresses playing Elphaba in her 2024 ELLE cover story.