Lencia Kebede Makes Broadway History In Wicked, Overcoming Stage Fright, Challenging Power + More
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up his way up with Angela he and what
an honor Hi you to have Lendcaya Kabtta here. I've
seen you doing press Good Morning America. I know you
did the Breakfast Club and we already said you are
going to.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Be outside, Yes, outside.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
But of course you are playing starring in Wicked on Broadway,
the first black alphabet full time correct, So congratulations on that.
I was watching your journey too, of your first day,
like you documented going and having your debut performance and
the audience and your everybody was like crying because that
is an emotional play.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yes, when you're watching it, Yeah, it is ups and
downs like crazy.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, congratulations on that because I know, like even going
to Broadway. I love going to Broadway plays, but sometimes
I feel like I don't see enough of us fair
there in the audience, and especially not enough of us
represented on this stage. I feel like that's all correlated.
So what did that mean to you when you first
heard the news? Because I know it was a latter
back and forth auditioning, not knowing what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I just felt like it was an opportunity to tell
my story and the story of my community in like
a very passionate and honest way, especially in a character
that has a lot of agency in her own life
even though the world is kind of against her in
the story, Like, just like her arc is so inspiring
and so personal to me, and that she just stays
so true to herself through all this hardship. So like
(01:24):
it was an opportunity to tell a story through the
eyes of a character who is strong and like sure
of herself, which is so inspiring to me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
And you've been, you know, doing this. It's interesting to
me your whole background that here, Yeah, because this is
not something that initially you intended to even happen, right,
for you to even be shycles to be acting, that
was never the goal. Like you know how some people
growing up they're like, I want to be on stage.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Interestingly, like as a kid, I did dream. I had
a specific dream of being on Broadway. I also just
had other things that I that I had passions for
and that I love, Like I played sports, I was
super involved in academics and and volunteering, and obviously theater
and singing as well. And it wasn't until like towards
the end of college that I was like, no, I
think I'm going to like pivot and like really pursue
(02:10):
this because I was just so curious. I've been so
driven by like what are the things that I'm capable
of that I don't even know that I'm capable of yet.
That's a great way to think, you know, graduating from
college is where are we going?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Right?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
What are we doing?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
What did you when you had dreams of being on
Broadway when you were younger? Was there specific Ooh, that's
a great question.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
You know. I always say I dreamt in feelings, not
specific destinations, and I feel like that's left my aperture
very open to so many possibilities. And I just I
dreamt of feeling how I feel right now, like I'm
doing something that matters to me, matters to my community,
it matters to the entertainment industry and the world as
(02:52):
a whole, especially because the movie it's just like it's
this large platform. So I feel like that is what
drove me to.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Hear your parents also came here from Ethiopia, and so
watching everything that's going on right now, I know that
means a lot to you too, just with your background,
your family background, but also your education background and what
it is that you represent and what Alphabet represents. It
couldn't be a better marriage. It feels like arguing for
you to like combine your background but also your passions.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yes, I feel like I'm playing a very hot headed
version of myself. She is hype and she's very easily
triggered and explosive. So I don't necessarily like present like that,
but like the core of who she is, what she
stands for, how empathetic she is to everyone's all beings,
human or not, is very true to who I am
and who my family raised me to be.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
If somebody, for some reason it's under a rock and
haven't seen Wicked the play or the movie, how would
you describe Alphabet's character for people who are watching Because
there's a lot of underlying meanings. You could be watching
it just for entertainment, but it's the type of thing
where later on you can reflect and say, actually has
a lot of different meanings. Because the music is beautiful
(04:03):
on there, you know the plot and the storyline. You
can go in there the spectacle yeah, and not have
to think that hard. But then when you do, you're like,
this represents so much more. What would you say if
somebody asked you what alphabet represents.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think alphabet represents challenging preconceived ideas of the world
around you. She believes in the Wizard. The whole, the
whole beginning of the story is her pursuing this like
childhood dream of meeting him and getting to work with him,
and then she finds out that he's not who he
says he is. So that like disillusionment that she experiences,
(04:35):
I feel like is very representative of what is happening
in the world right now unfortunately. So I believe Alphaba
represents not taking things face for face value, including herself.
Everything she experiences is also like a microcosm of what
she has to do within her life in her own identity.
So like this concept of like good and evil, like
(04:57):
Glinda the good and Alphaba the wicked witch. So like
this one's bad and this one's good. Great, But why Yeah,
it's just the quote. The whole story is about questioning
why have we decided just because this thing, this entity
is different, that it's a threat, And I feel like
the whole but at the end they become they become one.
Glinda and Alphaba become close, and Alphaba literally tells Glinda,
(05:19):
I need you not to Uh what did she say?
What does she say? Me? I think you should I
think I shouldn't know she says, don't don't try to
like save face for me, don't try to clear my name.
And so everyone sees Glinda at the beginning, just like
making this beautiful public appearance. Everything's fine, you know, like
I don't care about the wicked witch. Meanwhile, in the background,
(05:40):
what you don't see is that Alpha but told her to.
So like that's just a small example of just not
taking things for what they are because you just don't
know what's happening behind closed doors.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Even alphabet being green and how that happened. Yeah, I
also feel like that's a theme too when you think
about why she even is. You know, the decisions or
things that could happen that get passed down.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
That rise generational trauma, or just like how we take
care of ourselves now is how the next generation will live.
That's the world that they will live, And how we
take care of the earth right now is how our
next generation will live. So yeah, that's a really really
good point. How she became green in the first place
is also something.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Chason, but her mom, come on, yeah, I want to
ask you with that about your parents and how they
feel about because I know they are so proud of you. Yes,
but even the work ethic that you have, because there's,
like you said, a lot of different directions you could
have gone in life. Yes, And so talk to me
about what that support system was like, because sometimes parents
can see something in their kids and really encourage it
(06:43):
or also feel scared for you. That made sure, Oh
we got to make sure she's got this background just
in case as a plan B. That's how parents can think.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I mean, they were so supportive, especially being immigrant African parents,
and like still giving me the space to pursue these
creative treasas most of the I don't know adults. The
people that are older than me and my family are in
tech and academia and politics. So like for me to
just be like, hey, I'm gonna go saying now, they're like,
(07:14):
they don't they don't even they couldn't even understand the industry,
but they knew me. They trusted me, so like I
think that superseded any fears or anxieties they had, even
though they still had concerns, because I would still get
questions a couple of years into my career, Like so
when you go to law school, right, I'm like, you know,
that's a boat of question because that is how I
presented and now I'm changing it all up. So I
do appreciate you going along this ride. But they really did.
(07:36):
They trusted me, and like they trusted my vision and
my work ethic and I think that's and we also
had a lot of very open communication about these things,
so that that I feel like helped them maintain trust
in the.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Process because you didn't just pap up obviously on Wicked,
you had a background, yes, and it was a grind.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
To get there one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
So because I know you've done productions of Hamilton, yeah,
which is amazing. I mean Hamilton was groundbreaking as well. Yes,
you know in itself. Of course we know Beyonce. For
a couple of weeks, you did those rehearsals with Beyonce,
and so during that time, did it feel like, how
patient were you? Because I know, sometimes when you know,
(08:14):
you have like this fire that you want to show
the world. So how was that for you? And had
you audition for things on Broadway before this?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah? I did. I was I was always auditioning throughout
my career. Throughout when I was in Hamilton, before though
I was in rent and then I before that, I
worked in Disneyland and Tokyo. So the whole time I
was always auditioning for stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But Disneyland and Tokyo is wi you guy to tell
me about that?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Oh it's amazing. I mean Tokyo is literally so amazing.
I would like go live there right now. Everything about it,
Like the culture is so hospitable, just the transportation, Like
the city is just like clean as hell and you
can get around so easily, and it's so beautiful. The
food is amazing. So like, yeah, throughout all those experiences,
I was also auditioning for big Broadway stuff, anything I
(08:57):
can get my hands on. I was like, let's go
so yes to life, right, let's just go for But
I feel like God gave me a lot of things
and patience is not one of them. But I feel
like maybe that has helped me because.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
I just like have always had this fire urgency.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, but like in therapy, I definitely have to talk about,
you know, being patient because things can't happen on my
all my time, all the time, and like that's what's
kept me grounded is like trusting that the universe has
always had like a plan for me. Like if there's
this fire in me there, it has to be there
for a reason. I don't feel this way for no reason.
And that's what's kind of like kept me aligned with
my goals even when things maybe weren't going the way
(09:33):
I why I wanted them. I was like, no, but
the universe, whatever you might believe in, God has a
plan for where I'm supposed to be, and I just
have to like literally just keep going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Because sometimes things happen too fast. Yeah, and if you're
not ready for oh Lord, that could be like man,
I shouldn't you know? Yes, But so talk to me
about that first day, right because we saw some footage
we saw you walking in, seeing yourself on the post. Yeah,
and you know that current cause is going on stage.
So after that, I mean, is it that you get
(10:03):
on this stage and then your nerves are gone or
like tell me how I just money here? Yo, I'm
nervous most of us will never experience. But something like
that is.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I've become painfully aware of everyone looking at me at
very random places during the show, Like it's so I'm like,
oh my gone. But then I just like divert back
to like Elphabu's thoughts and the land of Oz. So
anytime I'd get nervous, I would just try to literally
focus on the world in front of me, like ground
myself on the stage, like feel my feet on the
ground and look at the actor I'm performing with sort
(10:36):
of thing. But I was super nervous. I had like
sixty friends and family there on my first show, like
it was not only a historical moment for our community,
but also my Broadway debut. I I'd never performed on
Broadway before. I've never even lived in New York before,
so it was a lot of first out once. So
like I took a little video before I went on
(10:57):
for the first time on my debut day because I
was like, I gotta remember this feeling. And like I
was like I was just literally talking to the camera,
not for anyone, just for me, just being like, oh
my God, like this is happening. And I wanted to
just cry and like scream because I was so happy
and so excited, but like I couldn't even let myself
feel the excitement because that would have taken me out
of the character's mind, the characters to be like, yeah, absolutely,
(11:18):
but I still struggle with nerves all the time. And
that's that's part of the Like, that's why I always
preach like a strong relationship to self for any spirituality
because like it really helps me stay grounded in high
stress situations.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Even doing eight shows a week that is strenuous. And
I know you've said you've gotten the advice of not
to be too hard on yourself because there are there
times that like you have to improvise because we wouldn't know, right,
but that would be something that you do and I'm
sure on stage it can happen something, yeah, because it
has to at times somebody else or if somebody else
says something that they weren't supposed to.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Say, things about having all the time, and we said,
that's a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Of trust between you guys who as actors being creative.
Talk to me about the audition, I mean, the rehearsals
process and how that was and even you building a
great relationship with Glinda Ali.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Is Ali Trim.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, So talk to me about having that strong relationship
with Glinda and also being able to kind of get
in there with the rest of their cast. Members and bond, Like,
what are some of the things that you do besides
Jess rehearsals.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, I think we would try to spend quality time together.
I always can't because my role is very intense and
very taxing, and I just don't have a lot of time.
It's kind of isolating. However, like I knew in the
audition process that I wanted to get to know these
people as much as I could. I want to know
about their families and how they think and how they feel,
because like having that one on one vulnerable personal connection
(12:43):
like really makes me feel like we're doing like you know,
we're doing this together. So as much as we could,
we just we just chill. Like they come the other characters,
the Bach, the Glinda, the Nessa, they come into my
dressing room and we just hang out and chit chat
about whatever about nothing, and those little moments like really
bring that cohesion on stage that you're talking about, like
that real trust because it's it's hard. The show is hard,
(13:06):
it's long, it's intense.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
It's the longest shows I know that inhabit. For us
in the audience, it doesn't feel long and exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Exactly and I feel like we work on like the
pacing of the storytelling to keep it engaging. But that
also requires a lot of trust because I make mistakes.
We all make mistakes all the time in the show,
and we have to be able to look at each
other in the eye and be like, nah, I got you,
Like we're doing this right, you get it? Yeah? So that,
like you, I think the trust that you brought up
is like key to something like this.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So what do you do to wind down as yourself
in real life? As LNDCY? Like what is it that
you're you're doing when you're after eight shows in a
week and you're like, okay.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Nature, I live by the water. I like to sit
by the water. Okay to New York dirty water, but
it's water and it's calming to me because I'm from California.
I'm a beach girl, so like I need to feel
that it just brings me to earth, especially when I'm
in this literal black dark box at the theater like
(14:09):
all day or all week whatever, so I feel like
I need to get outside. And there's just a lot
of like chilling on my own, watching movies, watching TV,
connecting with friends and family too, even if it's just FaceTime.
Like that helps me feel like I'm winding down because
it just makes me feel like I'm more balanced.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
What are you watching on TV?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I just finished Ginny and Georgia on Netflix. I'm obsessed.
It's so silly and I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I gotta wist that. Yeah, it's so ridiculous because every
time I finished something, I'm like, Okay, now what's next.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Literally, I feel like my life is over when I
finish a TV show, I'm like, what's my purpose?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Centime? You're so upset? Like I got a wait, friend,
now this seasons Great Games coming back?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yes? Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And also and just like that, the Sex and the City,
Like I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Did you wess the original Sex in the City? Because then, okayessed,
how do you like living? Speaking of Sex in the City,
how are you liking living in New York?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I love it. I hope fool that I've wanted to
live here since I was very young, because I feel like,
if you don't want to live here, this is not
the place to try it out because it's crazy. But
I love it. I love the energy. I love how
like there's like food late night, like everything is going
all the time.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, That's one thing when I travel and I go
out the places and I'm like, dang, I can't order food,
like there's nothing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Old, shocking. I'm gonna starve and die.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
But La, I felt like Steph is openly.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Sometimes sometimes, but it still surprises me because a city
like this is like literally doesn't sleep, but La sometimes it.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
So you went to the Tonys. Yeah, they said this
year was like one of the best time you ever.
So tell me how you felt that the Tony's. What
was that light?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I definitely I was tearing up. I was like, this
is my community and we're doing such beautiful things. There's
so many beautiful stories being told, specifically stories of black
and brown communities, and like so many shows are being
led by people of color right now, and it's so
inspiring to me. So I was just like, I was
kind of pinching myself. I was like, this is it's
(16:00):
such It's such a privilege to be among incredibly creative
and intelligence peers in that space.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I know you said that. Cynthia Riva also sent you flowers.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, she's so sweet.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Right before you were doing your Days Day performance, so thoughtful,
so cute, and you're right about that because I think
Broadway has become a lot more diverse from what I've seen.
Because I've been I go to a lot of different things.
I'm always disappointed when something comes and goes fast.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Too, because I got attached. I'm like, oh, that's a
good story. There's beautiful performances.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
But I also want to make sure that we're going
you know what I'm saying, because I went to go
see like Ja Jazz hair brating, I want to go
see the What a Wonderful World?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, And those are so such amazing, amazing stories, and
I'm like, man, we need people to like really, it's
hard to get it. Some things like promoted because not
a lot of things Wicked has had, like what is
it the fourth longest running show.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Something like that, I've heard of fourth I can't even tell.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
You Broadway and that's amazing, you know what I'm saying.
The Lion King, I've seen that multiple time.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I can see it every week.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I would be down, Yeah, MJ. You know there's certain
things that just really like and you're you're in one
of those like foundational Broadway plays that if somebody comes
to New York.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They're going to go see Wicked, right.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
And you gotta take the family, you gotta you know exactly,
even my man liked it.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
I know that's right, because that's the thing about this
show is like people, people who are not even in
this world are so moved by the story. Which is
why it's so crazy for me to be in this moment,
because I'm like, as a kid, I idolize Wicked as
like something that defined Broadway mm hmmm, And now I'm
it came the thing that I'm idolizing, Like, it's so
crazy and it means so much of so many people
(17:38):
who have never even experienced theater like that.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So do you see a difference in you know, just
young people seeing somebody like you playing the character alphabet
like one of a renowned character. Do you see anything like,
I don't know if they do any studies to see
like what has this increased the number of people that
are you know, young black and brown girls that want
to go.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
To see theater. I definitely feel like from what I've
heard internally in the company that like sort of the
statistics of like the audience demographics have shifted a lot,
and I'm just generally seeing more black and brown faces
in the audience like when I can only see a
few roles, but even if I like maybe walk a
little bit near the lobby, like, it's just it's amazing
to see how the diversity in attendance is shifting, and
I mean racially, but also just like eight ages, right,
(18:21):
it's so impressive to me.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, I think sometimes people feel like it's a little
out of reach for them. And then when you go
and you're like, Okay, this is not.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I can relate. I can see someone like me or something.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
And I've heard also people talk about musicals and be like,
but this is like the music alone stands by yourself
completely agree. You know what's your favorite sound is saying.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
No good deed. It's an act too. It's just a
badass moment. I feel so powerful, Like and it's one
of those songs where like she's just experiencing so many
emotions at once, like every line is another shift in
her internal experience. And it's just like this labyrinth that
(19:00):
I get to like sift through to get to this
place where I'm like, you know what, forget all of
what all these pressures that are being put on me.
I'm gonna you want me to be evil? You want
me to be the Wicked Witch. I'm gonna be the
wood Witch. It's like this beautiful resignation and it's very pointant,
it's very intense, but it's powerful. Man, I love it.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Could you imagine if they would have asked you to
pay Glinda?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Honestly, sometimes I'm like, what if I came back and
was Glinda. I'd be kind of crazy. That would be
I would enjoy it. It would be kind of silly.
It would be silly. I would enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
So what do you see as yourself? Like now, because
I know you've been visioned being on Broadway you wanted
to since you were young, So now what do you
envision like what's next? Because I know you're thinking about that.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, of course, I think I'm super excited to start
building characters from the ground up, new characters, whether they're
on screen, originating a Broadway show, or I'm super into animation.
I love Disney. I want to be a new Disney
Princess one day. Okay, we're hoping we hopefully put it
out right. So, yeah, I've been in long running shows Wicked, Hamilton,
and Rent, played characters that people know so well, So
(20:03):
I'm feeling uber creative now, Like I'm just like, now
that I've conquered this thing, I don't even know I
could do this, So like what else do I not
know that I can do?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Right now?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I gotta see.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Theater is definitely harder than television and film.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I would say they're different, they're different difficulties because I
have the eight show week to like rev up my energy,
and I have the entirety of a show to build
the arc of a character. But if I'm when I'm
doing like a single episode of a show, like that's
like a snapshot in a moment of a character's life,
and oftentimes the future of the series is not even
written yet, so it's like I don't even know where
my endpoint is. So I would say physically, it's probably
(20:40):
it's it's easier on screen because we're not doing eight
shows a week, but the intensity intensity of the camera
being right in hont of your face.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, and also no doovers like you, I mean not.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
You do get duovers on screen. It's incredibly vulnerable. So
it's just like I would say, it's just different difficulties
in both. Who has been the.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Most like, Wow, I can't believe this person reached out
to me.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
That's such a good question. I was pretty let me see,
I don't want to forget anybody. I mean John Cheu,
the director of the Wicked movie, hit me up like
immediately when when the press release came out, and I
was like, that's amazing. I'm obsessed with everything he's done.
He's so brilliant and his like his mind works. I
(21:26):
was just like, I'm so John, if you can hear me,
I can't wait for us to do a project together.
He's just the homie like he's he's from California like me,
so like he's very down to earth and like just
like incredibly supportive for someone I've never actually met, like
just supportive from afar.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
All Right, we love it. But I'll be watching you
and following everything that you have one on and congratulations
to you. Represent amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
You know for everybody that wants to go out there.
If you haven't seen Wicked, shame on you. But you know,
make sure you get a chance to go because I've
already been a couple of times and it's a listen,
I don't even have time like that. When I tell you,
if anytime I have like a little spare time. Let's
go again.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
You know it's fun, all right.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Well, thank you so much for joining me. It was
a pleasure, such a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Thank you
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Well,
What's up his way up with Angela he and what
an honor Hi you to have Lendcaya Kabtta here. I've
seen you doing press Good Morning America. I know you
did the Breakfast Club and we already said you are
going to.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Be outside, Yes, outside.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
But of course you are playing starring in Wicked on Broadway,
the first black alphabet full time correct, So congratulations on that.
I was watching your journey too, of your first day,
like you documented going and having your debut performance and
the audience and your everybody was like crying because that
is an emotional play.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yes, when you're watching it, Yeah, it is ups and
downs like crazy.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, congratulations on that because I know, like even going
to Broadway. I love going to Broadway plays, but sometimes
I feel like I don't see enough of us fair
there in the audience, and especially not enough of us
represented on this stage. I feel like that's all correlated.
So what did that mean to you when you first
heard the news? Because I know it was a latter
back and forth auditioning, not knowing what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I just felt like it was an opportunity to tell
my story and the story of my community in like
a very passionate and honest way, especially in a character
that has a lot of agency in her own life
even though the world is kind of against her in
the story, Like, just like her arc is so inspiring
and so personal to me, and that she just stays
so true to herself through all this hardship. So like
(01:24):
it was an opportunity to tell a story through the
eyes of a character who is strong and like sure
of herself, which is so inspiring to me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
And you've been, you know, doing this. It's interesting to
me your whole background that here, Yeah, because this is
not something that initially you intended to even happen, right,
for you to even be shycles to be acting, that
was never the goal. Like you know how some people
growing up they're like, I want to be on stage.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Interestingly, like as a kid, I did dream. I had
a specific dream of being on Broadway. I also just
had other things that I that I had passions for
and that I love, Like I played sports, I was
super involved in academics and and volunteering, and obviously theater
and singing as well. And it wasn't until like towards
the end of college that I was like, no, I
think I'm going to like pivot and like really pursue
(02:10):
this because I was just so curious. I've been so
driven by like what are the things that I'm capable
of that I don't even know that I'm capable of yet.
That's a great way to think, you know, graduating from
college is where are we going?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Right?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
What are we doing?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
What did you when you had dreams of being on
Broadway when you were younger? Was there specific Ooh, that's
a great question.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
You know. I always say I dreamt in feelings, not
specific destinations, and I feel like that's left my aperture
very open to so many possibilities. And I just I
dreamt of feeling how I feel right now, like I'm
doing something that matters to me, matters to my community,
it matters to the entertainment industry and the world as
(02:52):
a whole, especially because the movie it's just like it's
this large platform. So I feel like that is what
drove me to.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Hear your parents also came here from Ethiopia, and so
watching everything that's going on right now, I know that
means a lot to you too, just with your background,
your family background, but also your education background and what
it is that you represent and what Alphabet represents. It
couldn't be a better marriage. It feels like arguing for
you to like combine your background but also your passions.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yes, I feel like I'm playing a very hot headed
version of myself. She is hype and she's very easily
triggered and explosive. So I don't necessarily like present like that,
but like the core of who she is, what she
stands for, how empathetic she is to everyone's all beings,
human or not, is very true to who I am
and who my family raised me to be.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
If somebody, for some reason it's under a rock and
haven't seen Wicked the play or the movie, how would
you describe Alphabet's character for people who are watching Because
there's a lot of underlying meanings. You could be watching
it just for entertainment, but it's the type of thing
where later on you can reflect and say, actually has
a lot of different meanings. Because the music is beautiful
(04:03):
on there, you know the plot and the storyline. You
can go in there the spectacle yeah, and not have
to think that hard. But then when you do, you're like,
this represents so much more. What would you say if
somebody asked you what alphabet represents.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think alphabet represents challenging preconceived ideas of the world
around you. She believes in the Wizard. The whole, the
whole beginning of the story is her pursuing this like
childhood dream of meeting him and getting to work with him,
and then she finds out that he's not who he
says he is. So that like disillusionment that she experiences,
(04:35):
I feel like is very representative of what is happening
in the world right now unfortunately. So I believe Alphaba
represents not taking things face for face value, including herself.
Everything she experiences is also like a microcosm of what
she has to do within her life in her own identity.
So like this concept of like good and evil, like
(04:57):
Glinda the good and Alphaba the wicked witch. So like
this one's bad and this one's good. Great, But why Yeah,
it's just the quote. The whole story is about questioning
why have we decided just because this thing, this entity
is different, that it's a threat, And I feel like
the whole but at the end they become they become one.
Glinda and Alphaba become close, and Alphaba literally tells Glinda,
(05:19):
I need you not to Uh what did she say?
What does she say? Me? I think you should I
think I shouldn't know she says, don't don't try to
like save face for me, don't try to clear my name.
And so everyone sees Glinda at the beginning, just like
making this beautiful public appearance. Everything's fine, you know, like
I don't care about the wicked witch. Meanwhile, in the background,
(05:40):
what you don't see is that Alpha but told her to.
So like that's just a small example of just not
taking things for what they are because you just don't
know what's happening behind closed doors.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Even alphabet being green and how that happened. Yeah, I
also feel like that's a theme too when you think
about why she even is. You know, the decisions or
things that could happen that get passed down.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
That rise generational trauma, or just like how we take
care of ourselves now is how the next generation will live.
That's the world that they will live, And how we
take care of the earth right now is how our
next generation will live. So yeah, that's a really really
good point. How she became green in the first place
is also something.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Chason, but her mom, come on, yeah, I want to
ask you with that about your parents and how they
feel about because I know they are so proud of you. Yes,
but even the work ethic that you have, because there's,
like you said, a lot of different directions you could
have gone in life. Yes, And so talk to me
about what that support system was like, because sometimes parents
can see something in their kids and really encourage it
(06:43):
or also feel scared for you. That made sure, Oh
we got to make sure she's got this background just
in case as a plan B. That's how parents can think.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I mean, they were so supportive, especially being immigrant African parents,
and like still giving me the space to pursue these
creative treasas most of the I don't know adults. The
people that are older than me and my family are in
tech and academia and politics. So like for me to
just be like, hey, I'm gonna go saying now, they're like,
(07:14):
they don't they don't even they couldn't even understand the industry,
but they knew me. They trusted me, so like I
think that superseded any fears or anxieties they had, even
though they still had concerns, because I would still get
questions a couple of years into my career, Like so
when you go to law school, right, I'm like, you know,
that's a boat of question because that is how I
presented and now I'm changing it all up. So I
do appreciate you going along this ride. But they really did.
(07:36):
They trusted me, and like they trusted my vision and
my work ethic and I think that's and we also
had a lot of very open communication about these things,
so that that I feel like helped them maintain trust
in the.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Process because you didn't just pap up obviously on Wicked,
you had a background, yes, and it was a grind.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
To get there one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
So because I know you've done productions of Hamilton, yeah,
which is amazing. I mean Hamilton was groundbreaking as well. Yes,
you know in itself. Of course we know Beyonce. For
a couple of weeks, you did those rehearsals with Beyonce,
and so during that time, did it feel like, how
patient were you? Because I know, sometimes when you know,
(08:14):
you have like this fire that you want to show
the world. So how was that for you? And had
you audition for things on Broadway before this?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah? I did. I was I was always auditioning throughout
my career. Throughout when I was in Hamilton, before though
I was in rent and then I before that, I
worked in Disneyland and Tokyo. So the whole time I
was always auditioning for stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But Disneyland and Tokyo is wi you guy to tell
me about that?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Oh it's amazing. I mean Tokyo is literally so amazing.
I would like go live there right now. Everything about it,
Like the culture is so hospitable, just the transportation, Like
the city is just like clean as hell and you
can get around so easily, and it's so beautiful. The
food is amazing. So like, yeah, throughout all those experiences,
I was also auditioning for big Broadway stuff, anything I
(08:57):
can get my hands on. I was like, let's go
so yes to life, right, let's just go for But
I feel like God gave me a lot of things
and patience is not one of them. But I feel
like maybe that has helped me because.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
I just like have always had this fire urgency.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, but like in therapy, I definitely have to talk about,
you know, being patient because things can't happen on my
all my time, all the time, and like that's what's
kept me grounded is like trusting that the universe has
always had like a plan for me. Like if there's
this fire in me there, it has to be there
for a reason. I don't feel this way for no reason.
And that's what's kind of like kept me aligned with
my goals even when things maybe weren't going the way
(09:33):
I why I wanted them. I was like, no, but
the universe, whatever you might believe in, God has a
plan for where I'm supposed to be, and I just
have to like literally just keep going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Because sometimes things happen too fast. Yeah, and if you're
not ready for oh Lord, that could be like man,
I shouldn't you know? Yes, But so talk to me
about that first day, right because we saw some footage
we saw you walking in, seeing yourself on the post. Yeah,
and you know that current cause is going on stage.
So after that, I mean, is it that you get
(10:03):
on this stage and then your nerves are gone or
like tell me how I just money here? Yo, I'm
nervous most of us will never experience. But something like
that is.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I've become painfully aware of everyone looking at me at
very random places during the show, Like it's so I'm like,
oh my gone. But then I just like divert back
to like Elphabu's thoughts and the land of Oz. So
anytime I'd get nervous, I would just try to literally
focus on the world in front of me, like ground
myself on the stage, like feel my feet on the
ground and look at the actor I'm performing with sort
(10:36):
of thing. But I was super nervous. I had like
sixty friends and family there on my first show, like
it was not only a historical moment for our community,
but also my Broadway debut. I I'd never performed on
Broadway before. I've never even lived in New York before,
so it was a lot of first out once. So
like I took a little video before I went on
(10:57):
for the first time on my debut day because I
was like, I gotta remember this feeling. And like I
was like I was just literally talking to the camera,
not for anyone, just for me, just being like, oh
my God, like this is happening. And I wanted to
just cry and like scream because I was so happy
and so excited, but like I couldn't even let myself
feel the excitement because that would have taken me out
of the character's mind, the characters to be like, yeah, absolutely,
(11:18):
but I still struggle with nerves all the time. And
that's that's part of the Like, that's why I always
preach like a strong relationship to self for any spirituality
because like it really helps me stay grounded in high
stress situations.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Even doing eight shows a week that is strenuous. And
I know you've said you've gotten the advice of not
to be too hard on yourself because there are there
times that like you have to improvise because we wouldn't know, right,
but that would be something that you do and I'm
sure on stage it can happen something, yeah, because it
has to at times somebody else or if somebody else
says something that they weren't supposed to.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Say, things about having all the time, and we said,
that's a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Of trust between you guys who as actors being creative.
Talk to me about the audition, I mean, the rehearsals
process and how that was and even you building a
great relationship with Glinda Ali.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Is Ali Trim.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, So talk to me about having that strong relationship
with Glinda and also being able to kind of get
in there with the rest of their cast. Members and bond, Like,
what are some of the things that you do besides
Jess rehearsals.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, I think we would try to spend quality time together.
I always can't because my role is very intense and
very taxing, and I just don't have a lot of time.
It's kind of isolating. However, like I knew in the
audition process that I wanted to get to know these
people as much as I could. I want to know
about their families and how they think and how they feel,
because like having that one on one vulnerable personal connection
(12:43):
like really makes me feel like we're doing like you know,
we're doing this together. So as much as we could,
we just we just chill. Like they come the other characters,
the Bach, the Glinda, the Nessa, they come into my
dressing room and we just hang out and chit chat
about whatever about nothing, and those little moments like really
bring that cohesion on stage that you're talking about, like
that real trust because it's it's hard. The show is hard,
(13:06):
it's long, it's intense.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
It's the longest shows I know that inhabit. For us
in the audience, it doesn't feel long and exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Exactly and I feel like we work on like the
pacing of the storytelling to keep it engaging. But that
also requires a lot of trust because I make mistakes.
We all make mistakes all the time in the show,
and we have to be able to look at each
other in the eye and be like, nah, I got you,
Like we're doing this right, you get it? Yeah? So that,
like you, I think the trust that you brought up
is like key to something like this.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So what do you do to wind down as yourself
in real life? As LNDCY? Like what is it that
you're you're doing when you're after eight shows in a
week and you're like, okay.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Nature, I live by the water. I like to sit
by the water. Okay to New York dirty water, but
it's water and it's calming to me because I'm from California.
I'm a beach girl, so like I need to feel
that it just brings me to earth, especially when I'm
in this literal black dark box at the theater like
(14:09):
all day or all week whatever, so I feel like
I need to get outside. And there's just a lot
of like chilling on my own, watching movies, watching TV,
connecting with friends and family too, even if it's just FaceTime.
Like that helps me feel like I'm winding down because
it just makes me feel like I'm more balanced.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
What are you watching on TV?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I just finished Ginny and Georgia on Netflix. I'm obsessed.
It's so silly and I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I gotta wist that. Yeah, it's so ridiculous because every
time I finished something, I'm like, Okay, now what's next.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Literally, I feel like my life is over when I
finish a TV show, I'm like, what's my purpose?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Centime? You're so upset? Like I got a wait, friend,
now this seasons Great Games coming back?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yes? Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And also and just like that, the Sex and the City,
Like I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Did you wess the original Sex in the City? Because then, okayessed,
how do you like living? Speaking of Sex in the City,
how are you liking living in New York?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I love it. I hope fool that I've wanted to
live here since I was very young, because I feel like,
if you don't want to live here, this is not
the place to try it out because it's crazy. But
I love it. I love the energy. I love how
like there's like food late night, like everything is going
all the time.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, That's one thing when I travel and I go
out the places and I'm like, dang, I can't order food,
like there's nothing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Old, shocking. I'm gonna starve and die.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
But La, I felt like Steph is openly.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Sometimes sometimes, but it still surprises me because a city
like this is like literally doesn't sleep, but La sometimes it.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
So you went to the Tonys. Yeah, they said this
year was like one of the best time you ever.
So tell me how you felt that the Tony's. What
was that light?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I definitely I was tearing up. I was like, this
is my community and we're doing such beautiful things. There's
so many beautiful stories being told, specifically stories of black
and brown communities, and like so many shows are being
led by people of color right now, and it's so
inspiring to me. So I was just like, I was
kind of pinching myself. I was like, this is it's
(16:00):
such It's such a privilege to be among incredibly creative
and intelligence peers in that space.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I know you said that. Cynthia Riva also sent you flowers.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, she's so sweet.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Right before you were doing your Days Day performance, so thoughtful,
so cute, and you're right about that because I think
Broadway has become a lot more diverse from what I've seen.
Because I've been I go to a lot of different things.
I'm always disappointed when something comes and goes fast.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Too, because I got attached. I'm like, oh, that's a
good story. There's beautiful performances.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
But I also want to make sure that we're going
you know what I'm saying, because I went to go
see like Ja Jazz hair brating, I want to go
see the What a Wonderful World?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, And those are so such amazing, amazing stories, and
I'm like, man, we need people to like really, it's
hard to get it. Some things like promoted because not
a lot of things Wicked has had, like what is
it the fourth longest running show.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Something like that, I've heard of fourth I can't even tell.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
You Broadway and that's amazing, you know what I'm saying.
The Lion King, I've seen that multiple time.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I can see it every week.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I would be down, Yeah, MJ. You know there's certain
things that just really like and you're you're in one
of those like foundational Broadway plays that if somebody comes
to New York.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They're going to go see Wicked, right.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
And you gotta take the family, you gotta you know exactly,
even my man liked it.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
I know that's right, because that's the thing about this
show is like people, people who are not even in
this world are so moved by the story. Which is
why it's so crazy for me to be in this moment,
because I'm like, as a kid, I idolize Wicked as
like something that defined Broadway mm hmmm, And now I'm
it came the thing that I'm idolizing, Like, it's so
crazy and it means so much of so many people
(17:38):
who have never even experienced theater like that.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So do you see a difference in you know, just
young people seeing somebody like you playing the character alphabet
like one of a renowned character. Do you see anything like,
I don't know if they do any studies to see
like what has this increased the number of people that
are you know, young black and brown girls that want
to go.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
To see theater. I definitely feel like from what I've
heard internally in the company that like sort of the
statistics of like the audience demographics have shifted a lot,
and I'm just generally seeing more black and brown faces
in the audience like when I can only see a
few roles, but even if I like maybe walk a
little bit near the lobby, like, it's just it's amazing
to see how the diversity in attendance is shifting, and
I mean racially, but also just like eight ages, right,
(18:21):
it's so impressive to me.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, I think sometimes people feel like it's a little
out of reach for them. And then when you go
and you're like, Okay, this is not.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I can relate. I can see someone like me or something.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
And I've heard also people talk about musicals and be like,
but this is like the music alone stands by yourself
completely agree. You know what's your favorite sound is saying.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
No good deed. It's an act too. It's just a
badass moment. I feel so powerful, Like and it's one
of those songs where like she's just experiencing so many
emotions at once, like every line is another shift in
her internal experience. And it's just like this labyrinth that
(19:00):
I get to like sift through to get to this
place where I'm like, you know what, forget all of
what all these pressures that are being put on me.
I'm gonna you want me to be evil? You want
me to be the Wicked Witch. I'm gonna be the
wood Witch. It's like this beautiful resignation and it's very pointant,
it's very intense, but it's powerful. Man, I love it.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Could you imagine if they would have asked you to
pay Glinda?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Honestly, sometimes I'm like, what if I came back and
was Glinda. I'd be kind of crazy. That would be
I would enjoy it. It would be kind of silly.
It would be silly. I would enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
So what do you see as yourself? Like now, because
I know you've been visioned being on Broadway you wanted
to since you were young, So now what do you
envision like what's next? Because I know you're thinking about that.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, of course, I think I'm super excited to start
building characters from the ground up, new characters, whether they're
on screen, originating a Broadway show, or I'm super into animation.
I love Disney. I want to be a new Disney
Princess one day. Okay, we're hoping we hopefully put it
out right. So, yeah, I've been in long running shows Wicked, Hamilton,
and Rent, played characters that people know so well, So
(20:03):
I'm feeling uber creative now, Like I'm just like, now
that I've conquered this thing, I don't even know I
could do this, So like what else do I not
know that I can do?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Right now?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I gotta see.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Theater is definitely harder than television and film.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I would say they're different, they're different difficulties because I
have the eight show week to like rev up my energy,
and I have the entirety of a show to build
the arc of a character. But if I'm when I'm
doing like a single episode of a show, like that's
like a snapshot in a moment of a character's life,
and oftentimes the future of the series is not even
written yet, so it's like I don't even know where
my endpoint is. So I would say physically, it's probably
(20:40):
it's it's easier on screen because we're not doing eight
shows a week, but the intensity intensity of the camera
being right in hont of your face.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, and also no doovers like you, I mean not.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
You do get duovers on screen. It's incredibly vulnerable. So
it's just like I would say, it's just different difficulties
in both. Who has been the.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Most like, Wow, I can't believe this person reached out
to me.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
That's such a good question. I was pretty let me see,
I don't want to forget anybody. I mean John Cheu,
the director of the Wicked movie, hit me up like
immediately when when the press release came out, and I
was like, that's amazing. I'm obsessed with everything he's done.
He's so brilliant and his like his mind works. I
(21:26):
was just like, I'm so John, if you can hear me,
I can't wait for us to do a project together.
He's just the homie like he's he's from California like me,
so like he's very down to earth and like just
like incredibly supportive for someone I've never actually met, like
just supportive from afar.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
All Right, we love it. But I'll be watching you
and following everything that you have one on and congratulations
to you. Represent amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
You know for everybody that wants to go out there.
If you haven't seen Wicked, shame on you. But you know,
make sure you get a chance to go because I've
already been a couple of times and it's a listen,
I don't even have time like that. When I tell you,
if anytime I have like a little spare time. Let's
go again.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
You know it's fun, all right.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Well, thank you so much for joining me. It was
a pleasure, such a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Thank you
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Well,
Way Up With Angela Yee News
Host
Angela Yee
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