July 14, 2025 • 15 mins
The latest Building Black Business podcast episode features Maxwell in conversation with Lencia Kebede, the first Black actress to play Elphaba full-time on Wicked on Broadway.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
One of three. Five k t you li siya kabetta.
The building is full.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Of joy right now?
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Come on, now, you know I'm trying to keep this
intro at ten point five seconds, the same length that
you held that note, the same length that Husain Bolt
has ran faster one hundred meters.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Like wow, have you have you ever thought us about that?
Speaker 4 (00:24):
I have not in that context, but now that I
know that, y'all can't tell me anything.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I can't say nothing, You can't say nothing.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Wow, your your presence is a present. And thank you
for hanging out here.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Of course, I'm so glad to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I've only seen you green besides the facts that you
have spent some time around our iHeartRadio building, and you
had the chance to sit down with our family and
friends at the Breakfast Club, and you talked about your
journey and what it means to you to be able
to be Alpha BA in this iconic Broadway show.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
If you can sum it up in a little bit
of a sentence.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Of course, I mean it just means everything to me.
I get to like represent my community, my personal story,
the story of anyone who's ever felt different or othered
in any way beyond what you look like, it could be.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Just how you feel.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
So it's just this opportunity to tell a story that
relates to so many people and have the opportunity to
inspire people to believe in themselves and go for things
that matter to them. So it's it's so special, and
it's so much.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Who you are.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, you know, and the fact that you know your
your ability to step on stage and to not only
give her the just do, but to know that it
comes from a space that.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You can relate to so much.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yes, yes, how powerful is it to step onto that
stage and to be able to channel what means so
much in your heart and to bring this kind of
character to life.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's cathartic. It's like therapy.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, like getting to process these feelings, like getting to
feel I feel othered in the beginning, the students are
not very nice to me, shocker, But the feeling as
the character like gets closer to herself as time goes on,
as she sort of becomes witchier, more witchy, and just
(02:07):
to feel how she grows in her confidence and like
understanding of herself is like, it's it empowers me as
a person as an actor, as Lencia.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Is that reflective of your your growth. I mean, you're
you're upbringing, like you know, being able to step into
your truth as you go along, and you you know,
you shine just as a human that you just find
that evolution, you know, the same character thread that you've
been able to take with you when you when.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
You wipe off the green and you get to go, oh,
you absolutely, like I know firsthand what it feels like
to like maybe distrust yourself because the world doesn't trust you,
and like still push through that and still be like, no,
I belong here even though even if you are questioning
that about yourself, Like, and that's what she does, Like
she's like, I'm going to take up space. I'm going
if I ever what I believe in, and like, yeah,
that's absolutely representative.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Of my experience on and off stage.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
One of the notes that I wrote down is is
connecting and the word connection and what it means not
only to connect to the character, but also to connect
with the audience from the stage to you know, really
draw people in.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
What's that superpower feel like to have come on superpower? No,
I love that.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It feels like a very important responsibility, yes, and a
responsibility that I never want to abuse, and I always
want to uphold and be and it's special to get
to be a sort of representation of community through this role,
especially being the first full time black al blah blah,
and just being speaking on like inclusivity and like just
(03:38):
honoring everybody and who they are and like bringing us
together and being like, look, we actually could do more
together than separate.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I wrote that down because yeah, I was watching and
listening to your chat with Like I've mentioned a bit ago,
what the breakfast club.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, it's the.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
It's the opportunity to really be intentional, to care so much,
so to really care so much about the way that
you do that responsibility, and in some way I feel
the same just being a young black man. Yes, the
pop radio world, uh huh. You know, we are very
much a unicorn, but we we put that self inflicted
responsibly on ourselves to just want to be our best
(04:13):
to show others.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So you know, as you look into the.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Crowd or as you watch other young girls of so
many different ethnicities look up to you and be inspired
by you, that's a that's a heavy crown to wear,
but you wear it so beautifully, Like what they feel
like to walk with that responsibility.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I see it as an opportunity to represent what it
looks like to believe in yourself. Yes, and I it's
sometimes can feel like pressure. Like I want to be
very transparent about that. It's not like I'm just like, oh,
everything's fine and it's so easy to carry all this
Like No, it's it's hard sometimes and like, and that's
because I care, like you were saying, like, I really
(04:52):
care about how I'm impacting people on the stage, how
I'm impacting people, and what I talk about in interviews
like this, Like I want it's people to go away
understanding that it's okay to feel different for sure and
still love yourself and like still show up. So like
it's it's an amazing opportunity and it's something that I
don't take lightly.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
It's been really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's not too long ago.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I had the chance to sit down with Gabrielle Nevella,
who plays in Stranger Things.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
She's Lee Roll in Stranger Things, Young Black Women.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's her very first Broadway role, and to know that
she has people like you to look up to. And
I'm not trying to put Gabrielle love you homegirl, that's
my little girl. We did some work together when we
were working with Nickelodeon, And just to know that she's
able to step into her greatness and to look at
someone like you to pave the way.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Who were some of those people that you looked up to.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Whether they were people of color, women of color, men
of color, or just someone that you admired what they
did by being themselves and you thought, that's a north
star for me.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I'll have to say, Audre McDonald, I feel that like
a lot. I know, like.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
She's us the epitome of like class to me, and
so wildly talented, but it's so beyond like her output
as an artist, Like it's who she is and how
she shows up and how gracious she is, especially in
the face of hardship or criticism or anything, like she
just stays true to herself. And and I just I've
(06:19):
always and watching her kind of like jump through different
aspects of the industry. Just be this multifaceted creative was
always super inspiring to me growing up.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
And so and you were in the same building at
the Tony's with her.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I was, and it was freaking awesome, Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
To yet to be there, to be a radio city
music Hall and to see Cynthia Revo. Yes, as we
obviously have those same I don't want to say comparisons
with those same you know kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Relationships, yeah connections, Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
To be there and to be honored and to you know,
just see what this show has done, not only on
Broadway but even on the big screen, Like.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
How yes is that?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
It was so special, especially because like I did my
matinee on Broadway that day, and I child it was
crazy because it was hella crazy, the degreening all of it. Anyways,
but I was like, when am I gonna have the
opportunity to do wig it on Broadway as the first
black Alpha BA then go to the Tony's where my
(07:21):
sister Queen, my sister Witch is hosting, and like have
so many like black and brown stories being told on
Broadway right now. Like it's just it's such an honor
to be a part of this community and like get
to be something that people look up to, just like
I've had those people that I get to look up
to and feel like, oh, I'm allowed to take up
space because they took up space. So it's just this
(07:43):
roundabout just like circle of life moment. Let's all give
to each other.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Before you were popping into the room here, we were
talking behind the camera about the fact that it's happening now.
You may have felt that, you know, four years ago
you were prepared for it, or maybe even two and
a half years or damn it, when you were you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Know, fifteen years old.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I can step into that role right now, but you know,
because I felt that way in some moments within my
career as well. Yeah, a lot of people who feel
like they are ready.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But the world isn't ready.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, what does it mean for this to be the
time that you get to shine?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
It's everything.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I mean, the show is so accessible to so many
people now that it's on film like internationally, like of
every age and demographic and so like it's my god,
It's like, I don't know, I always thought I would
as a kid. I was like I just dreamed of
doing something that like really mattered to people, And like
now it just feels like this, the stage for Wicked
in this moment is just so vast. So I feel
(08:39):
like I'm just so blessed to have this like even
larger platform than I would have if it was another year,
if or if another black woman gotten to play the
role for the first time, which would it would have
still been amazing, but the historic nature of it in
tandem with what's happening in the movie and all of
that is just like, dang, I really have.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
This is really a spe and unique moment to be
in this role.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
All the stars are a line a line truly are
and it's and it's a there's it's crazy, it's it's yeah,
it's now that you were supposed to be here, and
let's hang and talk about the movie a little bit.
Did you get to see the movie before everybody else?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I was not in Wicked yet when the first half
the movie came out, Like you get.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
To see you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I think I don't know if we're gonna see it
before maybe maybe maybe you're gonna be at the premiere hopefully.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
John m che.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Yeah, come on and look, let me tell you something.
John the homie, because he's the homie. Let's go John, listen.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
To me to talk to John.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
John, you are so kind for real, Like the moment
I got this offer, he was in my DMS congratulating me,
like so authentic. He's also from the Bay. Yeah, he's
from California. Maybe not the Bay, but from California, so
we already have that connection. But if you hear this, John,
just know I'm grateful for your support. He was like,
we've never met, like we've never interacted, and just for
him to be so at.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
You with a connection, a little California connection.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Come on, come back in the day when he was
doing all of his dance Battle challenges with Miley Cyrus
ACDC crew.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I got family. So John, we we got to talk.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
We gotta talk.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Make sure Lyndcia is available. Please if there's a room
for one other, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
California names, come on, we gotta support your California family.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
No, it is really special the moment that is happening
right now. So you get to be a part of
this for who it is that you are. We we
didn't touch on this too much, but feel free too.
I mean, it's we talked about it being you and
in your connection to going to school in politics and
you know, and really standing up for for for people
(10:40):
marginalized just.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
People in general.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yes, gosh, how.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Do parts of that seems like it's an obvious question,
but how do parts of of that make its way
into the character on stage.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I think my undergraduate studies taught me a lot of
like context, like I can compare and contrast different cultures
and different like political system and economic systems across the world, to.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Like help create a world for my characters.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
And then the more like technical transferable skills like research
and like just general professionalism and just work ethic that
I had to learn working in like law and politics
and international relations. Like those skills, like I really they
just really helped me build a well balanced character for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
And then what about a well balanced let's see it.
Do you get the chance to relax and chill here
in the city.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I have to I mean you you still.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Want to put your but you live nearby in the theater,
so that way you can, would.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
You say earlier I got the bow to bed pipeline.
It's very important. I have to rest. I have to important.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Is that for you?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's so it's so important.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I'm like I can be kind of a workaholic and
a bit of a perfectionist, so like I can keep
pushing because my body is strong, thank you, thank you
to the universe and to God, like it can in
my body can handle a lot but that doesn't always
mean I should push it to the limit. So I
tried to do a little like preemptive rest like kind
of work it into my schedule, whether it means taking
days off of work before I'm on empty, you know,
(12:10):
because I don't want to be I have a year
in this role.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I don't want to burn out like I have to chill.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Well, Also, what I gather from our conversation here is
that you want to be your best for everyone else,
to be able to absorb your best self. Yeah, and
you can't do that if you don't you don't take
time for yourself.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I cannot give what I don't have, so I have
to refill myself so I can give the way I
want to give.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I give what I don't.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Come on, write it down, Lord, flip that clip that
right there.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Well, I wanted to before we wrap up the conversation
because I feel we could talk forever. We didn't even
we didn't even go to the You know what I'm saying,
the relationship to the family and friends back in California.
Whether I'm eating out Burger is better than Jack in
the box?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Whoa in and out?
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay? Good, good answer?
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Are you crazy? Who says Jack in the box.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Put sometimes in ninety nine cent tacosa hard.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Fine, I'll tell you later at night. That's fine.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I can accept that I do because I have been
building up the courage to step on a stage.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I feel like being on a radio station.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I'm behind the scene with the cameras and how we
be if anybody has been seeing what's on the table here?
I printed out some asides here from from Wicked.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I think this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Do you think that I can audition.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
For the role Fiero? Okay? Are we doing this?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
We won't do that. Okay, how's it going, ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Maxwell.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I stand at five foot eight, one hundred and sixty
eight pounds, and I am auditioning for the.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Role of Fiera.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Also, where are you based?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
I am based out of Well, San Diego born and raised.
I live now in New York, Jersey City, because I
like looking into New.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
York versus the opposite way. And here's my go. Are
we prepared for this? Here we go?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Careful, don't shake him. I'm not And we can't let
him loose anywhere. You know, we gotta find someplace.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I realized that too, you think I'm stupid.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Don't you know I'm not really stupid?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Why is it that every time I see you, you're
causing some sort of commotion.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I don't cause commotions. I am one, that's for sure.
So you think I should keep my mouth shut? Is
that what you're saying?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
No?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
What you think I want to be this way? You
think I want to care this much? Look you, then,
I don't know how much easier in.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
My life would be if I didn't.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Do you ever let anybody else talk?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Sorry, but can I say one more thing? You could
have walked away back there. So, so, no matter how
shallow and self absorbed you pretend to be, excuse.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Me, there's no pressure here.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallowed.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
No, you're not, or you wouldn't be so unhappy.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Fine.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
If you don't want my health, no I do. It's
hardest pounding. I didn't mean to frighten him.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
What did you mean to do? And was I the
only one you didn't do it to?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You're bleeding? I am it must have scratched you.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, well maybe it's scratched me or something. I better
go get the safety I mean the cup.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
Yes, of course, get the cup to safety very in scene.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
I maybe call back.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I do have notes, Okay, However, I feel like you ate.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
You gave me some.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
No gaing, ok all right, but you were dropped like
you were giving me energy like.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Very good Okay, put them on, honey.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
See a competitian in the building. Ladies and gentlemen, this
is a true genuine soul. Thank you for your energy,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
For having me. You are so crazy.
One of three. Five k t you li siya kabetta.
The building is full.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Of joy right now?
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Come on, now, you know I'm trying to keep this
intro at ten point five seconds, the same length that
you held that note, the same length that Husain Bolt
has ran faster one hundred meters.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Like wow, have you have you ever thought us about that?
Speaker 4 (00:24):
I have not in that context, but now that I
know that, y'all can't tell me anything.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I can't say nothing, You can't say nothing.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Wow, your your presence is a present. And thank you
for hanging out here.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Of course, I'm so glad to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I've only seen you green besides the facts that you
have spent some time around our iHeartRadio building, and you
had the chance to sit down with our family and
friends at the Breakfast Club, and you talked about your
journey and what it means to you to be able
to be Alpha BA in this iconic Broadway show.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
If you can sum it up in a little bit
of a sentence.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Of course, I mean it just means everything to me.
I get to like represent my community, my personal story,
the story of anyone who's ever felt different or othered
in any way beyond what you look like, it could be.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Just how you feel.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
So it's just this opportunity to tell a story that
relates to so many people and have the opportunity to
inspire people to believe in themselves and go for things
that matter to them. So it's it's so special, and
it's so much.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Who you are.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, you know, and the fact that you know your
your ability to step on stage and to not only
give her the just do, but to know that it
comes from a space that.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You can relate to so much.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yes, yes, how powerful is it to step onto that
stage and to be able to channel what means so
much in your heart and to bring this kind of
character to life.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's cathartic. It's like therapy.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, like getting to process these feelings, like getting to
feel I feel othered in the beginning, the students are
not very nice to me, shocker, But the feeling as
the character like gets closer to herself as time goes on,
as she sort of becomes witchier, more witchy, and just
(02:07):
to feel how she grows in her confidence and like
understanding of herself is like, it's it empowers me as
a person as an actor, as Lencia.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Is that reflective of your your growth. I mean, you're
you're upbringing, like you know, being able to step into
your truth as you go along, and you you know,
you shine just as a human that you just find
that evolution, you know, the same character thread that you've
been able to take with you when you when.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
You wipe off the green and you get to go, oh,
you absolutely, like I know firsthand what it feels like
to like maybe distrust yourself because the world doesn't trust you,
and like still push through that and still be like, no,
I belong here even though even if you are questioning
that about yourself, Like, and that's what she does, Like
she's like, I'm going to take up space. I'm going
if I ever what I believe in, and like, yeah,
that's absolutely representative.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Of my experience on and off stage.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
One of the notes that I wrote down is is
connecting and the word connection and what it means not
only to connect to the character, but also to connect
with the audience from the stage to you know, really
draw people in.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
What's that superpower feel like to have come on superpower? No,
I love that.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It feels like a very important responsibility, yes, and a
responsibility that I never want to abuse, and I always
want to uphold and be and it's special to get
to be a sort of representation of community through this role,
especially being the first full time black al blah blah,
and just being speaking on like inclusivity and like just
(03:38):
honoring everybody and who they are and like bringing us
together and being like, look, we actually could do more
together than separate.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I wrote that down because yeah, I was watching and
listening to your chat with Like I've mentioned a bit ago,
what the breakfast club.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, it's the.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
It's the opportunity to really be intentional, to care so much,
so to really care so much about the way that
you do that responsibility, and in some way I feel
the same just being a young black man. Yes, the
pop radio world, uh huh. You know, we are very
much a unicorn, but we we put that self inflicted
responsibly on ourselves to just want to be our best
(04:13):
to show others.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So you know, as you look into the.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Crowd or as you watch other young girls of so
many different ethnicities look up to you and be inspired
by you, that's a that's a heavy crown to wear,
but you wear it so beautifully, Like what they feel
like to walk with that responsibility.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I see it as an opportunity to represent what it
looks like to believe in yourself. Yes, and I it's
sometimes can feel like pressure. Like I want to be
very transparent about that. It's not like I'm just like, oh,
everything's fine and it's so easy to carry all this
Like No, it's it's hard sometimes and like, and that's
because I care, like you were saying, like, I really
(04:52):
care about how I'm impacting people on the stage, how
I'm impacting people, and what I talk about in interviews
like this, Like I want it's people to go away
understanding that it's okay to feel different for sure and
still love yourself and like still show up. So like
it's it's an amazing opportunity and it's something that I
don't take lightly.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
It's been really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's not too long ago.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I had the chance to sit down with Gabrielle Nevella,
who plays in Stranger Things.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
She's Lee Roll in Stranger Things, Young Black Women.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's her very first Broadway role, and to know that
she has people like you to look up to. And
I'm not trying to put Gabrielle love you homegirl, that's
my little girl. We did some work together when we
were working with Nickelodeon, And just to know that she's
able to step into her greatness and to look at
someone like you to pave the way.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Who were some of those people that you looked up to.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Whether they were people of color, women of color, men
of color, or just someone that you admired what they
did by being themselves and you thought, that's a north
star for me.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I'll have to say, Audre McDonald, I feel that like
a lot. I know, like.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
She's us the epitome of like class to me, and
so wildly talented, but it's so beyond like her output
as an artist, Like it's who she is and how
she shows up and how gracious she is, especially in
the face of hardship or criticism or anything, like she
just stays true to herself. And and I just I've
(06:19):
always and watching her kind of like jump through different
aspects of the industry. Just be this multifaceted creative was
always super inspiring to me growing up.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
And so and you were in the same building at
the Tony's with her.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I was, and it was freaking awesome, Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
To yet to be there, to be a radio city
music Hall and to see Cynthia Revo. Yes, as we
obviously have those same I don't want to say comparisons
with those same you know kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Relationships, yeah connections, Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
To be there and to be honored and to you know,
just see what this show has done, not only on
Broadway but even on the big screen, Like.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
How yes is that?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
It was so special, especially because like I did my
matinee on Broadway that day, and I child it was
crazy because it was hella crazy, the degreening all of it. Anyways,
but I was like, when am I gonna have the
opportunity to do wig it on Broadway as the first
black Alpha BA then go to the Tony's where my
(07:21):
sister Queen, my sister Witch is hosting, and like have
so many like black and brown stories being told on
Broadway right now. Like it's just it's such an honor
to be a part of this community and like get
to be something that people look up to, just like
I've had those people that I get to look up
to and feel like, oh, I'm allowed to take up
space because they took up space. So it's just this
(07:43):
roundabout just like circle of life moment. Let's all give
to each other.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Before you were popping into the room here, we were
talking behind the camera about the fact that it's happening now.
You may have felt that, you know, four years ago
you were prepared for it, or maybe even two and
a half years or damn it, when you were you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Know, fifteen years old.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I can step into that role right now, but you know,
because I felt that way in some moments within my
career as well. Yeah, a lot of people who feel
like they are ready.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But the world isn't ready.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, what does it mean for this to be the
time that you get to shine?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
It's everything.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I mean, the show is so accessible to so many
people now that it's on film like internationally, like of
every age and demographic and so like it's my god,
It's like, I don't know, I always thought I would
as a kid. I was like I just dreamed of
doing something that like really mattered to people, And like
now it just feels like this, the stage for Wicked
in this moment is just so vast. So I feel
(08:39):
like I'm just so blessed to have this like even
larger platform than I would have if it was another year,
if or if another black woman gotten to play the
role for the first time, which would it would have
still been amazing, but the historic nature of it in
tandem with what's happening in the movie and all of
that is just like, dang, I really have.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
This is really a spe and unique moment to be
in this role.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
All the stars are a line a line truly are
and it's and it's a there's it's crazy, it's it's yeah,
it's now that you were supposed to be here, and
let's hang and talk about the movie a little bit.
Did you get to see the movie before everybody else?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I was not in Wicked yet when the first half
the movie came out, Like you get.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
To see you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I think I don't know if we're gonna see it
before maybe maybe maybe you're gonna be at the premiere hopefully.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
John m che.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Yeah, come on and look, let me tell you something.
John the homie, because he's the homie. Let's go John, listen.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
To me to talk to John.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
John, you are so kind for real, Like the moment
I got this offer, he was in my DMS congratulating me,
like so authentic. He's also from the Bay. Yeah, he's
from California. Maybe not the Bay, but from California, so
we already have that connection. But if you hear this, John,
just know I'm grateful for your support. He was like,
we've never met, like we've never interacted, and just for
him to be so at.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
You with a connection, a little California connection.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Come on, come back in the day when he was
doing all of his dance Battle challenges with Miley Cyrus
ACDC crew.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I got family. So John, we we got to talk.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
We gotta talk.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Make sure Lyndcia is available. Please if there's a room
for one other, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
California names, come on, we gotta support your California family.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
No, it is really special the moment that is happening
right now. So you get to be a part of
this for who it is that you are. We we
didn't touch on this too much, but feel free too.
I mean, it's we talked about it being you and
in your connection to going to school in politics and
you know, and really standing up for for for people
(10:40):
marginalized just.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
People in general.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yes, gosh, how.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Do parts of that seems like it's an obvious question,
but how do parts of of that make its way
into the character on stage.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I think my undergraduate studies taught me a lot of
like context, like I can compare and contrast different cultures
and different like political system and economic systems across the world, to.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Like help create a world for my characters.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
And then the more like technical transferable skills like research
and like just general professionalism and just work ethic that
I had to learn working in like law and politics
and international relations. Like those skills, like I really they
just really helped me build a well balanced character for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
And then what about a well balanced let's see it.
Do you get the chance to relax and chill here
in the city.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I have to I mean you you still.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Want to put your but you live nearby in the theater,
so that way you can, would.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
You say earlier I got the bow to bed pipeline.
It's very important. I have to rest. I have to important.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Is that for you?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's so it's so important.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I'm like I can be kind of a workaholic and
a bit of a perfectionist, so like I can keep
pushing because my body is strong, thank you, thank you
to the universe and to God, like it can in
my body can handle a lot but that doesn't always
mean I should push it to the limit. So I
tried to do a little like preemptive rest like kind
of work it into my schedule, whether it means taking
days off of work before I'm on empty, you know,
(12:10):
because I don't want to be I have a year
in this role.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I don't want to burn out like I have to chill.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Well, Also, what I gather from our conversation here is
that you want to be your best for everyone else,
to be able to absorb your best self. Yeah, and
you can't do that if you don't you don't take
time for yourself.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I cannot give what I don't have, so I have
to refill myself so I can give the way I
want to give.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I give what I don't.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Come on, write it down, Lord, flip that clip that
right there.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Well, I wanted to before we wrap up the conversation
because I feel we could talk forever. We didn't even
we didn't even go to the You know what I'm saying,
the relationship to the family and friends back in California.
Whether I'm eating out Burger is better than Jack in
the box?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Whoa in and out?
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay? Good, good answer?
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Are you crazy? Who says Jack in the box.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Put sometimes in ninety nine cent tacosa hard.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Fine, I'll tell you later at night. That's fine.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I can accept that I do because I have been
building up the courage to step on a stage.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I feel like being on a radio station.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I'm behind the scene with the cameras and how we
be if anybody has been seeing what's on the table here?
I printed out some asides here from from Wicked.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I think this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Do you think that I can audition.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
For the role Fiero? Okay? Are we doing this?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
We won't do that. Okay, how's it going, ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Maxwell.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I stand at five foot eight, one hundred and sixty
eight pounds, and I am auditioning for the.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Role of Fiera.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Also, where are you based?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
I am based out of Well, San Diego born and raised.
I live now in New York, Jersey City, because I
like looking into New.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
York versus the opposite way. And here's my go. Are
we prepared for this? Here we go?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Careful, don't shake him. I'm not And we can't let
him loose anywhere. You know, we gotta find someplace.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I realized that too, you think I'm stupid.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Don't you know I'm not really stupid?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Why is it that every time I see you, you're
causing some sort of commotion.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I don't cause commotions. I am one, that's for sure.
So you think I should keep my mouth shut? Is
that what you're saying?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
No?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
What you think I want to be this way? You
think I want to care this much? Look you, then,
I don't know how much easier in.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
My life would be if I didn't.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Do you ever let anybody else talk?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Sorry, but can I say one more thing? You could
have walked away back there. So, so, no matter how
shallow and self absorbed you pretend to be, excuse.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Me, there's no pressure here.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallowed.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
No, you're not, or you wouldn't be so unhappy.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Fine.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
If you don't want my health, no I do. It's
hardest pounding. I didn't mean to frighten him.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
What did you mean to do? And was I the
only one you didn't do it to?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You're bleeding? I am it must have scratched you.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, well maybe it's scratched me or something. I better
go get the safety I mean the cup.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
Yes, of course, get the cup to safety very in scene.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
I maybe call back.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I do have notes, Okay, However, I feel like you ate.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
You gave me some.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
No gaing, ok all right, but you were dropped like
you were giving me energy like.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Very good Okay, put them on, honey.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
See a competitian in the building. Ladies and gentlemen, this
is a true genuine soul. Thank you for your energy,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
For having me. You are so crazy.
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