Watching the ’80s cult classic Heathers or the movie musical Mama Mia! doesn’t conjure up images of casts filled with Black and brown faces. While the movie Wicked features a Black woman in one of its leading roles, it’s hard to believe that the first African American woman to play Elphaba on Broadway full-time wasn’t cast until March 2025. However, Broadway is evolving, with Black actresses proudly stepping into roles traditionally envisioned for white actresses, bringing with them their own fresh perspectives and a whole lot of talent.

Lorna Courtney as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers: The Musical, Lencia Kebede as Elphaba in Wicked, and Jalynn Steele as Tanya in Mamma Mia! are not only breaking ground, but they’re also delivering performances that have audiences up on their feet and cheeri

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