Even with green skin, Black women saw themselves in Elphaba. In the musical and now movie Wicked, Elphaba is a heroic character who is discriminated against because of her skin tone.
When Cynthia Erivo took on this role as queer Black woman, the character became a mirror for anyone who has ever struggled with being different. This is a battle Black women are far too familiar with.
Erivo’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West made the character even more relatable. However, she wasn’t the first Black woman to play this role.
Saycon Sengbloh was the first Black actress to play Elphaba on Broadway.
Maybe you’ve heard of her, or perhaps you haven’t. Either way, she has made a name for herself in plays, films, and series. Let’s get to know this talented actress who paved the way.
Who is Saycon Sengbloh?
Born October 23, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, Sengbloh loved the arts from an early age. Her first start at acting was at the Tri-Cities School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She later studied music and Spanish at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.
After pursuing her studies, she set off to start a career in music and acting.
Since her initial pursuit of acting, Sengbloh has had a diverse career on stage and behind cameras.
In 2005, Saycon Sengbloh was an understudy for the role of Elphaba, meaning she was responsible for covering the role if something happened to the original actress. Standby understudy roles are crucial. Actors in these roles often have to go on stage at a moment’s notice, having rehearsed far less than the principal actor and without knowing they’d be in costume even an hour before.
On Instagram and YouTube, you can find clips of Sengbloh delivering the song “Defying Gravity” in a vocal range that brings depth and vulnerability to the stage. During an interview with Theatre Mania, she described how she met Tony-winning, “Humans” playwright Stephen Karam. Karam was told that Sengbloh could sing. He initially questioned this information, as many people can carry a tune. Still, not many people can manipulate the air and their voices in a noteworthy and profound way in a song as challenging as the biggest solo in “Wicked.” However, Sengbloh has that ability.
One of Sengbloh’s most noteworthy performances was as Wife #1 in the play Eclipsed, a powerful drama about five Liberian women during the second Liberian Civil War. While the role didn’t require her singing voice, it demonstrated her acting abilities. The role explored trauma and resilience, which required her to be vulnerable in front of a live audience.
As the daughter of an American mother and a Liberian father, Sengbloh drew on her own heritage to fully embody this role. She has stated that this play experience has been both one of the best and one of the hardest, as each performance was dedicated to an abducted and missing girl in Africa.
Her other Broadway performances include:
- Aida, where she played a replacement in the musical by Tim Rice and Elton John. A play about a Nubian princess enslaved in Egypt, it explores themes of love and loyalty amongst political challenges. In a vocally demanding role, Sengblogh was praised for her ability to bring emotional intensity to the story.
- The Color Purple, Sengbloh played the role of Nettie in the adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel.
- Motown: The Musical, where she portrayed Martha Reeves, and brought life to some of Motown’s most iconic hits.
Other note-worthy performances in Hair, Fela! and Holler If Ya Hear Me.
In addition to many brilliant performances on and off Broadway, Sengbloh has used her talent on TV sets.
In ABC’s reboot of The Wonder Years, she plays the matriarch of the Williams family; Lillian is a confident, kind, wise, and humorous character. This role also highlights common challenges many working women face. Lillian is a full-time accountant who constantly balances her responsibilities while staying dedicated to her family.
Created by Lee Daniels and Saladin Patterson, the show follows the life of a middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama. Sengblogh brings depth, warmth, and authenticity to her character, helping to make the show relatable and intriguing to watch.
Another standout role was Leah on the OWN drama series Delilah. Created by Craig Wright, the show is a legal drama centered around lawyer Delilah Connolly, played by Maahra Hill.
Although the series didn’t make it past season one, Sengbloh’s character played a crucial part in the storyline by highlighting relevant themes of relationships, personal integrity, ethics, and other aspects of being a Black woman in the modern world.
An award-winning performer
Across television and theater, Sengbloh’s talent is limitless. This dynamic actress won the Drama Desk Award in 2016 for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Eclipsed.
She has also won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Eclipsed.
Sengbloh’s career is an empowering story for Black women. While her name might not be in every headline, her work is nothing short of powerful, impactful, and inspiring.
