“The Wiz” is a timeless musical take on the classic story of “The Wizard of Oz,” with many spins which align the story with Black culture. “The Wiz” made its Broadway debut on Jan. 5, 1975. The musical was created by Charlie Smalls, and originally starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Ted Ross as the Lion, Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow, Tiger Haynes as the Tin Man and Mabel King as Evillene. The show ran until Jan. 28, 1979, after being nominated for eight Tony Awards—taking home seven—with Best Musical among the mix. It featured an all-Black cast and original songs, differing greatly from the original 1939 film. The music in “The Wiz” ranges in genre from soul to rock to 70s funk to gospel. While the basis of the story is similar to the original, the infusion of Black culture into “The Wiz” made it revolutionary and a musical that people will continue to talk about for decades.
The musical was also adapted into a film which was released in the midst of its Broadway run, releasing Oct. 24, 1978. The film starred many big names, including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell and Mabel King. King played Evillene, the character that she originated on the Broadway stage. The film, while not the biggest success in the box office, became a classic film in many households, with people still enjoying and sharing it today. Many people who grew up in Black households reminisce on watching the film growing up, with distant memories of a scene in which the characters find themselves surrounded on a subway platform. Both the film and the musical are wonderful depictions of Black culture, and provide a new and fresh spin on the classic story.
“The Wiz” will soon be returning to the Broadway stage, and will be touring for the first time in 40 years. The tour will begin in Philadelphia with shows from June 3-15 at the Academy of Music. The cast of this production includes Dana Cimone as Dorothy, Kyla Jade as Aunt Em and Sheherazade as Glinda. For each of these ladies, this production is their Broadway tour debut. Other cast members include D. Jerome as the Tinman, Elijah Ahmad Lewis as the Scarecrow and Cal Mitchel as the Lion. The production is being directed by Schele Williams. The lively musical includes songs such as “He’s The Wizard,” “You Can’t Win,” “Everybody Rejoice/Brand New Day” and “Ease on Down the Road.”
The musical is expected to be a large hit, based upon its popularity on Broadway in the 50 years since its debut. For people who grew up watching “The Wiz,” the musical holds a special place in the hearts of many, and the opportunity for people to go and see the musical in a city near them is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can not be taken for granted. The days and tickets are limited for the Philadelphia show, so be sure to get tickets as soon as possible.