( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) A Twist on the Wizard of Oz Classic Changed the Face of Broadway
ENSPIRE Contributor: Grace Chai
On March 29, producers released a behind-the-scenes rehearsal video of The Wiz, a Broadway show that just experienced a highly anticipated revival. The project involved producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss, and Todd Tucker. It was released ahead of its first preview performance at the Marquis Theatre. This season, The Wiz played to 13 sold-out cities across America on its pre-Broadway tour—the first one in 40 years—and played 167 performances to over 390,000 cheering fans.
This groundbreaking version of The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop sheds new light on easing on down the road. It features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls, director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida), award-winning choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King), and additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers”).
The Wiz also has Emmy and Grammy Award-winning writers and music directors on its team, including Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone (Dance Music Arranger), and Paul Byssainthe Jr. (Music Director). The production also includes ‘Everybody Rejoice’ music and lyrics by Luther Vandross and the ‘Emerald City Ballet’ with music by Timothy Graphenreed. With this talented crew, The Wiz is conjuring up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before.
Also, THE WIZ design team includes scenic design by Academy Award-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), video and projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical) and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson).
Featuring an extraordinary Broadway cast with Nichelle Lewis as ‘Dorothy,’ Wayne Brady as ‘The Wiz,’ Deborah Cox as ‘Glinda’ and Melody A. Betts as ‘Aunt Em’ and ‘Evillene,’ Kyle Ramar Freeman as ‘Lion,’ Phillip Johnson Richardson as ‘Tinman,’ and Avery Wilson as ‘Scarecrow,’ The Wiz is sure to shine as bright as the Emerald City.
In an inspirational speech to the company on the first rehearsal day, The Wiz director Schele Williams said, “We are part of something so special. We get to carry the torch, and that is a privilege. Every day you go into your dressing rooms and every day they call half an hour a gift. Know that nothing is promised to us, but this moment. This rare gift that we get to share with an audience, this rare moment that we get to live our dreams and begin to dream bigger.”
Watch the rehearsal video here, and follow @thewizbway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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