The all-new production of the Tony Award-winning hit musicalThe Wizwill open on Broadway on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in a limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre (210 West 46thStreet). Preview performances will begin on March 29.Check out an all new first look photo below, as well as a video of the cast performing with the orchestra for the first time!
To sign up to be the first to buy tickets to this highly anticipated Broadway musical, please sign up for first access atwww.wizmusical.com.The Wizwill go on sale exclusively to fans on November 3 starting at 10 AM ET before going on sale to groups and the general public.
The Wizlaunched its pre-Broadway national tour with a triumphant opening night last evening in Baltimore with five standing ovations, where the musical had its original world premiere nearly 50 years ago. The Baltimore engagement is sold out.
The Broadway cast will featureNichelle Lewisas Dorothy,Deborah Coxas Glinda andMelody A. Bettsas Aunt Em and Evillene,Kyle Ramar Freemanas the Lion,Phillip Johnson Richardsonas the Tinman,Avery Wilsonas the Scarecrow, andWayne Bradyas The Wiz.The Wizensemble includesMaya Bowles,Shayla Alayre Caldwell,Jay Copeland,Allyson KayeDaniel,Judith Franklin,Michael Samarie George,Collin Heyward,Amber Jackson,Olivia Jackson,Christina Jones,Polanco Jones,Kolby Kindle,Mariah Lyttle,Kareem Marsh,Anthony Murphy,Cristina Rae,Matthew Sims Jr,Avilon Trust Tate,Keenan D. Washington, andTimothy Wilson.
Featuring a book byWilliam F. Brownand a Tony Award-winning score byCharlie Smalls(and others), directorSchele Williams(The Notebook, revival of Disney’sAida), award-winning choreographerJaQuel Knight(Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,”Black is King), additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV hostAmber Ruffin(“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers”),Joseph Joubert(music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements),Allen RenéLouis(vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer,Adam Blackstone(Dance Music Arranger), are conjuring up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop will bring a whole new groove to easing on down the road.
The Wizdesign team will include scenic design by Academy Award-winningHannah Beachler(Black Panther,Beyoncé’sBlack is KingandLemonade), costume design by Emmy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominatedSharen Davis(Ray,Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winningRyan J. O’Gara(Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design byJon Weston(Parade), projection design byDaniel Brodie(Motown the Musical), wig design byCharles LaPointe(MJ the Musical) and make-up design byKirk Cambridge-Del Pesche(The Piano Lesson).
The production will include ‘Everybody Rejoice’ music and lyrics byLuther Vandross, as well as the ‘Emerald City Ballet’ with music byTimothy Graphenreed.
Joining the producing team with Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker areElizabeth Armstrong, James L. Nederlander, Hudson/Mann, Cody Lassen/Matthew D’Arrigo, Independent Presenters Network, Amanda Dubois Productions/Ari Edelson, Dori Berinstein, Spencer Ross/Stephanie Cowan, Terry Schnuck/Gabrielle Palitz, Pippa Lambert/Alissa Norby, Gina Vernaci, Common, DECO Entertainment, MC Lyte, Patty Baker, Marlene & Gary Cohen, Concord Theatricals, The Fabulous Invalid, Fakston Productions, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Gabrielle Glore, Grove Entertainment, Haffner-Wright Theatricals, House Woods Productions, John Gore Organization, Kawana Entertainment, Willette Klausner, MMC Productions, Lamar Richardson, Runyonland Productions, Erica Lynn Schwartz, The Shubert Organization, Lu-Shawn Thompson, Lana Williams- Woods, The Araca Group, Blakeman-Robinson Entm’t/Ricardo Marques, Robert Tichio/Score 3, Best Yet Entertainment/Branden Grimmett, Dkim Caldwell/Mickalene Thomas, DMQR Productions, Jason Turchin, Epic Theatricals/Jeffrey Grove, Joel Glassman/Westin Hicks, Jamrock Productions/Sonya Houston, Sally Johnston/Ann Scott, Judith
The Wizlaunched a national tourin Baltimore,MD, home of the 1974 world premiere of the musical opening September 24, 2023, and performances are currently playing through September 30, 2023. Following its run at the Hippodrome Theatre, the tour will slide into Emerald cities across the country before it begins its limited engagement on Broadway.
Additional information on tour cities, venues, performance schedules and single ticket on sale dates are available at WizMusical.com. Fans can now sign up for an email newsletter with up-to-date information as well as followThe Wizon social media channels.
Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”,The Wiztakes one of the world’s most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies, and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.
The Wizpremiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel
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