Tim Larson Directs THE WIZ As Circle Players Kicks Off 2017

Circle Players eases into 2017 and will "Ease On Down The Road" - beginning January 6 - with its production of The Wiz, the musical that infuses L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music to create a fun, family-friendly show that has become one of the most popular musicals of its time.

The Wiz won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and was later adapted into a film version featuring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. In 2015, a dazzling new production was presented as a live televised event on NBC.

Tim Larson helms the new Circle production of The Wiz. A veteran director known locally for his large-scale musical productions, including previous Circle productions of Sister Act, Ragtime and Titanic, Larson's creative team includes William (Bill) Crimm returns to Circle as music director, having teamed up previously with Larson for Ragtime, and Dr. Peter Fields is choreographer for the fast-paced, acrobatic dance numbers.

The show will be presented at Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center, continuing Circle's commitment to stage a production each season with the TSU Theater Program.

There have been different takes on the classic tale of Dorothy Gale's adventures through the Land of Oz (Wicked, Oz The Great and Powerful, and Miss Gulch Returns among them), but The Wiz is considered by many to be closest to the story in Baum's book. In the 1970s when The Wiz was written (billed as the "Super Soul Musical Wonderful Wizard of Oz"), it was considered a breakthrough on Broadway: a large-scale, big-budget musical featuring an all-black cast.

Not only does The Wiz celebrate African-American culture - including dialogue and music that focuses attention on social concerns of the era - but it offers an entertaining update of Baum's original story.

Larson was drawn to the story after watching the Diana Ross/Michael Jackson film version in the 1980s: "I loved the movie, especially Michael Jackson and Lena Horne, and because I was a fan of Stephanie Mills as a recording artist, I made a point to learn about the original stage version in which she starred.

"The underlying social messages in the musical are important and I think the timing couldn't be better for a story about empowerment and courage."

Larson's staging of The Wiz is modern, urban and will incorporate video projections to help create the scenic designs and effects needed for a more contemporary version. The set design is simple, allowing much flexibility and space for Field's creative, often acrobatic choreography.

But for many, it's the music of The Wiz that resonates and lingers long after the story ends, a feeling of which Crimm is very aware. Soon after graduating from the University of Rochester - Eastman School of Music in late 1970s, Crimm staged one of the first-ever community Theater Productions of the musical.

"This show is very close to my heart," says Crimm. "It features a variety of music genres-jazz, blues,R&B, gospel that will take you to church!"

"Many people might not realize at first that some of the songs in THE WIZ are in protest to social and racial issues of that era-similar to 'slave music' in that it has double entendre; the lyrics and music come acRoss One way but have hidden meaning in some interpretations," he explains.

An example is the song in Act Two, "Everybody Rejoice/Brand New Day," which is a song of freedom, ending the enslavement of the Winkies by the evil witch, Evilene.

"The Wiz speaks to many cultural and social challenges of the 70s that continue to appear or resurface in current events," says Crimm.

The cast includes many who were born decades after the original stage version. But they show a familiarity with the story and music that belies their youth, according to Larson and Crimm.

"All the performers went through an open audition process with people of all ages and abilities, and this cast was chosen because their talents stood out," Larson explains.

Crimm adds: "This is a superb cast because they have outstanding innate talents and are willing to take constructive criticism to become even better performers."

While many themes in The Wiz spring from African American culture, Larson says the messages will resonate with modern audiences and anyone seeking their own identity in pursuit of a better world.

"Our cast is diverse in many ways, as is our creative team and crew," says Larson. "The story of The Wiz is certainly rooted in a particular culture, but there's meaning in it for all of us."

Circle Player's production of The Wiz is presented in partnership with The National Museum of African American Music. Performances run January 6-22, at Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center on Thursdays - Saturdays, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees (January 8, 15 and 22) are at 3 p.m.

All tickets are $20 except for Thursdays, when tickets are $10. Tickets are available online at www.circleplayers.net. Reservations are available by calling (615) 332-7529 or by emailing boxoffice@circleplayers.net. Tickets are also on sale at the box office at TSU Performing Arts Center one hour before each performance. Group rates are available for 10 or more by emailing boxoffice@circleplayers.net or by calling (615) 332-7529. A special discount is available for TSU students and faculty at the box office with campus ID.