F Brown News

Along with contempt, familiarity is also pretty good at breeding hit Broadway musicals. Take The Wiz, for example; the perfectly pleasant but sketchily written 1975 Tony winner for Best Musical that, if it weren't based on L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (which became an iconic American story once MGM got its hands on it), would probably leave audiences completely baffled as to what the devil was going on.

The Wiz, winner of 7 Tony Awards including 'Best Musical' and 'Best Score,' will be presented by the Franklin School for the Performing Arts SummerStage 2009 on Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium, 224 Oak Street in Franklin. Based on L.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE SummerStock produces The Wiz, August 1-9, 2009 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE SummerStock produces The Wiz, August 1-9, 2009 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE SummerStock produces The Wiz, August 1-9, 2009 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE SummerStock produces The Wiz, August 1-9, 2009 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah.

The Wiz, winner of 7 Tony Awards including 'Best Musical' and 'Best Score,' will be presented by the Franklin School for the Performing Arts SummerStage 2009 on Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium, 224 Oak Street in Franklin. Based on L.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE SummerStock produces The Wiz, August 1-9, 2009 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah.

The Misanthrope is an ensemble-created contemporary explosion of Moliere's classic social comedy inspired in equal part by Ingmar Bergman, indie rock, and the New York rental market, it explores the nature of desire in our generation.

The KNF Co announces the World Premiere of BIRD HOUSE, an impossible new play written by Kate Marks. BIRD HOUSE will run for 12 performances from July 10th through July 26th at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York City. Heidi Handelsman directs a cast of six including Ora Fruchter, Kylie Goldstein, Wendy Scharfman, Christina Shipp, Anthony Wills Jr., and Cotton Wright.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

The KNF Co announces the World Premiere of BIRD HOUSE, an impossible new play written by Kate Marks. BIRD HOUSE will run for 12 performances from July 10th through July 26th at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York City. Heidi Handelsman directs a cast of six including Ora Fruchter, Kylie Goldstein, Wendy Scharfman, Christina Shipp, Anthony Wills Jr., and Cotton Wright.

Colman Domingo will replace Orlando Jones in the title role of The Wiz for the final six performances, June 29 - July 5 at New York City Center. Mr. Jones is leaving the show early in order to shoot his new series 'Crash Course' for ABC-TV. The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

The U.S. premiere of the Playwrights Realm's production of DOV AND ALI - a new drama by playwright Anna Ziegler and directed by Katherine Kovner - opened at The Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) on Friday, June 12 to enthusiastic reviews. Previews of DOV AND ALI began on June 5, and it will continue to play through June 27.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

Two-Time Tony Award nominee André De Shields, who created the title role of 'The Wiz' in the original Broadway production (1975), caught the ENCORES! production of 'The Wiz' last night and visited the members of the cast backstage.

BroadwayWorld.com's master photographer Walter McBride covered all the 'Oz' filled action, in addition to his normal stellar photo coverage he has created a special 'In The Spotlight' series of pictures. These portraits of The Wiz cast are 'in the moment' and taken as they met the press on opening night!

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, officially opened last night, Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Ashanti's Dorothy is joined by Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras celebrated along with the cast after the curtain came down!

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, officially opened last night, Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. BroadwayWorld.com 'eased on down the road' to cover all the 'Oz' filled action!