THE WIZ Breaks Records At Centrestage

It is official: The Wiz is a smash hit in Baltimore. CENTERSTAGE announces that as of this week and with 13 performances to go, Dorothy and her friends have "eased on down the road" past previous top seller Ain't Misbehavin', which came in at just over $310,000.

Many factors have helped to make this show special to the theater-and Baltimore audiences. In addition to the return of such Broadway talents as Kingsley Leggs (The Color Purple), Angela Robinson (The Color Purple), and Wayne Pretlow (The Civil War), the show features CENTERSTAGE debuts by the likes of Broadway vet Gwen Stewart (Rent) and four local Maryland artists in several roles, including Dorothy and the Scarecrow.

Band member Whit Williams (woodwinds) also makes a return of sorts, after playing in the pit for the original pre-Broadway debut of The Wiz right here at Baltimore's Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in 1974.

Prior to this production, CENTERSTAGE's previous top selling show, at just over $310,000, was the 2002-03 Season production of Ain't Misbehavin'. Directed by Ken Roberson and featuring CENTERSTAGE Artistic Associate E. Faye Butler; Williams also played for that show. Other top earners include August Wilson's Jitney and Radio Golf, as well as Sweeney Todd and The Pajama Game.

Music Director Eric Svejcar, himself a CENTERSTAGE alumnus (Two Gentlemen of Verona, Murder of Isaac), joins Associate Music Director Victor Simonson to maintain a truly, thoroughly funkadelic '70s vibe to the rock-n-soul score, which has also won plaudits-and prompted its share of dancing in the aisles. As Eric points out, "you can't escape these roots, and I don't see why you'd want to."

Central to the show's record-smashing success, though, has to be the piece itself, and its tremendous appeal across generations and cultures. The coming-of-age journey, the friendships forged along the way, the heart and humor of the book and lyrics, and the prism of African American urban community that The Wiz celebrates captivate hearts and minds of all ages. To the delight of Artistic Director Irene Lewis, who directed the production. "I had never seen The Wiz and was delighted to see how much heart it has," says Lewis. "To say nothing of the fact that I was able to bring such a magnificent cast to Baltimore."

The Wiz runs through Sunday, November 7. Tickets are now on sale through the Box Office, 410.332.0033, or online at www.centerstage.org. Due to the popularity of the show, patrons are encouraged to order tickets online or to email inquiries to boxoffice@centerstage.org. The Wiz is presented in partnership with Bank of America and Constellation Energy, with additional funding from KPMG and The William L. & Victorine Q. Adams Foundation and The Rodgers Family Fund. The media sponsor is Maryland Public Television.

Since 1963, CENTERSTAGE has been committed to producing and developing an eclectic repertory of challenging, bold, and thought-provoking work, representing a varied array of theatrical styles and forms, in collaboration with leading artists. Each year, a consistently broad range of productions in two intimate performing spaces attracts highly diverse audiences of more than 100,000 people-including thousands of fiercely loyal subscriber members, many of whom have been with the theater during its entire history. Additionally, CENTERSTAGE offers a variety of dramaturgical, community, and educational programs to broaden access and enhance the theatergoing experience, earning its honorary designation as the official State Theater of Maryland.

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