F Brown News

L. Frank Baum’s classic fantasy “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is the gift that just keeps on giving. From its 1901 origins to the 1939 iconic film to any number of sequels, movies, and even a Broadway musical or two, we always seem to want to hear more and more about the magical land of Oz. And no small part of those tales is the fabulous William F. Brown and Charlie Smalls, Tony Award winning musical, “The Wiz” from 1974. And now the 5th Avenue Theatre has brought this green gem to vivid life with their current delightful production.

The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts and Li V Mahob Productions present the regional premiere of award-winning playwright Moses T. Alexander Greene's Pooled: A Gospel Musical Drama.

Festive family entertainment returns to the Malthouse Theatre in Canterbury this Christmas with the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes, 'Cinderella', following last year's record-breaking inaugural production of 'Beauty and the Beast', with casting announced now.

Two Cincinnati area schools and one Atlanta school will receive $10,000 to participate in the second-year pilot phase of the Educational Theatre Foundation's (ETF) Pathway program designed to foster racial equity through school theatre.

Chadae Nichol will helm the production as director.

Three more shows from the Shaw Festival’s 2022 playbill are poised to begin previews. The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece of wit, comedy and satirical social commentary, begins previews May 18. 

The 5th Avenue Theatre announced its 2022/23 Season. The 2022/23 Season features a dynamic lineup of musical theater magic that includes a world premiere, a co-production with ACT – A Contemporary Theatre, and more. Check out the fill season

Audiences are invited to 'Ease On Down The Road' to the Taft Theatre when The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati presents the world-premiere adaptation of THE WIZ JR., April 2-11, 2022. This fresh 60-minute version rounds out the company's 21-22 MainStage Season. Tickets are on sale now.  

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting and creative teams for the Shaw Festival’s 60th anniversary season.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is holding online auditions for a brand-new adaptation of THE WIZ JR., opening at the Taft Theatre in April 2022. Whether you see yourself as a beginner who only sings in the shower and dances in the kitchen, or you’ve performed with them before, everyone is welcome on their stage.

The Grand Prairie Arts Council will present The Wiz, written by William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, and directed by Eric Criner. The show runs Sept 17 - 26, 2021, at the Uptown Theater located at 120 E Main St, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

The Grand Prairie Arts Council presents The Wiz, written by William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, and directed by Eric Criner. The show runs Sept 17 - 26, 2021, at the Uptown Theater located at 120 E Main St, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

Rose Island Auctions & Sales has announced that the estate of William F. Brown and Tina Tippit, creators of the Broadway hit, THE WIZ, will go on sale beginning Friday, July 23, in Westport, Connecticut.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll and the Shaw Festival have announced Outdoors @ The Shaw, a series of concerts and events scheduled to take place from July 10 to October 9, 2021 on the grounds of the Festival Theatre and Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

As previously announced, this Christmas Hope Mill Theatre will stage the first new UK production of The Wiz, in 10 years, running from Wednesday 24th November 2021 to Sunday 16th January 2022.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting for the Shaw Festival’s upcoming productions of Charley’s Aunt, Flush, The Devil’s Disciple, Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse, A Short History of Niagara and Trouble in Mind.

Hope Mill Theatre has announced that this Christmas it will stage the first new UK production of The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 10 years. With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, book by William F. Brown and original orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, The Wiz is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Today we're celebrating Black History Month by taking a closer look at the 2009 Encores! production of The Wiz, which starred James Monroe Iglehart, Joshua Henry, LaChanze, Ashanti and more. Watch as we take you inside rehearsals with the cast!

After a much smaller, socially-distant season inside the company’s Showtime Stage on Red Bank Road, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is ready to roll out the red carpet and welcome patrons home to the Taft Theatre in Downtown Cincinnati starting this October 2021. 

The Shaw Festival plans to return to the stage in May with a reduced 2021 season. Many of the anticipated productions originally scheduled for 2020 will now appear as part of the 2021 playbill.