Stephanie Mills News

This time, the reader question was: How often do shows like The Wiz start on tour before coming to Broadway?

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 19, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

The Wiz officially opened at the Marquis Theatre and the best of broadway was on hand for the celebration. Check out photos of special guests, including original stars Stephanie Mills and Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, Andy Cohen, Tamron Hall,  Leslie Uggams, and many more!

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 22, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

This September, No Fear and Blues Long Gone: Nina Simone will make a return to North Carolina at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. See performance dates and learn how to purchase tickets.

Swimming in Jerusalem: A Modern Musical Parable will be presented in a concert format for five free public performances at off-Broadway's Theater555. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Swimming in Jerusalem: A Modern Musical Parable, exploring relationships among citizens of Israel as presented through the complex experiences of teenage swimmers in a YMCA swim club in Jerusalem, will be presented in a concert format for five free public performances at off-Broadway's Theater555.

Stephanie Mills returns to NJPAC with special guest The Whispers. For press requests, contact Angela Thomas at 201.503.1333 or AThomas@NJPAC.org.

BroadwayWorld Guest Contributor, David Appleford, gives high marks to the pre-Broadway tour of THE WIZ at ASU Gammage through January 7th.

What did our critic think of THE WIZ at Des Moines Performing Arts?

Excellent Show! First time as a theater reviewer that I had no criticism at all. Every aspect of the production (cast, music, costumes, set, choreography, etc.) was EXCEPTIONAL.

In 1975 a revolutionary approach to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre. The Wiz was a musical that no one thought would get past its opening night. The show proved everyone wrong. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and ran for 1,672 performances. The all-African American version of Dorothy’s trip down the yellow brick road is now embarking on a thirteen-city pre- Broadway tour and is playing at the National Theatre here in DC through October 29th. I am sorry to say that this version is a rocky journey over a cool “Ease on Down the Road”.

Playhouse Square will welcome unique shows to its stages this November, spanning comedy, dance, music and theatrical performances and more. 

Award-winning performer Melba Moore will be honored on August 10, with the 2,760th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star will be unveiled at 1645 Vine Street near the historic corner of Hollywood & Vine. Moore will be awarded her star in the category of Live Theatre/Live Performance.

Stephanie Mills has penned an open letter to Halle Bailey, likening the negativity she received during The Wiz to what Bailey is currently facing after starring in Disney's new The Little Mermaid film. Mills originated the role of Dorothy in the The Wiz, which was based on 'The Wizard of Oz.' Read the letter now!

The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach concludes their 2022-2023 season with star of Broadway and TV, Terron Brooks in The Soul of Broadway, Unplugged on Wednesday May 10 and Thursday May 11 at 7 p.m. J

Rosie O'Donnell moved from standup to television, film and the Broadway stage before finding widespread success as a talk-show host. Now, she's moving 'Onward' into the podcast world! BroadwayWorld sat down with O'Donnell to discuss the new podcast, also taking a look back on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, her love of Broadway, and more.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) welcomes the return of Stephanie Mills with legendary hitmakers, The Whispers performing in Newark on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.

Feinstein's at Hotel Carmichael welcomes Golden Globe winning singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom for one show only on Friday, April 28, 2023. The show will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Stephanie Mills appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, performing “Home” with Hudson and 'Be A Lion' from The Wiz. Stephanie Mills originated the role of Dorothy in the original 1975 Broadway production of The Wiz. She later returned to The Wiz to play Aunt Em in the 2015 live production on NBC. Watch the videos now!