The Wiz 1975 - Articles Page 5

Ages: 8+
Opened: January 5, 1975
Closing: January 28, 1979

The Wiz - 1975 - Broadway History , Info & More

Majestic Theatre (Broadway)
245 West 44th St. New York, NY

based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

It’s got rock. It’s got gospel. It’s got soul. And oh my, the dancing! In a dream collaboration, Dallas Theater Center and Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the city’s oldest continuously operating dance company, fill the Wyly Theatre with dancing, singing and laughter for the dazzling musical that won seven Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1975. Featuring Brierley Resident Acting Company members Liz Mikel and Hassan El-Amin, this eye-popping, high-energy family hit starts with a tornado and keeps lifting from there, as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion “Ease on Down the Road” and ultimately learn there’s no place like home.

The Wiz - 1975 - Broadway Cast

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The Wiz - 1975 - Broadway Articles Page 5

Kick Off the New Roaring Twenties With CHICAGO at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2020


Take a journey to Jazz-age Chicago for a little razzle dazzle with a sizzling all-new production of the revered American musical Chicago!

André De Shields and More At Lincoln Center in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 18, 2019


This January, Lincoln Center presents a plethora of music and dance events across the campus. David Rubenstein Atrium continues its 10th anniversary year with free, eclectic live performances every Thursday. The 2019-20 season of LC Kids (October 5a?"June 7, 2020) is in full swingwith free and ticketed events developed for toddlers, children, and teenagers stepping into young adulthood; and American Songbook begins its latest season with artists performing Broadway, folk, classical, and more. 

Brandon Victor Dixon, Joe Iconis, Andre De Shields, Ali Stroker & More Will Take Part in Lincoln Center's AMERICAN SONGBOOK Series in 2020
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 30, 2019


Lincoln Center's acclaimed American Songbook series returns for its 21st year, celebrating the expansive scope and intricacy of the popular music canon from January 22 - February 29, 2020. This year's concert series includes lauded singer-songwriters, groundbreaking composers, storytellers speaking truth to power, experimental vocalists, and multitalented performers whose artistic breadth reflects the far-reaching perspectives and experiences of the essential American Songbook.

The Ritz Theatre Company Presents Cultural Musical Masterpiece, THE WIZ
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2019


The Ritz Theatre Company is proud to present its final production of the 2019 mainstage season, The Wiz, the cultural musical masterpiece that infuses L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music.

La Mirada Presents GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL Featuring Cathy Rigby and More
by Julie Musbach - Aug 15, 2019


La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment present the West Coast Premiere of GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin, (Adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson), additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, musical direction by Benet Braun and direction by Matt Lenz.

Birdland Presents Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicki Parrott, Chiemi Nakai Latin Jazz Quartet and More
by Sarah Hookey - Jul 25, 2019


Birdland Presents Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicki Parrott, Chiemi Nakai Latin Jazz Quartet and More

Birdland Announces August 2019 Schedule; Max von Essen, Jason Kravits, and More
by Julie Musbach - Jul 12, 2019


Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with John Pizzarelli: A Tribute to Benny Goodman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, David Matthews Trio, The Count Basie Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Chris Byars Original Sextet, Nicki Parrott, Gunhild Carling, Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo, Birdography: Celebrating Charlie Parker, Lorin Cohen, Sam Behr, Laila Biali, Carole J. Bufford, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

THE WIZ Librettist William F. Brown Passes Away Age 91
by Julie Musbach - Jun 24, 2019


William F. Brown, the Tony-nominated American writer who is best known for his libretto to the long-running Broadway musical The Wiz, died on June 23 in Westport, CT, according to his longtime wife and collaborator, Tina Tippit. He was 91.

Who Will Win at the 2019 Tony Awards? We Compare Year By Year!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2019


The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...

TONY AWARDS 2019! Parte 1: i protagonisti-non-protagonisti. 'Miglior performance di un attore e di un'attrice non protagonista'
by Sara Altea Balestra - May 14, 2019


Manca poco meno di un mese all'evento teatrale piu atteso da tutta la comunita teatrale di tutto il mondo: il 9 giugno infatti, al Radio City Music Hall di New York, si svolgera la 73esima edizione dei Tony Awards. Per la seconda volta, James Corden sara il presentatore di questa serata, dopo aver ricevuto un Emmy Award per la sua performance nel 2016. Il 30 aprile, Bebe Neuwirth e Brandon Victor Dixon hanno annunciato i nomi delle opere teatrali (play e musical) in diretta streaming. Noi di BroadwayWorld non stiamo piu nella pelle! Ma soprattutto non possiamo stare con le mani in mano e, per il bene comune, vogliamo parlarvi un po' dei protagonisti di quest'anno: attori e spettacoli per lo piu poco noti in Italia ma che rappresentano, senza ombra di dubbio, il meglio di questa nuova stagione di Broadway. Nota a margine: ci muoveremo esclusivamente all'interno dell'ambito del teatro musicale (non ce ne vogliano gli appassionati di plays). Cominciamo questa nostra 'carrellata' con i protagonisti-non-protagonisti di quest'anno!

Live Nation Celebrates National Concert Week with $20 Tickets
by Kaitlin Milligan - Apr 24, 2019


Today Live Nation revealed their fifth annual National Concert Week will take place from May 1st through May 7th and give fans the exclusive opportunity to purchases tickets for just $20 (all-in including fees). Kicking off an epic summer concert season, the offer will include over two million tickets to 2,800+ in-demand shows from Live Nation's upcoming roster of tours across North America. The tickets will cross multiple genres for every type of live event fan, including Country, Hip-Hop, Latin, Metal, Rock, Pop, and Comedy. 

Tony Award Winner George Faison Honored At Lotus Music & Dance Festival 
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 13, 2019


 Lotus Music & Dance will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2019 with a benefit dinner and performance on Monday, March 25th. This year also marks the 100th Birth Anniversary of bharata natyam dance guru, T. Balasaraswati ("Bala"). They will honor legendary choreographer, George Faison with the inaugural Bala Award for Excellence . Other Honorees include Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer for her support of cultural diversity in the performing arts.

George Faison Will Be Honored On March 25th At Lotus & Dance 30th Anniversary
by Stephi Wild - Mar 4, 2019


Lotus Music & Dance will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2019 with a benefit dinner and performance on Monday, March 25th. This year also marks the 100th Birth Anniversary of bharata natyam dance guru, T. Balasaraswati (“Bala”). They will honor legendary choreographer, George Faison with the inaugural Bala Award for Excellence . Other Honorees include Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer for her support of cultural diversity in the performing arts.

The Wallis Presents DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER AND THE MEMPHIS SOULPHONY: MEMPHIS… YES, I'M READY
by Julie Musbach - Feb 19, 2019


The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents Tony and triple Grammy Award-winning jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater in her Wallis debut with a tribute to the rich R&B tradition of Memphis - the city of her birth - on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 7:30 pm, in The Wallis' Bram Goldsmith Theater. The NEA Jazz Master and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, joined by the Memphis Soulphony, returns to her roots to bring the sultry Memphis sound to Los Angeleswith Memphis…Yes I'm Ready, based on her acclaimed album of the same title recorded at Memphis' famed Royal Studios in 2016.

Throwing Out My CDs by Ben Rimalower: THE WIZ
by Ben Rimalower - Feb 15, 2019


This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

The Philly POPS To Offer Complimentary Tickets To Furloughed Government Workers
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 11, 2019


The Philly POPS will offer free tickets for furloughed government employees during the federal government shutdown. Government employees may present their IDs at the Kimmel Center Box Office to receive one free, complimentary pair of tickets to JAZZED! running January 18, 19 and 20 (One pair per Government-issued employee ID).

The Philly Pops Celebrates Philly Contributions To America's Art Form With January Concert Series
by Stephi Wild - Jan 3, 2019


The Philly POPS presents Jazzed! The Philly POPS BIG Band with Terell Stafford, a swinging program honoring Philadelphia's unique contributions to the history of jazz, January 18 20 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This performance is a part of The Philly POPS 40th Anniversary Season, which celebrates artists and music with connections to Philadelphia and the POPS.

Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Ariana Grande to Headline Coachella
by Kaitlin Milligan - Jan 3, 2019


The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has released its full lineup which features the headliners Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, and Ariana Grande.

The Philly POPS Celebrates Philly Contributions To America's Art Form With January Concert Series
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 13, 2018


The Philly POPS presents Jazzed! The Philly POPS BIG Band with Terell Stafford, a swinging program honoring Philadelphia's unique contributions to the history of jazz, January 18-20 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This performance is a part of The Philly POPS 40th Anniversary Season, which celebrates artists and music with connections to Philadelphia and the POPS.

Dee Dee Bridgewater Announces Valentine's Day Concert At 92Y
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 6, 2018


92Y announces a Valentine's Day concert with Dee Dee Bridgewater, NEA Jazz Master, triple Grammy Award winner, Tony Award winner and UN Ambassador. A singer who can expertly channel Ella, Billie, and Josephine Baker, Dee Dee is also an original and captivating song stylist. She comes to 92Y with her trio on Sunday, February 14 for an unforgettable evening of romantic standards and celebration of love.

Billy Valentine Plays Blackbox @ The Edye At The Broad Stage, Today
by BWW News Desk - Nov 2, 2018


The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents Billy Valentine, today, November 2 at 8:00pm.  Billy Valentine is the third evening of blackbox @ the edye, which transforms The Edye into a club featuring up-and-coming jazz and blues artists.  The series is curated and hosted by The Reverend Shawn Amos; he and his house band perform at select shows during the season as well.   

Review Roundup: Critics Ease On Down To THE WIZ At TUTS
by Alan Henry - Oct 29, 2018


Theatre Under The Stars' production of The Wiz is now open!

Photo Flash: Ease On Down the Road With THE WIZ At TUTS
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 24, 2018


Leading off the cast is Salome B. Smith in the role of 'Dorothy'. Smith is a recent graduate of Alabama State University where she performed in many theatrical productions including The Color Purple, Rent and Carousel. Marva Hicks is playing the role of 'The Wiz'. Hicks has appeared on Broadway in Motown The Musical, Caroline or Change, and The Lion King. Yvette Clark will play the roles of 'Evilene', 'Glinda', and 'Aunt Em'. Clark has appeared in numerous regional productions including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Showboat, Chicago, and Hairspray. Simone Gundy will play the role of 'Addaperle'. Gundy returns to TUTS after starring in the 2017 production of Memphis. Paris Nix is playing 'Tin Man'. Nix was last seen on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Allyson Kaye Daniel is 'Lion'. Daniel most recently appeared at TUTS as 'Miss Jones' in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Her other credits include Newsies, Ghost, and We Will Rock You. Christopher Campbell, who just appeared in the TUTS production of Oklahoma! as Will Parker, will play the role of Scarecrow

VIDEO: Get A First Look At TUTS' THE WIZ
by Alan Henry - Oct 24, 2018


BroadwayWorld has a first look at Theatre Under The Stars' upcoming production of The Wiz! Leading off the cast is Salome B. Smith in the role of 'Dorothy'. Smith is a recent graduate of Alabama State University where she performed in many theatrical productions including The Color Purple, Rent and Carousel. Marva Hicks is playing the role of 'The Wiz'. Hicks has appeared on Broadway in Motown The Musical, Caroline or Change, and The Lion King. Yvette Clark will play the roles of 'Evilene', 'Glinda', and 'Aunt Em'. Clark has appeared in numerous regional productions including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Showboat, Chicago, and Hairspray. Simone Gundy will play the role of 'Addaperle'. Gundy returns to TUTS after starring in the 2017 production of Memphis. Paris Nix is playing 'Tin Man'. Nix was last seen on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Allyson Kaye Daniel is 'Lion'. Daniel most recently appeared at TUTS as 'Miss Jones' in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Her other credits include Newsies, Ghost, and We Will Rock You. Christopher Campbell, who just appeared in the TUTS production of Oklahoma! as Will Parker, will play the role of Scarecrow

Dance Theatre Of Harlem Brings Milestone Program To New Orleans
by BWW News Desk - Oct 20, 2018


The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the return of the classically American Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) Today, October 20, at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Continuing its half-century legacy of breaking boundaries and transforming lives through ballet, the company brings a beautiful program of new works and treasured classics that highlights its rich history and honors trailblazing founder Arthur Mitchell, who passed away on Sept. 19 at the age of 84.

Other Productions of The Wiz

1975   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1976   US Tour 1st National Tour
US Tour
1978   US Tour 2nd National Tour
US Tour
1980   Regional Revival
1984   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1984   West End London Revival
West End
1993   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
1997   US Tour Touring Revival
US Tour
2006   San Diego, CA (Regional) La Jolla Revival
San Diego, CA (Regional)
2015   New York NBC Live Television Production
New York
2018   St. Louis, MO (Regional) Muny Revival
St. Louis, MO (Regional)
2023   US Tour US Tour
US Tour
2024   Broadway Broadway Revival Production
Broadway

The Wiz - 1975 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1975 Tony Awards Best Choreography George Faison
1975 Tony Awards Best Costume Design Geoffrey Holder
1975 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Musical Geoffrey Holder
1975 Tony Awards Best Musical Ken Harper
1975 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Ted Ross
1975 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Dee Dee Bridgewater

Videos