Kandi Burruss is taking on another creative project. She and her husband, Todd Tucker, have joined the Broadway revival of “The Wiz” as producers.
The business savvy couple shared their excitement about joining the musical in a joint statement.
“We are thrilled to be part of The Wiz. The songs, choreography, costumes, everything about The Wiz is epic,” Burruss and Tucker said.
The couple added that they have always wanted to help open the doors of the theater for all people.
‘“Theatre has the power to influence and inspire people to create change through art, and that is what we all need now,” they continued. “Art can heal and art can change you. It has changed us. So, come on and ease on down the road with us.”
The Roots of “The Wiz”
The original “The Wiz” production debuted on Broadway in 1975. It ran for four years and won seven Tony Awards. Stephanie Mills was cast in the lead role as Dorthy Gale in the Broadway production. The song “Home” from the show eventually became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. R&B chart.
The iconic film adaptation of the musical was released in 1978. The film featured legendary stars like Diana Ross who played Dorthy Gale. Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow and Lena Horne was Glinda. Mabel King played The Wicked Witch of the West.
The new national tour of “The Wiz” is set to launch on September 23 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. Following the national tour, a limited Broadway run will kick off in 2024.
Burruss’ Other Stage Ventures
With their work on “The Wiz”, Burruss and Tucker are adding to their growing Broadway production credits. The duo served as producers on the Tony-nominated revival of The Piano Lesson and the play Thoughts of a Colored Man. Burruss also recently received a Southeast Emmy Award nomination for her work in La Musica de La Familia.