The beloved musical “The Wiz” will be flying back onto the Broadway stage in 2024.
Over the last few months, there have been several updates on the musical production following its reveal in December 2022.
To keep you updated on all “The Wiz” happenings, 21Ninety has pulled together everything we know so far about the musical’s exciting return.
The Cast
Fans are still awaiting news on who has been cast as “The Wiz’s” lead character, Dorthy Gale. But several of the musical’s other cast members have been released. Singer, Deborah Cox has joined the Broadway-bound cast. She will play Glinda.
The cast includes also includes Melody A. Betts as Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow. Wayne Brady will play the Wiz on Broadway while Alan Mingo Jr. will play the Wiz during the majority of the show’s pre-Broadway tour dates.
Additional casting is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Crew
The revival is being produced by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, and Ambassador Theatre Group.
It was also announced in May that Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker would be joining “The Wiz” as producers.
While the show is based on the original musical’s book by William F. Brown and music by Charlie Smalls, it does feature new material from Amber Ruffin.
“The Wiz” will be choreographed by Jaquel Knight and directed by Schele Williams.
Additional members of the show’s crew are detailed on “The Wiz” site.
Opening Date
The musical is scheduled to kick off with a pre-Broadway tour that launches in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 23. The opening show will be at the the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore. Baltimore is the same city where the original musical first premiered in 1974.
Following its national tour, the show’s limited Broadway run is expected to launch in spring 2024.
‘The Wiz’s’ Legacy
The original production of “The Wiz” debuted on Broadway in 1975. The show ran for four years, winning seven Tony Awards.
Stephanie Mills was cast in the lead role of Dorthy in the Broadway production. The show’s song “Home” became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart.
During a March visit to The Jennifer Hudson Show, Mills reminisced about her time in “The Wiz” and performed the song “Be a Lion” from the musical.
The film adaptation of the musical was released in 1978. The film starred Diana Ross as Dorthy Gale, Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Lena Horne as Glinda, and Mabel King as The Wicked Witch of the West. The film was produced by Motown Productions.