(San Diego, CA โ Friday, November 3, 2023) โ Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, Common, MC Lyte and The Ambassador Theatre Group are thrilled to announce that tickets for the San Diego engagement of The Wiz at the Civic Theatre are available now by visiting BroadwaySD.com. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by emailing us at: [email protected].
Everybody look around! The Tony Awardยฎ-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back.
The Wiz returns โhomeโ to stages across America in an all-new Broadway-bound tour, the first one in 40 years. The tour began in The Wizโs original home city of Baltimore, where the show made its world premiere 50 years ago. Following its run in Baltimore, the tour is easing into Emerald cities across the country before it begins its limited Broadway engagement at the Marriott Marquis Theatre in New York City on March 29, 2024.
This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadwayโfrom its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothyโs journey to find her place in a contemporary world.
The extraordinary cast features Alan Mingo Jr (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera Of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson (“Sharper,” A24) as Tinman, and recording artist Avery Wilson (“On Top Of The World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy.
Featuring a book byย William F. Brownย and a Tony Award-winning score byย Charlie Smallsย (and others), directorย Schele Williamsย (The Notebook, revival of Disneyโs Aida), award-winning choreographerย JaQuel Knightย (Beyoncรฉโs โSingle Ladies,โ Black is King), additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV hostย Amber Ruffinย (โThe Amber Ruffin Show,โ โLate Night With Seth Meyersโ),ย Joseph Joubertย (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements),ย Allen Renรฉ Louisย (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Awardยฎ-winning music director and Grammy Awardยฎ-winning writer,ย Adam Blackstoneย (Dance Music Arranger), are conjuring up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop will bring a whole new groove to easing on down the road.
The Wiz also includes the hit songs โEverybody Rejoice,โ music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, as well as the โEmerald City Balletโ with music by Timothy Graphenreed.
Oz is reimagined with scenic design by Academy Award ยฎ-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncรฉโs Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Awardยฎ-winning and two-time Academy Awardยฎ- nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. OโGara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), and wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical).
Based on L. Frank Baumโs childrenโs book, โThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozโ, The Wiz takes one of the worldโs most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies, and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.
The Wiz premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). โEase on Down the Roadโ became the showโs break-out single, and โHomeโ has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) โ and 1,672 performances โ on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jonesโ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.
Casting by Tara Rubin Casting.
For more information and complete tour route visit: www.wizmusical.com and follow @thewizbway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.