WIZ Revival Casting Rumors....

[Zachary Goldfarb]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:24pm

Has anybody heard anything about the cast of the revival of THE WIZ? There must be rumors floating around...

[theatahguy]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:27pm

Not rumors, but I'd love nothing more than to see Jennifer Holliday as Evilene and Vanessa Williams as Glinda.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:32pm

There is no way that La Jolla is going to get major names like that. Maybe if the production were to transfer to NYC, maybe but at the moment, its just a solid regional theatre mounting.

[theatahguy]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:35pm

My mistake, MB--I was under the impression that La Jolla was a pre-Broadway.

...but if it WAS pre-Broadway, those would be my picks :)

[ruprecht]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:41pm

I thought it was a try out as well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:50pm

They're not promoting it as a "try out" but so many people seem to think it is.

I'm sure they don't mind that, either. It'll help sales.

[LaVieBoheme]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:50pm

I believe it is pre-broadway.

[LaVieBoheme]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 6:50pm

I believe it is pre-broadway.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 7:03pm

Lilias White will be playing all of the roles, per usual. Her "I'm A Mean Ole Lion" should be a real highlight.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 7:04pm

Her Toto is FIERCE.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 7:17pm

MB is right. It is as of right now just a regional production (though McAnuff got permission from the rights holders to make major changes in the book and orchestrations). To be sure, lots of Broadway producers will be going out to La Jolla to check it out (which they do for most La Jolla productions anyway). If the reviews are good and there appears to be solid commercial potential in this revisal, then, yes, it could come to Broadway, but there are no plans in place at the moment.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:00pm

I have the feeling that theres a 70% chance of it transfering.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:04pm

As usual, Margo is right...

As for casting, please note that this is a new multicultural version of "The Wiz" so they may cast a white girl as Dorothy for all we know.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:26pm

Wait, so this is actually happening? I'd been hearing rumors for years but I'd given up all hope about a year ago. Yay!

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:39pm

Marcy Harriells name has been thrown around for a while...one can only hope

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:41pm

You know what show happened at La Jolla that I was too young (and far away from to see), planned to go to Broadway but never did? Randy Newman's "Faust." They made an album of the score with Elton John and Newman and Bonnie Rait and Linda Rondstatt, among others...

About this Wiz thing, do you think the fact that Wicked is still running will have any effect, good or bad, on its chances of coming to/suceeding on Broadway?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:41pm

You know what show happened at La Jolla that I was too young (and far away from to see), planned to go to Broadway but never did? Randy Newman's "Faust." They made an album of the score with Elton John and Newman and Bonnie Rait and Linda Rondstatt, among others...

About this Wiz thing, do you think the fact that Wicked is still running will have any effect, good or bad, on its chances of coming to/suceeding on Broadway?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:10am

They're still auditioning, from what the staff told me.
Yes, it is a try out production. They're doing the same thing for the another musical production "Dr Zhivago." I'm sure McAnuff would love to get both of these mounted on Broadway.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:26am

So that Fantasia Barrino rumor was just that?

[shermanslave]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:36am

why not cast it all with American Idol folks? Mandissa can be Eviliene, Paris is Dorothy, Reuban Studdard is the Lion, Justin Guarini is Scarecrow, Randy Jackson is The Wiz, Paula Abdul is Aunt Em...

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:15am

Just throwing out a few names:
Nikki M James,
Sharon Wilkins,
Corey Reynolds,
Ann Duquesnay,
Mary Bond Davis,
Phylisha Rashad,
Vanessa Williams,

[dancinfan]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 8:32am

Parris Bennett would need some major coaching to work on her speaking voice, but she would sing the bejeezus out of the score.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 9:28am

Marcy Harriel is amazing. I vote for her:) And I have to veto all the American Idol people. Although Justin Guarini is enough of a dork to play the Scarecrow, and Im sure he needs a job at present:)

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:28am

Mos Def NEEDS to play Tin Man in The Wiz, somewhere at some point. I could see Mos as Tin Man and Savion Glover as Scarecrow. And yes Jennifer Holliday or Mary Bond Davis would also make good Evielenes(sp?. I also think Frenchie Davis would be able to pull off a powerful "No Bad News"

[Justin D]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:32am

If it got to b'way, it would be cool if Heather Headley was dorothy, unless she would be seen as being too old.