THE WIZ revival

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 7:18pm

Alrighty, THE WIZ is set to open in the spring still. the last revival of this show was a bomb. Hopefully this one does better. i saw that they are planning on having a multiracial cast.
So, who are we hoping signs on to star??

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 7:21pm

Ruta Lee

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 7:23pm

Audra McDonald as Glinda
Eartha Kitt as Evileen (sp?)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 7:25pm

my prime choices ::

Dorothy :: Danelle Wilson (orignal Inez in Hairspray) or Shayna Steele
Scarecrow :: Corey Reynolds
Tinman :: Jason Raize
Lion :: Trant Armand Kendall or Ken Page
Evillene :: Jennifer Holliday
Aunt Em/Glinda :: Stephanie Mills
Wizard :: I see no reason why Andre DeShields can't so it

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 7:34pm

Jason Raize would be an amazing tinman. He needs to come back on Broadway. He is an AMAZING performer!

[AlienOnBroadway]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 9:05pm

Just jumping in on the Jason Raize bandwagon. Love that idea!
And I'd like to see Heather Headley as Dorothy. It can be a LK reunion.

also,TheLast5Yrs: love your Caplan pic!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 9:10pm

Heather Headley would be amazing as well! I like that idea a lot! How about Toni Braxton?-LoL!

[Paulie]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 4:27am

Another revival?! Awful. I don't think the first revival ran for a week...

Stephen Schwartz and Joe Mantello's WICKED is going to be running at the same time. That seems to have much more promise. Just check out the cast. Also, it's a new musical... what's that? A NEW musical?

[Duane Reade]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 4:33am

Paulie,

First of all, you're pretty new--welcome. You're VERY cute according to your pic...

Anyway, I do have to disagree. Sure, I'm all for NEW musicals over OLD...but I think "The Wiz" has a lot of promise and room for reinvention. The last revival was a cookie cutter production of the original. With a sharp eye, "The Wiz" could be amazing. As for "Wicked," I don't know if you should say so surely that it will still be running when "The Wiz" comes along!!!

[radactor03]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 12:34pm

Here are my choices.
I could see.
Dorothy: Shayna Steele or Anika Noni Rose
Tinman: Savion Glover (Remember he is supposed to be a tap dancer)Don't know about hte singing though. Robert Fowler.
Lion: Trent Armand Kendall he would be excellent!
Scarecrow: Rodney Hicks would make an awesome Scarecrow. Saw him in From My Hometown this summer and JCS and Rent. He has the moves and the voice.
The Wiz: Andre De Shields, why not? It's an ageless role it seems.

[radactor03]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 12:40pm

I could also see Mandy Gonzalez playing Dorothy. She would be great too!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 12:53pm

radactor- I like some of your casting choices. I think Savion Glover could be amazing. And Anika Noni Rose could work as well. I just want Jason Raize in this revival! And Rodney Hicks is amazing. I didn't see "From My Hometown", but I saw the three leads perform a lot of the songs at a Broadway in Bryant Park concert. He is absolutley perfect for any role in that show. He would make a great Seaweed in Hairspray as well. Updated On: 8/10/03 at 12:53 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 1:58pm

Yes AlienonBway, Matt Caplan is the best. I shook his hand! Go me!

Miss One - Simone
Dorothy - Heather Headley
Wizard/Uncle Henry - Trent Armand Kendall

[Kev]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 2:10pm

My picks...

Dorothy- Tamyra Gray (u/s Brandi Chavonne Massey and Saycon Sengbloh)
The Wiz- Gregory Hines (bless his soul, I always thought he'd be great in this role)
Tin Man- Eugene Fleming
Lion- H. Clent Bowers (both of them did the 90s tour)
Scarecrow- Ty Taylor
Evilene- Jasmine Guy
Addaperle- Ru Paul
Aunt Em/ Glinda- Sharon Brown
Uncle Henry/ Lord High Underling- Milton Craig Nealy
Tornado- Michelle Marie Robinson

[radactor03]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 3:02pm

Kev
Those sound great as well. I relaly think Tamyra Gray would be great too, but what about the little girl from Star Search Tiffany Taylor i think her name was. Anyway, as far as the three friends my only objection to the guys you mentioned is that they are too old for the roles in my opinion. They should be younger you know. Like 20 somethings. but I will say that eugene Flaeming would make an amazing Tinman!

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 3:04pm

I love the idea of Jennifer Holliday as Evillene. Danelle would be amazing as Dorothy.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 7:52pm

Oh My Gosh! Tamyra is absolutely perfect. She is my number one choice. Tamyra, Tamyra, Tamyra! It's about time this girl came to Broadway! Please let it be in this role!

[AlienOnBroadway]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 9:05pm

You know who else I love? Cleavant Derricks. Not sure what role I would put him in, but I really like that guy's voice.

And L5Y, NOW I like your Adam picture. You and I apparently have the same taste. ::wink::

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 9:56pm

i think lillias white would make an awsome wicked whitch!!!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 10:00pm

I agree- Wow- there are a lot of amazing people who should be involved with this production. I just hope they pick the right ones. Everyone we've listed would be perfect!

[ross04]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:04pm

I think Raven Simone would make a wonderfull Dorothy. She's a great actress and pretty good singer too. I also agree with Jennifer Holliday and Lillias White as evillene.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:13pm

That's actually an interesting choice....Ravon Simone. I don't know if I could picture her as Broadway material.
I think Sheryl Lee Ralph needs to be thrown into the mix somewhere. She has an amazing voice.....she was great in Millie.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 6:35pm

Found a short WIZ thread to post this in.

 

Can't wait to see this.

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-Short-FilmCelebrates-50-Years-of-THE-WIZ-with-Original-Stars-Dee-Dee-Bridgewater-and-Joni-Palmer-20251105