Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

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Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 2:28pm

I think it would be fun to see a revival of THE WIZ happen in the next 5-10 years. I have a whole list of other shows I'd love to see revived, but this is in my top five. It's such a fun and happy show with a really good score and it would be fun to see it updated (without being cheesy). Thoughts?

"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 2:30pm

Yes. Are you theateregeek3?

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 2:36pm

Yes.. but not the La Jolla Playhouse version from a few years ago

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 2:41pm

Willow Smith can have her eventual comeback in this when she's comfortable being in the public eye again.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 2:44pm

Ehh.

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 3:09pm

I actually really liked the La Jolla Playhouse version. The new book was at least better than the old one and the new orchestrations were phenomenal. I know the dodgers planned to bring it to Broadway, but the plans fell through. It would have been great if it had made it to New York.

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 3:12pm

Jennifer Hudson as Dorothy?

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 3:32pm

Funnily enough on Smash Jennifer Hudson's character was going to play Dorothy in the Wiz but she said "she didn't want to play good girl roles anymore" and quit. I wonder if that's what Jennifer Hudson feels in real life, because she would be an amazing Dorothy!

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 3:38pm

I suggested it because of Smash, not because she's perfect for the role. In fact, more the opposite.

#10

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 4:35pm

Veronica Moore is the only star big enough to sell The Wiz on Broadway; her last concert sold out in six hours and even Denzel and Julia can't pull off a box office coup like that.

We just had this at Encore's Summer With the Stars a few years ago and it didn't sell there well at all.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#11

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 4:49pm

Wait, who is Veronica Moore?

#12

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 4:53pm

I think Jennifer Hudson might be just five years too old for Dorothy - I'd love to see Anika Noni Rose as Glinda.

"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

#13

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:02pm

Veronica Moore is a multi-Tony winning actress. Her one night only concert was just filmed for Bravo, but an air date has yet to be released.

LaChanze was the only good thing about the Encores Wiz. Ashanti had a better voice than I expected she would, but she was completely charisma free on stage.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#14

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:18pm

If Jennifer Lawrence can sing she'd be a great Dorothy.

#15

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:38pm

I think you have to run a fine line with this one- is it the "black Wizard of Oz," the "blaxploitation Wizard of Oz," or the "soul-rock-funk-hippie-rock Wizard of Oz?"

It can be all black, even "big and black" if you want it to be, but does an all-black, jive-talking-filled, funky Wizard of Oz still sound quite as appealing as it used to? I'm wondering if not color-blindness, but pointed multicultural casting, a la the "Rent Standards of Casting" wouldn't make this a vibrant show without dating it in the Seventies Black Media cliches.

#16

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:46pm

I think personally that The Wiz to work has to acknowledge it's 1970s Blacxpoitation of Broadway roots (of that period also Timbuktu!). It was born in the Blackula and Shaft era.

Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!

#17

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 6:30pm

I really would like a faithful revival that captures all of the creativity from the original production.

They should use the original sets, costumes, and (especially) choreography, since nobody today is doing anything better that the 1975 original.

(God bless Geoffrey Holder!)

And for a real mindblower, they should have Andre De Shields play the Wiz. He can still do the part and even fit into his original 1975 (skin-tight) costume! It's pretty incredible.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#18

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 6:53pm

I'm with Whizzer. Ronnie is incredibly talented. Broadway's Sweetheart, some call her.

#19

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 7:01pm

I went to the City Center production but we left after 20 minutes. I felt like we were at Madison Square Garden. People going in and out, standing in the aisles talking and shouting at other people in the theater, taking pictures, etc. I've never seen anything like that before in my life. When I say we couldn't see or hear a damn thing on that stage, I'm not exaggerating at all. I went to the box office and demanded my money back and the woman just sighed a "Youre not the first one tonight" look.

So long story short, I'd love to actually be able to see this show.

#20

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 7:58pm

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#21

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:02pm

*double*

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

Updated On: 3/2/13 at 08:02 PM

#22

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:02pm

Can we have Grace Jones as Evillene again? That was epic.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

#23

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:08pm

THE WIZ was the last high school show I ever directed. It didn't see the light of day, though.

On the day we were to open the girl playing Dorothy got picked up for shoplifting at the local mall and the girl playing the Wicked Witch went into labor. (She claims she didn't know she was pregnant.)

So I guess you've sworn off directing shows with black people or minorities, Dollypop? A production of IN THE HEIGHTS isn't on the horizon for you then I guess.

#24

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:10pm

#25

Anyone else want a revival of THE WIZ?

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:15pm

Really, Carlos? That's what you took from what i wrote?

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