Can we put THE WIZ to rest?
Can we put THE WIZ to rest?
Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#0
Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:46pm
Playbill.com still lists Des McAnuff's planned revival of THE WIZ as an upcoming production for 2006.
With McAnuff busy with LaJolla and JERSEY BOYS...and Dodger Theatricals with a majority of flops on their current history and considerable financial loss on all of them...
Can we even consider this ahow a prospect anymore?
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#1
Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:49pmhow can we put it to rest when people keep bringing it up???
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#2
Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:49pmI really wish we could. I love The Wiz, and I really want it to happen. But there hasn't been talk about it in ages, so it's probably dead. Sad.
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#3
Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:54pmWell gee, CATS...no need to get so FIESTY!!
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#4
Posted: 9/19/05 at 3:55pm
The timing just isn't right for the revival. Dodger Theatricals is a mess. Des McAnuff is distracted, and frankly, opening THE WIZ when WICKED is still the hot ticket in NYC is probably not a wise idea, particularly in light how poorly musical revivals have fared as of late.
THE WIZ will come back eventually. But I doubt it will be "this" much talked about production.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#5
Posted: 9/19/05 at 4:01pmI talked to someone at Dodger Theatricals the other day and they claim its still a GO! Maybe they're just trying to keep up the HYPE!
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#6
Posted: 9/19/05 at 4:07pmWell, Wicked is going to be around for a long while, so if they're going to open the revival in the next 8 years, they're going to have to deal with Wicked no matter what. And I don't think another Wizard of Oz-based show would hurt them. it would probably get them even more publicity.
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#7
Posted: 9/19/05 at 4:10pmThe difference is, that in another few years, WICKED won't be the Hot show in town. People will have seen it and will be ready for something else. I don't think they need to wait for WICKED to close to have a hit production of THE WIZ, but for the time being, they would be competing for the same audience and I think a lot of tourists would indeed say, "We just paid 100 bucks for a Wizard of Oz musical"
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#8
Posted: 9/19/05 at 4:13pmYeah, true. As long as they get an ad campaign that's as good as Wicked's, they'll be fine, but you're right, they should wait a few years. I'd expect it in '07 or '08.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#9
Posted: 9/19/05 at 7:15pmSee they should revive Wizard of Oz so then you can see Wicked and see all the flaws of how wicked doesn't actually fit in to the Wizard OF Oz!
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#10
Posted: 9/19/05 at 7:22pm
If you had seen the original production or the first national tour, you would be eagerly looking forward to a revival of this terrific show.
If you know it only from the misguided film, then you don't know "The Wiz" at all. It's completely different.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#11
Posted: 9/19/05 at 7:28pmBest12Bars i wasn't dissing The Wiz i like it and want it to come....i was just putting in a cheap shot at wicked because i could
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#12
Posted: 9/19/05 at 7:35pmI saw the original production 3 times. A revival would be cool.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#13
Posted: 9/19/05 at 9:21pm
I want a revival of THE WIZ...
But only with Anika Noni Rose! 
Let's give her some love... and another TONY!
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#14
Posted: 9/19/05 at 9:23pmWouldn't that be a hoot if Wicked, The Wiz AND The Wizard of Oz were all running at the same time. It would be like when Little Shop, Hairspray and Caroline were all playing (with the trios). Then Hugh Jackman could host the Tony's and do a little dance with all of the Wicked Witches.
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#15
Posted: 9/20/05 at 12:14am
Can we put THE WIZ to rest? Never!!! The show is fantastic and I'm glad that at least someone over at the Dodgers is still holding onto the hope for a revival. Anyways, once again I give you all my (ever changing) The Wiz dream cast...
Dorothy: Anika Noni Rose
Aunt Em: Sharon Wilkins (who would also be the Evilline understudy)
Addapearle the Feel-good Girl: Niecy Nash
Scarecrow: Darius De Haas
Tinman: Ben Vereen
Lion: Billy Porter
The Wiz: Chester Gregory
Evilline: Jennifer Holliday
Glinda the Good: Vanessa L. Williams
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...
Zach
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#16
Posted: 9/20/05 at 1:37amBwayBaby18, if you mean a revival of the Arlen and Harburg WIZARD OF OZ, technically that version has never played on Broadway, even though if it was mounted it would more than likely be considered a revival. the only musical version titled THE WIZARD OF OZ that could be mounted as a revival would be the 1903 Paul Tietjens and L. Frank Baum musical version that I believe a complete score has never been recovered for...
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#17
Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:31amMojojo, I'm so glad our casts are so similar. I approve. Although I'm not a fan of Vanessa Williams as Glinda. I just don't really like her. LaChanze!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#18
Posted: 9/20/05 at 6:22amRevive it with Stephanie Mills as Dorothy wearing corrective red shoes
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#19
Posted: 9/20/05 at 11:07am
CATSNYrevival, as far as a complete score from the 1903 Broadway "Wizard of Oz," this is due in large to the fact that they kept rotating and swapping out songs and production numbers... though its plot and the main characters pretty much stayed consistent throughout the run. It was a monster hit; the "Cats" and "Les Mis" of its day. The show ran in New York for 9 months, then toured, then came back to Broadway, then toured again, came back again, etc., and didn't close until 1911! It made stars out of its two leads David Montgomery (the Tin Man) and Fred Stone (the Scarecrow), and household names out of its characters.
For those of you interested there is an incredible "assembled" recording of the original show available on a 2-CD set, complete with the replacement songs. The recordings are indeed ancient, but I find it totally fascinating. The packaging and liner notes are so detailed, and it won a Grammy for this effort when the CD was issued.
Info on how to buy it.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#20
Posted: 9/20/05 at 11:11amI still think Mos Def should play Tin Man.
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#21
Posted: 9/20/05 at 5:26pmbest12bars, that recording is mostly lyric free, is it not?
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#22
Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:42pm
As much as I love La Chanze, I just don't see her as Glinda. I see the role as being one that can be filled by a celebrity so that non-celebs can be cast in other roles. Vanessa L. may not be the best choice but she works. I can also hear her creamy tones wrapping around "If You Believe." And just for ****s and giggles, here's my tv movie version of The Wiz...
Dorothy: Tamyra Gray
Aunt Em: Queen Latifah
Addapearle the Feel-good girl: Patti Labelle
Scarecrow: Justin Timberlake (just go with me on this one)
Tin Man: Taye Diggs
Lion: Billy Porter
The Wiz: Andre 3000
Evilline: Aretha Franklin
Glinda the Good: Whitney Houston
Zach
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#23
Posted: 9/21/05 at 10:22am
Hi, CATSNYrevival,
I have the 2-disc set. It's actually mostly songs, including a set of three by the original stars Montgomery & Stone. It does include instrumentals as well (especially noteworthy: a set of the original piano rolls from the show), plus it has other artists of the day singing some of the show's tunes. The lyrics from all of these songs featured are included in a separate booklet, so it's definitely not "lyric free." If you're at all interested in this REALLY old Broadway production, you won't be disappointed if you buy it. (But be warned that it's exactly what you'd expect from recordings that are 100 years old now.)
NOTE: I find it pretty fascinating that this 1903 show opened at the Majestic Theatre... the very same theatre where "The Wiz" debuted in 1975!
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
re: Can we put THE WIZ to rest?#24
Posted: 9/21/05 at 3:59pm
The Majestic that the 1903 Wizard of Oz played and the Majestic where The Wiz played (now where Phantom has set up shop for the next few milenia) were not the same theaters. The Majestic of 1903 was up around Columbus Circle and was demolished early in the century long before the current Majestic was built.
I've always thought it would be fun to do an all star OZ concert telling the story entirely through song and using pieces of music from as many of the available musicalizations of the story as possible. (Just PLEASE don't use any music from that Muppets travesty of recent TV.)
Plus, when thinking of a dream cast for a revival... why not an interracial cast? Isn't that what Broadway stives for now - color blind casting?
Videos
