Next year: 40th Anniversary of THE WIZ — Page 3

A dream team of mine for this includes Timbers as director, scenic design by Es Devlin, and choreography by Frank Gaston Jr. & Wayne Cilento. Please...

I think The Wiz would be more of a Chris Gatelli job.

Wayne Cilento is a terrible choreographer. Absolutely awful. Look at his choreography credits... It is a roster of shockingly bad choreography and one case of watering down greatness. I admire him for his contributions to the stage as a performer, but as a choreographer... Suffice to say I let out a groan when I see his name.

Absolutely, 100%, ready agreement with no reservations, sir.

The Wiz is absolutely a period piece. The dialogue, heavy on slang, music and lyrics are very distinct and very specific to the Afro-American pop culture of the mid-1970s. There is NO mistaking it for anything else.

I used to think the same thing, and honestly never thought it could have a successful revival because of that.

But then Hair came in a blew me away and I realized that no matter how dated something may seem there is always a way to make it fresh and new in the right hands.

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Would Patina Miller work for Dorothy or would she read too old?

Why not Adrienne Warren as Dorothy? I think she would be marvelous, and she also looks younger. Plus, she would sing the crap out of Home.

Divos,
Adrienne Warren understudied Ashanti in the role at City Center's Encores Summer Stars. She did not go on, but I heard her sing Home at a concert several weeks after. I assure you, it was remarkable and a crying shame she didn't star in that ill conceived mess.

Ugh, I DESPERATELY want this to happen!!!!

I'd really love to see Keke Palmer as Dorothy. She's the perfect age and reads very well on stage. As for a name, Ciara might be interesting. She has the name, great stage presence, and she dances well. But, she doesn't read very young and I don't think she has belting abilities. Still, an interesting concept.

No that production shouldn't have gone to broadway. Or the City Center Produciton. Listen The problem people FAIL to realize is that the Wiz worked b/c of Dorothy is a little girl. NOT AN ADULT PLAYING A LITTLE GIRL! You have to have a real 15 or 16 year old who belts her face be taken on a journey through OZ to find home within herself. If you dont do that the show and I do mean the whole show is LOST!

That La Jolla production was WRONG. With the updates they made the choreography and concept. BAD! City Center missed the mark with Ashanti and hip hop.

I agree about bringing Andre De Shields back and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Only if you can get a creative team together like Otis Sallid with The Alvin Ailey Company. Quincy Jones to sign off on using the dance music arranged for the film version of Brand New Day inserted into the revival and a person to play Dorothy you would have a hit.

I have also met Andre De Shields. I was sitting in a bar on 9th Ave. In NYC. It was right before he did Jungle Book. I was looking out of the window onto the street and he was standing there talking to a street person. I walked outside and asked him if he was Andre De Shields and he turned to the man and said "See! I really am him!" We chatted for about 10 minutes about The Wiz and just theatre in general. Very sweet man and down to earth. It was really a treat to actually get to thank him after all these years for his wonderful performance and to tell him what it meant to me.

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