Schele Williams-directed THE WIZ Broadway revival 2024?

[Fan123]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 4:26am

According to https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/notebook/schele_williams, Schele Williams is (among other things) "director of... the upcoming 2024 Broadway revival of The Wiz". I haven't heard about this yet; does anyone have further information? I imagine this isn't confirmed yet, but it's interesting to see that somebody, at least, is planning for this to happen.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 8:53am

My guess is that this is no different than any "Broadway-bound" musical. It might happen, it might not. I do hope it does though! I'd love to see The Wiz back on broadway! 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 10:28am

Brian Moreland (Thoughts of a Colored Man, Ain’t No Mo, Piano Lesson) is producing. But as with any Broadway-bound musical revival will depend on the book revisions, creative team, casting, and money-raising. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 10:54am

A Wiz revival is waaaayyy overdue. I was always sad that the revival that was planned with Cirque Du Soleil fell through. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 11:33am

Schele WIlliams is supposed to do the AIDA revival next year(first in Germany, then US Tour, then Broadway). I wonder what will actually happen first.

[Funhouse2]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 3:15pm

ACL2006 said: "Schele WIlliams is supposed to do the AIDA revival next year(first in Germany, then US Tour, then Broadway). I wonder what will actually happen first."

Aida isn't going to Germany anymore, it's opening in the Netherlands next spring instead. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 3:23pm

Would love to see a revival of this!! It's about time! Schele sure has a lot of projects in the works.

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 3:46pm

Please oh please oh please, a Broadway revival, and a fuller cast recording than the (only!!!!) one we've got!

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 4:14pm

I wonder what the concept and the design aesthetic would be like for The Wiz in a major revival? The film’s “fantasy inner city” and the original stage show’s “winking mix of continental Afrocentrism and reclaimed racist imagery” are both iconic but likely extremely dated.

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 4:20pm

What do you see as "reclaimed racist imagery"? I thought of it all as Haitian, utilizing the culture and beliefs as a Black embodiment of Oz. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 5:29pm

There was definitely some ironic minstrelsy and (if I recall photos) at least one humorously large watermelon slice.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 8:21pm

I actually first heard about this project when Schele was interviewed by Julie James for SiriusXM a while ago.

[Ke3]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 8:48pm

darquegk said: "I wonder what the concept and the design aesthetic would be like for The Wiz in a major revival? The film’s “fantasy inner city” and the original stage show’s “winking mix of continental Afrocentrism and reclaimed racist imagery” are both iconic but likely extremely dated."

This just made me imagine a George C Wolfe production of The Wiz. Giggling but also intrigued.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 8:56pm

darquegk said: "There was definitely some ironic minstrelsy and (if I recall photos) at least one humorously large watermelon slice."

I just picked up some old souvenir programs at the flea, and Glinda is indeed riding on a crescent watermelon moon

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 10/5/22 at 10:40pm

saw a great production at La Jolla Playhouse way way back in 2006.  Titus Burgess was the Lion (first time I ever saw him - and god was he good). David Allan Grier was The Wiz and Nikki M James was Dorothy.  Got good reviews from what I remember.  What I wouldn't do to see this live on stage again.

[silent]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 12:50pm

I hope they cast Tichina Arnold as Evilene. She played the role before and she was so so good!