THE WIZ National Tour and Broadway Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 11:48am

Everybody look around! The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back. THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway-bound tour, the first one in 40 years. The tour begins in THE WIZ’s original home city of Baltimore, where the show made its world premiere 50 years ago, this weekend beginning Saturday, September 23.

Deborah Cox's Glinda costume:

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:12pm

I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:25pm

I'm hearing it might be at the Marquis, but we will see!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:27pm

Gorgeous design. I hope this gets Kandi her EGOT she's going for.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:28pm

ACL2006 said: "I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January."

Do we know for sure that's when Sweeney Todd is closing?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:31pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "Do we know for sure that's when Sweeney Todd is closing?"

Think it would be foolish to try to replace Groban, especially if they recoup this fall as anticipated.

Go out on a high note. Maybe Groban would like to do it in London and/or step into a few major tour stops (LA?)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:33pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "ACL2006 said: "I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January."

Do we know for sure that's when Sweeney Todd is closing?"

None of the leads are extending and there's been zero rumors about replacements. I'd say it's all but guaranteed to be closing in January.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:36pm

(Annaleigh dials up her friend Jake Gyllenhaal:) Hey, are you busy?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:37pm

RippedMan said: "Gorgeous design. I hope this gets Kandi her EGOT she's going for."

She needs to actually WIN these awards to earn an EGOT status. She’s only a Grammy Award winner. No Oscar nomination and only nominated for an Emmy and Tony Award. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:45pm

I know, ha. But it's become a storyline that she wants an EGOT so bad. I think can get there with producing. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 10:01pm

ACL2006 said: "I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January."

I heard that Tommy is taking the Lunt and Wiz is taking the St. James so we'll see?

Updated On: 9/18/23 at 10:01 PM

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 10:16pm

Robbie2 said: "ACL2006 said: "I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January."

I heard that Tommy is taking the Lunt and Wiz is taking the St. James so we'll see?"

Um… I though Spamalot is going to the St. James

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 10:24pm

Tickets on sale through April on the Spamalot website at St. James.  It may not last that long without stars.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 10:27pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "Robbie2 said: "ACL2006 said: "I'm surprised this isn't confirmed yet to be taking the Lunt after Sweeney Todd closes in January."

I heard that Tommy is taking the Lunt and Wiz is taking the St. James so we'll see?"

Um… I though Spamalot is going to the St. James"

It is but heard after Spamalot the St. James after Wiz LA tour in April so we shall see what ends up happening?

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/19/23 at 6:49pm

One week from today the tour opens in Baltimore

https://wizmusical.com/

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 9/19/23 at 9:17pm

Are they cutting Adaperle and giving He’s the Wiz to Glinda?

 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 7:20am

nativenewyorker2 said: "Are they cutting Adaperle and giving He’s the Wiz to Glinda?

"

I hope so. No reason to have so many different characters singing one song and then basically disappearing. I know the source material is episodic like that, but it doesn’t make much sense in terms of musical structure and narrative.  
 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 8:07am

I can't wait to see what the set looks like.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 9:00am

Except the song “He’s The Wiz” really doesn’t suit the character of Glinda. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 9:09am

And eliminates the intent of meeting Glinda, the person who carries the show message about home being inside all of us. Glinda singing He’s the Wiz is the complete opposite of that. I love The Wiz, but man, is it’s book an all-time mess for me. 

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 9:55am

Judith Franklin has a picture on her Instagram holding her script that says she’s the understudy for “Glinda & Addaperle,” so the role is definitely in the show. Perhaps it’s now a dual role and Deborah Cox will do both? Maybe they’re trying to keep that a surprise until opening? I have no clue. Guess we’ll find out next week! I’m excited!

[MiserablyWicked1]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:45pm

Very excited for this and just bought Tickets for San Francisco Pre Broadway engagement that will have full Broadway cast with Wayne Brady stepping in as the Wizard!

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 6:12pm

Rentaholic2 said: "nativenewyorker2 said: "Are they cutting Adaperle and giving He’s the Wiz to Glinda?

"

I hope so. No reason to have so many different characters singing one song and then basically disappearing. I know the source material is episodic like that, but it doesn’t make much sense in terms of musical structure and narrative"

 

I saw the original Broadway production 3 times. I had no problem with it. Plus, we got to see all of the living witches which we didn't see in the original movie (And re-named for The Wiz musical movie as Miss One). If I am not mistaken, The Wiz sticks to where the witches are from in the books. I think Glinda is from the South. In the movie I think she was from the North.

 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 12:07pm

uncageg said: "Rentaholic2 said: "nativenewyorker2 said: "Are they cutting Adaperle and giving He’s the Wiz to Glinda?

"

I hope so. No reason to have so many different characters singing one song and then basically disappearing. I know the source material is episodic like that, but it doesn’t make much sense in terms of musical structure and narrative"



I saw the original Broadway production 3 times. I had no problem with it. Plus, we got to see all of the living witches which we didn't see in the original movie (And re-named for The Wiz musical movie as Miss One). If I am not mistaken, The Wiz sticks to where the witches are from in the books. I think Glinda is from the South. In the movie I think she was from the North.

"

Fair enough.  Maybe it's not so much an issue with the amount of characters as it is the amount of actors with not much to do.  I can't think of any other musicals that have four different characters that each have one big song and then maybe only appear one other time.  So just from a practical standpoint, I like the idea of double casting the roles and giving two performers much more to do.

[inception]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 12:47pm

Rentaholic2 said: 
 I can't think of any other musicals that have four different characters that each have one big song and then maybe only appear one other time.

Cats?