THE WIZ National Tour and Broadway Discussion Thread

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:

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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

One week from today the tour opens in Baltimore

https://wizmusical.com/

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.

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

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!

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 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?