THE WIZ Previews — Page 4

Dumb question: where DO I go to line up for rush at the Marquis? I actually don't know where the box office is. Is it inside the hotel?

i would love to know where the additional two million dollars went that was supposedly meant to beef up the production elements



also is wayne brady any good?

I won’t beat this dead horse, but your post is perfect. The show has such talent on stage, but the production team failed on all levels (except maybe the Emerald City vogue scene at the top of Act Two).


Perhaps this will signal the end of the directing career for Shele Williams who butchered two beloved properties this season. (The Notebook is the other, featuring some of worst direction I’ve ever seen in any show)

I'm speechless. I'll start with the good, because the good is GOOD.

It's an exceptional, hard working company that is putting their all out there (save two principals). Nichelle Lewis and Melody Betts walk away with the show, and they are joined by a company that is working what they have been given to give Broadway worthy performances.

The book revisions by Amber Ruffin are 10/10 and her one liners hit just as hard as they did in Some Like It Hot. Sure, it's not dramatically interesting to follow the "meet a new friend, ease on down the yellow brick road to meet a new friend and ease on down the yellow brick road again" formula in Baum's story, but what more could she have done? Her book is relevant to a 2024 audience and is oozing with heart and sentiment.

This company and material deserves a competent director and non-sleezy producers who can give them the first rate production they deserve.

I am genuninely angry at myself for having spent $45 to watch 2+ hours of minimal staging in front of an LED wall. In each scene a painted, flimsy flat would track out to remind us that there is no physical set. No blending at all. The great and powerful Wiz was presented to us through puffs of smoke coming from the pit. Am I supposed to be dumbstruck by his greatness?

Speaking of his greatness, Wayne Brady is half asleep for the 10 minutes he's onstage. I don't know if I necessarily blame him. As is, is this a role that warrants a name? Andre De Shields MADE a name for himself with this role, and Wayne Brady appears to be bothered he had to come up from his dressing room to make an appearance.

The real insult of the night comes from Debrah Cox as Glinda/producer. This is a clear vanity project. They took away Adapearl's song from Act One to give Cox another song to sing. Neither that nor the 11 o'clock number resonate with the audience. She's no Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lena Horne, LaChanze, Uzo Aduba, or any of the great talents who have brought that number home.

My heart actually goes out to Melody Betts who was pushed off to the far side of the stage at curtain call to make room for Deborah Cox and Wayne Brady. Cox should be so lucky to have landed a talent like Betts in her bus and truck tour, and Betts should be featured more prominently at curtain call.

Oh! And be sure to buy the cocktail at the bar that features Cox's own brand of wine. She's milking this cash cow for all it's worth. $$$

I cannot remember the last time I have been so frustrated. The Wiz deserves better. This company deserves better. They have been let down by producers who have dragged these actors through the mud , and a director who has barely staged nevertheless directed this show.

I cannot believe I dropped $45 on this and will be actively steering my friends away from seeing this.

Updated On: 4/6/24 at 11:32 PM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "BarnabyTucker said: "CC: their insta story posts shedding light on the abuse at the hands of the producers"

What's this? Any context to be shared here?"

I've edited this out of my post as I can no longer find the Insta story posts in question. I remember a few weeks ago there were ensemble members posting Insta stories being posted about how they felt like they weren't being heard/being mistreated by the producers. I'm looking through Reddit to see if anyone had kept the screenshots.

Those clips are messy. For such huge theatre and stage they sure look cramped on it. I’m screaming find the pitch.

Going Tuesday hopefully this is better live. I guess I will never see another Wiz revival in my lifetime. This doesn’t look like the one for me

Wow, those costumes for the core quartet never fail to shock me with how amateurish they look.

Updated On: 4/7/24 at 03:47 PM

I have only seen "clips" of this production from the tour. Changes may have been made but from what I saw and heard, I am not sure I will see this. But it is "The Wiz" so I also feel a bit compelled to see it!

Saw the original 3 times. From what I have seen and heard of this current production, I am not crazy about the arrangements and especially the tempo of a lot of the songs. For me, it feels like they have sucked the fun and excitement out of them. Not crazy about how they re-staged "Be A Lion". (Maybe it's changed) but that was one of the great moments in the show between Dorothy and the Lion. Adding in the scarecrow and tin man just took something away from it. There is more of a set but it looks a bit claustrophobic. The original had sparse sets and backdrops but from what I remember, they used the open stage during production numbers.

I am wondering how the Tornado is done.(I think I read in this thread that video is used) That fabric tornado is still one of the coolest things I have seen in a show. Also sad that there is no Toto or Flying monkeys. Did they explain why there is no Toto? That final moment when he runs on stage after Home was wonderful.

It sounds like the cast is vocally on point for the most part. Wasn't crazy about the bit we hear of "So You Wanted to Meet The Wizard". It just lacked the "fire" of the original and I seem to remember Mabel King moving all around the stage whipping that dress around during "...No Bad News". (But this was just a clip so maybe that happens outside of what is shown?)

For today's audiences, this production may be just fine. And I hope it does well because even with the things I didn't care for from what I have seen or heard, it is also one of my favorite scores and it is nice to see it is finally being introduced to a new generation who may not have been listening to the original cast recording but may know the film Soundtrack. It looks like they put "You Can't Win" in this production. If It was me, I would remove that (Even though people know the song from the movie) and put in The Emerald City Sequence from the movie. Just my random thoughts.

Updated On: 4/11/24 at 05:19 PM

Especially when there are other black femaledirectors that are not only better talented but are better equipped for Broadway... Lili-Ann Brown, Patricia McGregor, Liesl Tommy, Lileana Blain-Cruz, Whitney White, JoAnne Hunter (not black but BIPOC) .. it's not like there is a lack of talented directors???"

THANK YOU. Completely agree. Don't even have anything to add but "quoting" to second and for emphasis haha.

That act two opener was the most budget cruise line thing in the whole show, I thought.

Was there again last night because visiting friends wanted to see the show. Just gotta say - This show is a real crowd pleaser, most of whom have probably never seen the original like you all, so nothing to compare it to. A packed house. So I think this one’s gonna do well. The cast is truly on fire. Those voices! A good time had by all. Smiles all the way!