THE WIZ Reviews — Page 3

To AdamGreer and somethingwicked,

Do you know where you are?
More people on this messageboard and in NYC broadway community would go see Anika over Ashanti. Theater people will see it just to see it and for LaChanze. Black people will see it because it's the Wiz. And Tourists will see it because it's something they know.

This show does not need a "name" for the lead, and BTW Anika is a bigger name than LaChanze was in The Color Purple and that show did great.

Not too mention there are numerous American Idol alum that would do great in this role, if they need someone the soccer moms and housewives would recognize, i.e. Tamyra Gray, Jordin Sparks, Latoya London, Syesha Mercado. All would do better than Ashanti.

This show could transfer and be a success with a couple of tweeks.

I would love to see Latoya London as Dorothy she would be great.

As an African-American and as a person who has asked many African-Americans how they feel about Ashanti as Dorothy almost all of them have said no. African-Americans dont really care for Ashanti, she's often referred to as the girl who can't sing. I'm not trying to generalize but I have asked quiet a few African-Americans how they felt about her as Dorothy and a lot of people have been saying "she cant sing" way before this show. It seems as though the African-American audience is who this board thinks this show is dependant upon seeing as they will "flock" to the theatre. A lot of African-Americans do know who Anika Noni rose is, she is often referred to as "the girl from Dreamgirls", but they still know who she is. As far as Orlando, not very many people know who he is, he is "the guy from Drumline" Seeing as the two of them are supposed to be the stunt casting, someone like Ben Vereen could be the Wizard, many more people know who he is, and Anika could be Dorothy, making Anika the girl from a movie (like Orlando) and Ben Vereen the person everyone knows, which is thought to be Ashanti. It would be just as effective.

I'm not sure if a lot of people know who Tamyra is, but African-American audiences don't always need a big name, "The Color Purple" did fine on Broadway without stunt-casting. And is doing well without Michelle Williams on tour.

I wasn't talking about people on the board or the theatre community, I am talking about people from school, teachers, lunch ladys etc. Regular people who have no interest in Broadway, but would go see things like "The Wiz" and "The Color Purple" and even people who wouldn't.

I did not say that the general public would know Anika Noni Rose more than Ashanti. What I did say was that people do know who Anika is. I am aware that Ashanti is more well known, but it is not like Anika is a complete unknown like Jeanette Bayardelle. I know that more people know Ashanti than Anika, I think everyone knows that.

My example using Anika Noni Rose and Ben Vereen was in response to your post about replacing Ashanti and Orlando not working. What I am saying is that Orlando is known as a guy from a Movie, and Ashani is known generally. Anika is known from a movie just like Orlando and Ben Vereen is known generally like Ashanti is. I think if Anika replaced Ashanti and Vereen replaced Orlando Jones the show would still flourish. With my casting Idea you still have a generally known person and a person who is known from a movie which is almost the equivalent of the current casting. I do agree with you that a "name" from pop-culture will give the show higher ticket sales.

Let me know if that made sense, you can message as well if you like.

Updated On: 6/19/09 at 03:46 PM

Oh, I appologize too! :)

Did someone say Syesha Mercado?

I highly doubt this will transfer. With both Variety AND the Times wrecking it...not gonna happen.

If it does REALLY well financially, then MAYBE. and that's a big maybe.

and if it does transfer, no WAY will Ashanti be re-cast, which is unfortunate. Had the producers not cast a star name, and just cast Noni Rose, it probably would have gotten stellar reviews and then been a guaranteed transfer. But as it stands, with the corporate sponsorship they have, she won't be going anywhere. And with four more weeks of rehearsal, she may be able to be improved.

But it doesn't matter, it's not going to transfer.

Wth ever happened to MacAnuff's production?

I hate to break it to you, but the people on this board and in the theater community don't account for the majority in terms of ticket buyers who sustain the commercial run of a show.

If you think more people in the general public know who Anika Noni Rose is than Ashanti, you just proved the merit of your own credibility.

Thank you. The idea that the general public is more aware of Anika Noni Rose than Ashanti is laughable.

<< it wasn't the most earth-shatteringly amazing piece of theater I've ever seen, but it was good and fun and buoyant >>

Totally agree... for the money I spent, was worth it alone for the final three numbers !!

Adam and Something, I in no way at all think that the general public will know who Anika is over Ashanti. So, I'm sorry if I confused you in some way.

The point I was making is that last year the biggest star of the show was Patti LuPone and everybody else were virtual nobodies, so when I tell my friends and family that I saw the great star Patti Lupone in Gypsy or Sweeney Todd, they say "who?", because unless your gay or a theater lover you don't know who she is. But theater fans do and thats why her shows do well.

Theater fans also know Anika and would support her. People in NY would say wow Anika and LaChanze, thats something I gotta see. Now, all the theater freaks who spend all their money to see every show are like eh whatever.

That was my point its NYC and theater fans that keep shows like Gypsy and Sweeney Todd, or Next to Normal afloat. Tourists are busy helping Wicked, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, and Mamma Mia keep there sold-out top spots.

" they say "who?", because unless your gay or a theater lover you don't know who she is"

That's not really true. She starred on a hit TV show for several years. And Evita was HUGE when it opened, she received nationwide attention.

This show and it's reviews finally confirm what I have always thought : Kail is a novice director, Blankenbeulher has a limited range, and that Lin Manuel Miranda was THE reason In The Heights was as successful as it was. Period.

I saw it two nights ago. I used to watch that movie everyday, and I have a real soft-spot for this show. I didn't hate this production, but it needs some work.

I agree with a lot of what's been said..

The GOOD - the 3 witches are fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed all three of them and wanted to see more. The tinman is a wonderful wonderful part of the show; the dancers are great. I liked the lion, I didn't have a problem with the scarecrow, he had a lot of funny moments.

the BAD - the costumes. yuck. Ashanti - I forgot she was there for 90% of the show. No joke. Same for Orlando Jones, I'm a fan of his in general, but he really doesn't have the charisma or the singing chops for this role. Lastly, the exit for Tichina needs to be changed NOW. She gives a forceful and dynamic performance and has to exit on a weak theatrical trick - it's a shame.

MIXED - the choreography. It had a great entertainment factor, and the dancers themselves were fantastic, but I agree that it was too busy and unfocussed. It didn't really help to move the story. I felt like there were several times where it's sole purpose was to distract the audience from Ashanti's inability to act (ie: soon as I get home).

****

I completely disagree with the idea that The Wiz needs names to be successful. Seemynameinlights explained it quite well. The wiz is a historic black show, and African-Americans WILL see it. The Wiz is a show that a lot of people have fond memories of, and it's a great family show. It's also important to remember that there is not a huge representation of minorities in the theater, I don't say that to start a controversy, but as of now the only mostly-black musical I can think of is "The Lion King" (another show I love). If a black family wants to take their kids to theater, why not see the The Wiz, which the parents would recognize also? For better or for worse minorities will generally support shows that represent them, especially if they are familiar shows. That's the reason why The Color Purple did so well.

I understand that names bring in more money, and it certainly has been the trend and the way of survival for producers to bring them in... but it isn't the only way. In the Heights did well because it was fun and new, and brought more latinos to the theater. Shows like West Side Story do well because people know it. The same would go for The Wiz.

... i just hope they change a few things before they bring it. Is there anyone here who's seen both the Encores! production and the production at La Jolla? I'd love to hear that comparison...


and speaking of La Jolla, wasn't Nikki M. James reviewed well? I think it'd be nice to see her get a big break*

I'm going to the Mat this coming Wednesday and now I'm afraid I'm going to be overrun by some horrid school group with an end of the year field trip planned.