THE WIZ casting rumours- Page 3

[Al Dente]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:03pm

Stop the madness and believeing what you read on this board and esp on ATC. Bean is way too old and it would never happen. NOT TRUE! As for Testa as Evilene, well, if they were going to go white with that one role, there were FAR better choices. As someone earlier said, why this needs any sort of revival, is the first and only question.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:46pm

Why don't you throw Ruth Buzzi, Mindy Cohn and John Schneider into the cast?

Then, this crack-induced illusion will be confirmed and complete.

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:08pm

Evilene requires a strong, soulful voice and Mary Testa isn't that.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:13pm

Wouldn't that be odd for Shoshana going from playing Elphaba the wicked witch to Dorothy. Same story (almoust) different characters.

[Fredisetgo]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:20pm

wow......................... that would suck........... im really not a big fan of shoshana

[ruprecht]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:37pm

It's not Shoshana Bean so let's everyone stop saying it. Mary Testa? That's not a good choice at all. But I'll concur with those saying the whole thing is unecessary, especially with the heinous casting that's so prevalent in every new show nowadays. *That's* what's "ruining" Broadway.

[anthonypisano]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:14pm

Valarie Pettiford has been cast as Glinda/Auntie M.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:55pm

Well now, she's good casting.

[otis33]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 5:06am

Just spent the evening with someone from the Playhouse who confirmed some of these rumors. All the speculation about Nikki James playing Dorothy is true. David Alan Grier is playing the Wiz. Wayne Brady and Joey McIntyre are in final negotiations. It's lining up to be a very exciting cast!

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 5:53am

i enjoy the valerie pettiford casting. with a cast like this im having a hard time believing this is just a regional production.

[otis33]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:16am

They have ever intention of transfering the show should it be a success. I have a friend cast in the ensemble, and she's already signed on for one extension, with the possibility of more. New York is definitely on La Jolla's brain. It'd be cool if it happened.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 11:03pm

Heather Lee has been cast as Adapearl apparently..

[bjivie2]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 5:39am

I love me some Valerie.

Get me some Jennifer Holliday as Evilene and I'm a happy boy.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 8:07am

Eviliene supposedly IS Mary Testa, which I find absurd, but hey.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 2:17pm

Nikki James was one of the best things about "All Shook Up" when I saw it, so her as Dorothy is a spectacular choice in my opinion. Wayne Brady, Valerie Pettiford, David Alan Grier, and Joey McIntyre are all perfect for their respective roles as well.

Mary Testa, however.... no. I love Mary. She is incredible. But this just isn't gonna work.

What else has Heather Lee been in?

Updated On: 7/16/06 at 02:17 PM

[WeddedBliss22]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:23pm

Nikki is an AMAZING choice, so glad that Bean is not playing Dorothy, it's time she stops acting like this soul diva, it makes me sick to my stomach, it's just plain dumb. She was horrid in WICKED when we saw it, HORRID! No acting, No singing, just this strained "riffing", and not a clue as to what her blocking was, c'mon man, learn your track!!

Yeah again for Nikki, the BEST choice for Dorothy!!!!

[actormcfamous]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 4:49pm

I would love to see Heather Headley involved in this some way or another. She's amazing and has been offstage for far too long.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 8:41pm

I'd be happy to see Heather in anything at this point...

Also, I thought someone said that they were going to announce the cast this weekend?

[iliketheater]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 9:59pm

oy

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:09am

EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD IS LIKE OMG I HATE WICKED I HATE EX- ELPHABAS. YOU GUYS ARE REALLY IMMATURE AND NEED TO LEARN TO GROW UP. THERE ARE THINGS NOT EVERYONE LIKES, BUT YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH THEM. I WOULD love TO SEE SHO PLAY IN THE WIZ! SHE IS SO DAM TALENTED AND HAS AN AMAZING VOICE. BUT YOU GUYS ARE LIKE OMG OMG OMG LA CHANZE SHOULD BE DOROTHY. WTF?!

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:48am

^ FUNNIEST post of the day.

Titus is official.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:50am

I'm surprised Titus would leave a hit show to do THE WIZ.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:23pm

I expect Titus will probably return to "Jersey Boys" after this production ends in La Jolla and then leave again when and if it transfers to NY.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 12:23 PM

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:56pm

I really think Ben Vereen should be the title role. I like, not loved but liked, him in that role in Wicked. Also, they should get a fresh face for Dorothy, someone we've possibly never even heard of before.

[showmethetony]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:06pm

people - Mary Testa can sing her booty off! And all she would have to sing in the Wiz is No Bad News, which she could DEF blow out of the water. As for all the love/hate Wicked folks...just face it, Shoshana is not a black girl. While she has got a mean set of pipes, Dorothy really should be African American.