THE WIZ will be 2009 Encores! Summer Stars- Page 2

[Jon]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:59pm

What ever happened to that little Paris Bennett (I think that was her name)from American Idol?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:15pm

Anika Noni Rose has worked with Encores! before in PURLIE and she was once slated to star in the proposed TV movie with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sherie Rene Scott that never came to be. I really hope they get her to star in this production, she'd be fantastic and though she is in her mid 30s, she won a Tony for credibly playing a teenager in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE.
Audra McDonald is too Julliard indeed, she belongs nowhere near this show.
I hope the likes of Lillias White, Daniel Breaker, Loretta Devine, and maybe even Tonya Pinkins are approached instead.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:17pm

This is one of my favorite shows, and it would be nice to see this done correctly, since so many revived attempts have bombed.

I'd love to see a national search for a new, completely unknown Dorothy. Someone between 13 - 16, with a big voice, and that special charm to carry the role. They did it for "Annie" - why not do it for "The Wiz?"

As for the main roles, it would be nice to see some really big talent fill these shoes. Unfortunately, some of the names that came to mind were movie actors, rather than stage performers - however, my instinct is that they'd be more than capable of handling themselves on stage.

What about Eddie Murphey for the role of The Wiz? The man is funny and can sing. Great Evilene choices would be Lilias White, and for some reason, the thought of Jennifer Holiday actually made me laugh - the woman WOULD be great in that part - totally over the top. How about Cedric the Entertainer (needs a new stage name!) for the Lion? I don't know if he can sing, but he's certainly funny, and the right physical type. The Scarecrow and Tin Man are more difficult, because you really need excellent "song and dance" men. Finding one of those who's not exactly a chorus boy can be challenging.

Why not bring back Ms. Mills to play Glinda? The audience would love it, she's the right age now, and her voice still soars. To give her a sizable cameo in the piece that brought her stardom would be very cool.

I'll continue to ruminate on other possibilities, as will everyone else and their mother on here. LOL

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:20pm

I don't want to see Daniel Breaker in this. I just don't think his vocals are that good. He can carry a tune, but he can't really "sing" or..."sahng" like this show needs.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:34pm

One of the few Encores! productions that I have no interest in seeing. AT ALL.

[thejcm]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:36pm

Oh my god, this fits perfectly into my NYC vacation this summer, which means I HAVE to get tickets! The Wiz is one of my favorite shows ever and to see a professional production in New York is a dream of mine.

I hope they keep the original feel of it and don't try to modernize it like La Jolla did.

Oh, and Anika Noni Rose as Dorothy sounds fantastic.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 4:10pm

I love the idea of including Stephanie Mills in one of the adult roles.

[Brick]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 4:46pm

Wow. Didn't see that coming.

Thank god they wrestled it away from McAnuff.

I can't wait.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 5:48pm

PS: Can't wait to see Blankenbuehler's choreography. The man is a genius.

[The Insider]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:03pm

THINK SUMMER STARS!!!!!!! NOT BROADWAY TALENT!!!!

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:10pm

Terrible.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:14pm

^ Looks like you can't claim that the Des McAnuff nightmare is still going places. How sad for you.

[The Insider]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:17pm

Whoopi Goldberg!!!!!!!!
Vanessa Williams!!!!
Wayne Brady!!!!!!

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:41pm

What about a different, Oscar winning DREAMGIRL for Dorothy?

Like, I don't know....

J-HUD?!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:45pm

"Yea, but again, she (Audra) is too trained, her voice isn't...soulful."

Are you delusional!? Have you hear Audra sing anything other than Ragtime, 110 in the Shade, or Carousel? Go to one of her concerts and then tell me she can't sing with soul.

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 7:54pm

I will have to wait for a casting announcement before I can say that I am interested. This was absolutely not my choice for this summers City Center show. Im a bit let down by this choice. I was hopeing for Evita, Funny Girl or Hello, Dolly.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 8:33pm

bjh-
Yes, I have. She's too Julliard, there's no soul/R&B to her voice, which is what the show requires.

JHud would NOT make a good Dorothy. One of the Witches, yes. Dorothy, no.

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 9:05pm

I think LaChanze would be a great Dorthy.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 10:36pm

"bjh-
Yes, I have. She's too Julliard, there's no soul/R&B to her voice, which is what the show requires."

I agree that she's not right for the show, but to say she can't put soul into her voice is retarded. I've heard her do it on many occasions. Maybe you just aren't hearing her sing the right things...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 5:55am

I've never seen the Wiz...not even the movie: Do they still keep the concept of Oz as a fantasy world? If so, I think most of the parts between reality and Oz SHOULD be doubled. It's all in her head, so why wouldn't the people important in her life be represented.

If, of course, this ISN'T the case with the Wiz....nevermind.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 8:28am

^ The Wiz sticks closer to the book, where Oz (while fantastical) is a real place.

My only beef with the Aunt Em/Glinda doubling with the original (and with this one) is if she spends all her time in Oz trying to get home to her, and Aunt Em is present in some form...why go home? Notice she doesn't ever say anything about her farmhand friends (who don't exist in the original book or The Wiz)?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 8:38am

I think LaChanze would be a great Dorthy.

I absolutely adore LaChanze, but you do realize she is 47, don't you?

I bet the producers are going to seek out Fantasia for one of the roles in this. She is young enough.

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 8:44am

Kenita Miller would be a fantastic!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 9:27am

I actually have to agree with JasonM12480's suggestion that they search for an unknown for Dorothy. if they surround her with absolute top names and talent, it could work incredibly well.

if not, my picks are Anika and J-Hud.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 10:05am

Wow. LaChanze is 47 year old?? She looks amazing!!