THE WIZ will be 2009 Encores! Summer Stars- Page 4

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/23/09 at 8:34pm

^ I never thought of that! That could be a good one!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:38pm

Word on ATC is that LaChanze will play Glinda.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:43pm

At least LaChanze doesn't have to show up for more than 10 minutes, so attendance will hopefully be a non-issue this time.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:24pm

Man, reputations really do stick here.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:33pm

I've been really loving The Wiz lately.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:06am

Here's the poster:

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:12am

I always love the art City Center has for their shows.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:35am

Me like!

When to individual tix go on sale?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 10:29am

I think they are on sale.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 10:31am

If they want The Wiz and Glinda to be stars, I would get Vanessa Williams for Glinda and Jessie L. Martin for The Wiz.

I know, TV stars, but still.

It would be great to see Phylicia Rashad as Auntie Em, though. She was in the OBC of The Wiz in the chorus. That would be very cool.

Or they could get Hinton Battle for The Wiz. He was the original Scarecrow (at the ripe old age of 19).

For a concert version, age isn't as much of a problem. But if the producers are thinking about a potential transfer to Broadway, they need to keep Dorothy (at least) and possibly the Scarecrow young. Tiger Haynes as the Tin Man was much older (in his late 60s). I would like to see someone like Ben Vereen play the Tin Man. As for the Lion, Ken Page would be my first choice. He was one of the replacements in the original run. Although if they want to go a little bit younger, Titus would be good.

I could also see someone like Brandy or Toni Braxton (especially) as Glinda. Toni has that perfect smokey voice for If You Believe. It would be very reminiscent of DeDe Bridgewater. But Vanessa is a bigger star today. And she'd be terrific, I'm sure.

Lillias White would make a great Evillene. When I first saw a national tour of The Wiz, back in the mid '70s, Lillias was in the chorus!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 10:35am

best12bars, your cast ideas would certainly put my butt in a seat at City Center.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:34am

Best12bars - I love all those ideas and even though I'm not a huge fan of the show, they'd get me in a seat as well.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:38am

At this point, very little would keep me out of a seat.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:55am

well, to be fair, I was planning on going anyway. I love the Encores and Summer Stars shows.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:03pm

I'll only go depending on the casting. If it's anything like Besty's genius casting ideas, I will surely be there...especially if you add the fantastic Anika Noni Rose to the mix.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 1:38pm

Hinton Battle as the Wiz would just make my day (I've always wanted to see him on stage)!