The Official WIZ Casting Announcement- Page 2

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:54pm

Margo you are so Hip!
Hop.
Let's hope you are right.

[LI Larry]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:19am

Wayne blew a vocal chord. That's why he was out so much. He told me himself. He wasn't supposed to go on for his last performance but did it anyway.

[Blue J]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:48am

So excited!!!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:26am

Blew a vocal chord in Chicago? It's not that vocally demanding is it?

I'm excited for this. I love the casting. And I can't wait to see pictures of the "environmental set." Do you think if this does indeed get good reviews, would it transfer this season or hold out and transfer in the fall of next year?

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:37am

I'm thinking probably fall next season unless more theaters open up which I don't see happening

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:10am

With the numbers "The Producers" have been putting up lately, I expect it to close by January. Could "The Wiz" perhaps take the St. James?

Updated On: 7/25/06 at 03:10 AM

[ozone20]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 9:19am

Oh i am so SOOOOOOOOOO NOT feeling this cast. dissapointed. love nikki james but where is the SOUL? Beautiful voice but not a SOULFUL singer. and wayne brady?? He's so watered down and non flavorful its a shame. (and some of you will know what im talkin about). Tituss brings hope as does David Alan.. UGH.. i could go on but from what i just read as far as casting is concerned, this looks to be quite bland.
Updated On: 7/25/06 at 09:19 AM

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:17am

I do love Nikki, who was cute and, as she puts it, "fierce" (haha) in All Shook Up. I think she has it in her.

Although I do stand by my gal, another ASU alum, Ms. Trisha Jeffrey, as a better choice for a "Dorothy." As you put it, ozone20, Trish has "soul" - just think of her as "Crystal" in Little Shop and that's all the "soul" you need!

I think you guys should really rest assured with the choice for Evillene. Ms. E. Faye is fantastic and can do everything top-notch. She worked with Trish in Once on This Island as Erzulie and has a great voice and is the nicest. I'm so happy she has this great role.

Coincidentally, they worked with Gayle Turner in OOTI, who made her Bway debut as an understudy for Stephanie Mills in The Wiz. =)

The link is the Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE Once on This Island page. If you go to the bottom, there are production photos, including a great one of E. Faye (which looks better in full-size and better resolution). About a third of the way down in the purple section on the right side under "Related Links" is the cast listing and bios with pictures of each cast member (you can see both E. Faye and Gayle). Directly under the cast link is a Feature Link guiding you to an article from the Baltimore Sun on E. Faye Butler (who is a well-known actress in Baltimore although from Chicago).

Just some info in case you are interested on getting to know the next Evillene! =)

CENTERSTAGE Once on This Island page Updated On: 7/25/06 at 10:17 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:17am

By the way, whatever happened to Geoffrey Holder the force behind the original ?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:25am

Holder is alive and well and these days is probably focusing on voiceovers (he was the narrator of last year's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp), his art work (he's a gifted painter and sculptor) and spending time with his still ravishly beautiful (and equally gifted) wife dancer Carmen de Lavallade and their adult son.

Updated On: 7/25/06 at 10:25 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:34am

Thanks

Saw him at at Aznavour concert @ Carnegie Hall a few years ago. He was unmistakeable & his wife , i believe , is quite small

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:35am

Leave it to Margo to know EVERYTHING!

Thanks, Margo!

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:35am

I wish, at some point, there would be a production of The Wiz that would recreate Holder's incredible original vision for this show. His inspiring direction and imaginative costumes were wonderful. (And both honored with Tonys!)

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:49am

There was, b12b...the revival in '84 had a rethinking of Holders' original costumes. The main difference I noticed was instead of the cool hair for the witches in the original, he put them in huge afros.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:51am

Imagine if Holder could do techically than what can be done today. WOW

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:55am

Holder's designs made the Wiz one of the mostly visually inventive and dazzling shows I've ever seen.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:59am

Go Wayne! I'm a big fan of his. I heard he had a sitcom that didn't get picked up, so it's good to hear he's got work in this!

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:28pm

I'm also a huge fan of Wayne Brady. Especially "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The ways he finds to make fun of Drew Carey are probably the best out of the entire bunch. Now I don't have to look at the Wiz Scarecrow and think about Michael Jackson!

[LostLeander]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:48pm

I can't really imagine Wayne as the Scarecrow. I'm not too terribly familiar with the stage version, though.

I know he's got a great voice, but he is kind of cheesy (from what I've seen). Except his brilliant work in a Chapelle Show episode.

I'm hoping for a surpise though.

Seems like a really old cast.

Now I'll have the Color Purple, Lion King, AND The Wiz to audition for in 3 years.

Joy.

[show2n2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:03pm

I'm glad they announced it finally. Hopefully, I'll get to make the trek from vegas to see it :)

XM radio played Soon As I Get Home last night and thought.....Wouldn't Anika Noni Rose be a wonderful Dorothy. I know she's may not be the true age of the character, but gosh... I would have loved to have seen that.

I've never seen Nikki M. James perform, but I'm sure she'll be wonderful based on what I've read here.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:07pm

I remember Holder's Tornado Ballet

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:45pm

show2n2, when the idea for a new production of "The Wiz" was first bounced around several years ago, Anika was the person they wanted for Dorothy. However, shortly after, she won the Tony for "Caroline, or Change" and got involved in other projects, thus removing herself from contention or involvement with the show.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 9:13am

Here's another release from the Playhouse itself:

La Jolla Playhouse Media Release
McANUFF ANNOUNCES CAST FOR
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REIMAGINING OF THE WIZ
Wayne Brady, David Alan Grier to star; scenic whiz Robert Brill to create environmental set design

LA JOLLA, CA (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)—Des McAnuff, fresh off a Best Musical Tony win for the Four Seasons musical Jersey Boys, today announced the cast of his highly anticipated re-imagination of the Tony Award-winning classic, The Wiz.

Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, McAnuff’s Wiz is a major re-envisioning for the 21st century. When The Wizard of Oz met the urban beat of the 1970s, history was made to the tune of seven Tony® Awards. Now the young Dorothy travels to the strange and spectacular Land of Oz once again as McAnuff teams up with original Wiz orchestrator Harold Wheeler to create a re-imagined, multi-cultural musical phenomenon for a new century.

McAnuff comments, “Our production will reflect the shifts that have occurred in the dominant pop culture, in both music and theatre, since The Wiz’s history-making Broadway debut in the 1970s. This is modern Oz, with a modern look and modern sounds. It is a privilege to working with such an esteemed company of actors as we head together into this great adventure. This promises to be an exciting ride for all of us!”

Wayne Brady and David Alan Grier have been cast in the roles of Scarecrow and The Wiz, respectively.

Emmy award-winning Wayne Brady is one of the most versatile men in show business. Known for hosting his own syndicated talk/variety show, “The Wayne Brady Show,” for two years, Brady picked up two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host for his ability to act, sing, dance and make audiences laugh. The show also won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show. Prior to “The Wayne Brady Show,” Brady was best known for his improvisational skills on ABC’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” for which he was nominated for four Emmy nominations, winning one. On the big screen, Brady starred in the independent feature I’mPerfect, a romantic comedy with Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Illeana Douglas. He was also seen in Roll Bounce for Fox Searchlight. Some of his television credits include “Chapelle’s Show,” “Kevin Hill” and “The Drew Carey Show.” Last fall, he played Billy Flynn in the Broadway production of Chicago.

David Alan Grier starred in television shows such as the Emmy Award-winning “In Living Color,” “Premium Blend,” “Saturday Night Live,” “My Wife and Kids,” “Life With Bonnie” and “DAG.” Grier received an M.F.A. from the Yale School Of Drama. He won the lead role in a Broadway musical The First, portraying Jackie Robinson, right out of Yale, and went on the receive a nomination for the Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and win the 1982 Theatre World Award. He received the 1983 Golden Lion Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for the film Streamers, directed by Robert Altman. He is set to host his own national late night TV show in early 2006. Theatre credits include Prologus/Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls.

Playing the role of Dorothy is Nikki M. James, who recently starred in Broadway’s All Shook Up and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tituss Burgess, last seen at the Playhouse as part of the ensemble of the Tony Award-winning juggernaut Jersey Boys (and now in the Broadway cast), stars as Lion. Tinman will be played by Michael Benjamin Washington, most recently seen as Jacob in the Tony Award-winning revival of La Cage aux Folles. Washington originated the role of Eddie in Broadway production of Mamma Mia!.

E. Faye Butler is Evillene, the slave-driving mistress of mayhem in Oz. She has been seen in the national and regional tours of Mamma Mia!, Dinah Was, Ain't Misbehavin’, Nunsense, Nunsense2, Hair and Cope and is the recipient of five Joseph Jefferson Awards, an After Dark Award, a John Barrymore Award, a RAMI Award, an Excellence In The Arts and two Black Theatre Alliance Awards.

Heather Lee is thrilled to return to La Jolla Playhouse as Addaperle, having appeared last season as the dotty matriarch Eustacia Fitch in Palm Beach, The Screwball Musical, directed by McAnuff. Lee originated the role of Tessie Tura in the Broadway revival of Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters and directed by Sam Mendes.

Starring as Dorothy’s family are Orville Mendoza, playing the role of Uncle Henry, and Valarie Pettiford, as Aunt Em as well as Glinda. Mendoza starred in Pacific Overtures on Broadway and the national tours of Miss Saigon and The King and I. He is the recipient of a 1994 Ovation Award nomination for Sweeney in Sweeney Todd and a Garland Award for Pacific Overtures. Pettiford has appeared in over twenty television shows, including four seasons on the hit show “Half & Half” on UPN playing Big Dee Dee Thorne, which earned her three NAACP Image Award nominations. Her Broadway-nominated turn in Fosse earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Other Broadway/national tour credits include West Side Story’s 30th Anniversary Tour, Show Boat and she was handpicked by Bob Fosse for musicals Dancin’ and Big Deal.

Mischievous canine Toto will be embodied by Albert Blaise Cattafi, a dancer with Urban Ballet Theater, Company of Dance Arts, Westerville Ballet project and Synthesis Dance Project.

The ensemble includes Courtney Corey, Mark Emerson, Dionne D. Figgins, Demond Green, Albert Guerzon, Dominique Kelley, Ron Kellum, Alan Mingo, Anisha Nagarajan, NRaca, Karine Plantadit, Keiana Richard, Liz Ramos and Marcos Santana.

The design team consists of some of the most accomplished artists in theatre. Robert Brill, a University of California, San Diego alumnus and scenic designer for The Wiz, has a long history with McAnuff and the Playhouse, beginning in 1991 with his set design for the world premiere of Lee Blessing’s Fortinbras. The Wiz marks Brill’s eleventh production at the Playhouse. He is also well-known on Broadway for his designs of Cabaret (199, Assasins (2004) and A Streetcar Named Desire (2005).

Employing theories of “environmental design,” Brill’s goal for The Wiz is for the audience to enter into an environment that is part theatre, part musical and even part rock concert. The theatre will become a dynamic environment that puts the performers and the music at the forefront of this heightened theatrical experience.

"We have redesigned the Weiss Theatre to create seating onstage. By doing so, we have redefined the shape of both the stage and the audience,” explains Brill. “To connect the stage and the conventional seating in the house, we are installing curving ramps that extend into the audience and create a runway across the middle rows of the theatre. In addition, the interior will be wrapped by a network of concert scaffolding that will allow the performers, musicians, scenery and multimedia to be featured throughout the stage and auditorium.”

The creative team also includes costume designer Paul Tazewell (Palm Beach, Private Fittings and A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Playhouse, Tony nomination for Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in the 'Da Funk and The Color Purple), Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys lighting designer Howell Binkley (Zhivago; Private Fittings; Dracula, The Musical for the Playhouse as well as the Broadway productions of Avenue Q and The Full Monty) and sound designer Peter Fitzgerald (Ring of Fire, The Odd Couple, Big River, Movin’ Out). Michael Clark’s (Ring of Fire, Jersey Boys, 700 Sundays) projection designs will enhance Brill’s environmental set. Frequent McAnuff collaborator Sergio Trujillo (Zhivago, Jersey Boys) serves as choreographer; Ron Melrose is the music director and Frank Hartenstein is the production stage manager.

For tickets, call 858.550.1010 or buy online at www.lajollaplayhouse.com.

See FACT SHEET for details on dates, times, pricing and ticket information.

See ARTISTIC PROFILES for a detailed biography of Des McAnuff and La Jolla Playhouse.

FACT SHEET

WHAT:La Jolla Playhouse presents The Wiz

Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff tricks out Oz and sends Dorothy and her companions easing on down the road in this rock and R&B-infused multi-cultural spectacular starring Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess, David Alan Grier, Nikki M. James and Michael Benjamin Washington.

WHERE:
Mandell Weiss Theatre @ La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037

WHO:
Based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. FRANK BAUM

Book by WILLIAM F. BROWN ~ Music and Lyrics by CHARLIE SMALLS

Directed by DES McANUFF ~ Orchestration by HAROLD WHEELER

Scenic Design by ROBERT BRILL ~ Costume Design by PAUL TAZEWELL

Lighting Design by HOWELL BINKLEY ~ Sound Design by PETER FITZGERALD

Projection Design by MICHAEL CLARK ~ Music Direction by RON MELROSE

Choreographer: SERGIO TRUJILLO ~ Associate Choreographer: KELLY DEVINE

Dramaturgy by SHIRLEY FISHMAN ~ Production Stage Manager: FRANK HARTENSTEIN

Stage Manager: KELLY MARTINDALE

Assistant Directors: HOLLY-ANNE RUGGIERO and ROBERT O’HARA

Production Manager: PETER J. DAVIS ~ East Coast Casting: TARA RUBIN CASTING

West Coast Casting: SHARON BIALY AND SHERRY THOMAS, CSA

CAST:
WAYNE BRADY (The Scarecrow) ~ CHARL BROWN (Character Ensemble)

TITUSS BURGESS (Lion) ~ E. FAYE BUTLER (Evillene)

ALBERT BLAISE CATTAFI (Toto/Ensemble) ~ COURTNEY COREY (Character Ensemble)

CARLA DUREN (Character Ensemble) ~ MARK EMERSON (Character Ensemble)

DIONNE D. FIGGINS (Dance Ensemble) ~ DEMOND GREEN (Character Ensemble)

DAVID ALAN GRIER (The Wiz) ~ ALBERT GUERZON (Dance Ensemble)

NIKKI M. JAMES (Dorothy) ~ RON KELLUM (Dance Ensemble)

DOMINIQUE KELLY (Dance Ensemble) ~ HEATHER LEE (Addaperle)

ALAN MINGO (Character Ensemble) ~ ORVILLE MENDOZA (Uncle Henry/Ensemble)

NRACA (Character Ensemble) ~ VALARIE PETTIFORD (An Em/Glinda)

KARINE PLANTADIT (Dance Ensemble) ~ LIZ RAMOS (Dance Ensemble)

MICHAEL BENJAMIN WASHINGTON (Tinman) ~ MARCOS SANTANA (Dance Ensemble)

DATES:
Previews: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 / Press Opening: Wednesday, October 11 @ 7:30pm Closes: Sunday, November 12.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays @ 7:30pm / Wednesdays @ 7:30pm / Thursdays @ 8pm / Fridays @ 8pm

Saturdays @ 2pm (no Saturday matinee during first preview week) & 8pm

Sundays @ 2pm & 7pm

PLEASE NOTE: TUES. AND WED. PERFORMANCES NOW TAKE PLACE AT 7:30PM.

PRICES: Range from $48 - $72
Preview Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. & Sun. matinee: $48 / Preview Sat.: $56

Tues. & Wed.: $56

Thurs., Sun. evenings & Sat. matinees: $62 / Fri. & Sun. matinees: $66

Sat. evenings: $72


DISCOUNTS:Seniors (62 yrs +), Student and Military - $3 off all performances except Sat. night and previews

Subscriber Youth Discount (18 yrs and under) – Subscribers can get 1/2 off for youth tickets

Access Performance (ASL discount) – $10 tickets to Oct. 14, 2pm performance

Subscriber Single Ticket Discounts - $5 off (except seniors and students); $3 off for small packages; $5 off for the Complete Collection)

Rush Ticket Discounts - $20 tickets (1 hour prior to show time, subject to availability)

HOW:By phone at 858.550.1010 ~ Online at lajollaplayhouse.com

In person at the box office, located at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037

ARTISTIC PROFILES

DES McANUFF (Artistic Director and Director of The Wiz) is a two-time Tony Award-winning director. McAnuff served as Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse from its 1983 rebirth through 1994, during which time he directed 21 productions, including musicals and contemporary and classic plays. Under his leadership, the Playhouse has won more than 300 theatre awards, including the 1993 Tony Award as America's Outstanding Regional Theatre. McAnuff returned as Artistic Director of the Playhouse in 2001. Productions directed by McAnuff during his first tenure at the Playhouse include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Playhouse 1994, Broadway 1995, five Tony Award nominations), The Who's Tommy (director as well as co-author with Pete Townshend; Playhouse 1992, Broadway 1993, Tony Award Best Director of a Musical, London Olivier Award Best Director 1994), A Walk in the Woods (Playhouse 1987, Broadway 1988, Moscow and Lithuania 1989-90) and Big River (Playhouse 1984, Broadway 1985, seven Tony Awards including Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical). Recent productions directed at the Playhouse include the workshop production of Zhivago (2005); Palm Beach (2005); Private Fittings (2005); Tom Donaghy's Eden Lane (2003); Moliere's Tartuffe (2002) starring Jefferson Mays; Dracula, The Musical (2001; Broadway 2004); and Michael Ondaatje's The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (2001), for which he also composed the score. McAnuff's first feature film was 1998's Cousin Bette, starring Jessica Lange. In 1999, he produced the critically acclaimed Warner Bros. film Iron Giant, which went on to win nine 1999 Annie Awards from the International Animation Society and a 1999 BAFTA Award from the British Academy. In 2001, McAnuff directed The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, starring Robert DeNiro, Jason Alexander and Rene Russo. He also served as executive producer for Quills, which was named Best Picture by the National Board of Review. The McAnuff-helmed Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, which was produced at La Jolla Playhouse in 2004 and went to Broadway in 2005, received a 2005 Tony Award before embarking on a sold to capacity national tour in 2006. McAnuff’s latest Broadway production, Jersey Boys (La Jolla Playhouse 2004), a critically-acclaimed new musical based on the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, recently received four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk nominations, six Outer Critics Circle nominations and was voted Best Musical by the Drama League. In May 2006, McAnuff was presented the Drama League Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing. McAnuff will direct two more productions in the upcoming season at La Jolla Playhouse: a reimagining of The Wiz and a Page To Stage Workshop Production of Aaron Sorkin’s new play, The Farnsworth Invention. His production of the world premiere musical Zhivago opened the season. In April 2007, McAnuff will assume the newly created role of Director Emeritus at La Jolla Playhouse as he steps into a new position as an Artistic Director at Canada’s Stratford Festival.

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE has received more than 300 awards for theatre excellence, including the 1993 Tony® Award as America’s Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in La Jolla, California, the Playhouse is nationally acclaimed for its innovative productions of classics, new plays and musicals. Led by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, artistic director; Steven Libman, managing director; and Shirley Fishman, associate artistic director, the Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer. More than 30 Playhouse productions have moved to Broadway, garnering 27 Tony Awards, including Big River, The Who’s Tommy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Walk in the Woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dracula, the Musical, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, the Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife, fostered as part of the Playhouse’s Page To Stage New Play Development Program and the currently running Jersey Boys, the smash hit musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Visit lajollaplayhouse.org.

Updated On: 8/1/06 at 09:13 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 9:26am

Karine Plantadit is one of the most exciting dancers I've ever seen. Brilliant in MOVIN' OUT.

[Blue J]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:09pm

Not sure if this has been posted or if this is the place to post it, but it looks like there is a new logo for The Wiz:

Updated On: 8/2/06 at 06:09 PM