The Wiz returning to Bway in 2023 after National Tour

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 10:58am

It's happening!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-WIZ-Will-Return-to-Broadway-in-2023-Following-National-Tour-20221201

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:03am

Tour in Fall 2023, Broadway in spring 2024.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:12am

FINALLY!!!!

 

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:16am

Maybe this will reopen The Palace?

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:17am

My inner child is very happy. Let’s dream cast?

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:30am

I was hoping for a lavish/immersive Wiz revival but knowing this production is made to tour has me worried. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 11:43am

The set is being designed by Hannah Beachler, who did the Black Panther films. this is gonna be a showwwww

[Alex M]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 12:07pm

Dream Cast:

Jai'len Christine Li Josey as Dorthy 

Alex Newell as Evillene (If they are done with Shucked)

Jaquel Spivey as The Lion

Myles Frost as The Scarecrow or Tin Man

Updated On: 12/1/22 at 12:07 PM

[The8re phan]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 12:11pm

Alex M said: "Dream Cast:

Alex Newell as Evillene (If they are done with Shucked)"

Thank you, now I can't unsee this.........

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 12:14pm

I want John-Andrew Morrison as the Lion

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 12:15pm

My inner child is happy as well. I am really looking forward to this. I saw the short lived 1984 revival and really came to love this show more than its misguided 1978 film adaptation. Contrary to what the BWW article announcing this engagement would have you believe, the original 1975 production was not an overnight sensation. It struggled, and it was almost closed a week after it opened. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 12:53pm

Yeah, knowing this is going to be designed with a tour in mind is not thrilling. The original had great design and the film had ICONIC visual language. We'll see.

Jai'Len would be great, but she's not interested in doing Broadway at the moment. On top of gearing up for first album she's placed songs with pretty big R&B names through her publishing deal. Hailey Kilgore would also be great, but she has a TV show and is also trying to be an artist.

I think they should do a nationwide search and find someone new. Have an ASIB moment.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 1:56pm

Well, it’s original Broadway home will be available by then. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 2:12pm

I'm not falling for this after the Wiz Live on NBC didn't live up to it's precursor for a Broadway revivial with Cirque Du Solei

[troynow]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 2:20pm

Well I am all in. The previous productions you mentioned were not approved by the estate and were shut down for Broadway transfer. 

I understand this production has already been approve and has a Broadway home on hold already. 

While I am told it is the Lunt it was wisely pointed out that the Majestic will be out of renovation by that time.

 

Also, I love the model, tour the show, make a little money, pay the investors come in to Broadway kinks worked out. That is a smart producing team. 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 2:24pm

troynow said: "Also, I love the model, tour the show, make a little money, pay the investors come in to Broadway kinks worked out. That is a smart producing team."

That's what a lot of shows used to do...the original runs of Oliver and Angela Lansbury's Gypsy come to mind. 

[Tag]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 3:07pm

This is a 'we'll believe it when we see it' announcement.

But if it happens, I'd love to see Fantasia as Evillene (but she'll hopefully be busy in early 2024 with Oscar stuff)

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 3:27pm

Who is producing? At one point it was Shubert and Neil Meron, and at some point I believe Brian Moreland also joined the team. 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:15pm

Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, and Ambassador Theatre Group are producing.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:22pm

Tag said: "This is a 'we'll believe it when we see it' announcement.

But if it happens, I'd love to see Fantasia as Evillene (but she'll hopefully be busy in early 2024 with Oscar stuff)"

Also, much too small a role, especially if Color Purple is well received.

I saw this in 1975 and loved it.  I have seen it several times since and have always been underwhelmed.  I have often felt that The Wiz opened at the right time.  Subsequent productions seem dated and highlighted the fact that the score is not great, although there are some good songs.  Unless they pull out all the stops and have incredible staging and production values, I will be really surprised if this is a hit.

If anyone questions whether it has dated badly, you just have to remember what you thought of the production on TV 5 or so years ago.  It was awful, and the source material was a sizable part of the blame.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:26pm

Omg i'd love Jaquel as The Lion. Off the top of my head..
Storm Lever or Celia Rose Gooding - Dorthy 
Jelani Alladin - The Tinman 
Sasha Allen - Evillene 
LaChanze - Glinda
Billy Porter - The Wiz
 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:28pm

I like the idea of a newcomer as Dorothy with solid names in the supporting roles, but I guess one of the issues with this production model is negotiating who actually is willing to tour.  
Putting that aside, Myles Frost would be a cute hat tip to MJ as the Scarecrow, and I’ve been wondering what other roles he may do after leaving the show (if he continues in theater). 
 

Spitballing my Dreamcast:
Tiffany Mann could be an excellent Dorothy. 
I’d LOVE to have Tichina Arnold back as Evilene. 
Mykal Kilgore and James Monroe Iglehart would be great as Tin Man and Lion.
LaChanze or Patina Miller for Glinda? 
Brandon Victor Dixon as The Wiz

edit - YES! Sasha Allen would be amazing too. I would really love Billy Porter to stay far away from this. 

Aunt Em could be rotated with stunt casting? (starting with Stephanie Mills, Patti La Belle&hellip

Updated On: 12/1/22 at 04:28 PM

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:29pm

Lizzo as Evillene…really no other way 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:30pm

If only she wasnt going to be on a world tour at the exact same time. Lizzo would kill that role 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 12/1/22 at 4:34pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "If only she wasnt going to be on a world tour at the exact same time. Lizzo would kill that role"

She’s going back out next fall? I need to get tickets!

Really excited to see that Jaquel Knight is choreographing. 

Updated On: 12/1/22 at 04:34 PM