WIZ...traditional casting/non traditional for revival

mixed ethnicities...

though if Dequina Moore doesn't get Dorothy, I will have a FIT

I am pleased that the book will be updated and, one would assume, the orchestrations/arrangements

Thank you MTheatreman cause i was about to post a long reply about other races and broadway and you hit it on the nail.

The original Australian production of The Wiz (1976) had black principals with a white chorus. As Australia, at that time had no real black population to speak of, and three imports were brought in for the show. The other principals were actors who had originally come over for Hair years prior and stayed. The Dorothy role was played by a young Andrea Frierson (Once On This Island) and the Timan was Victor Willis (original lead singer from The Village People). In all other respects it was the same as the original Broadway production. This black/whie casting worked well.

What about a multi-cultured Wizard of OZ?

I think the original intent of the The Wiz was to fill a void. Giving blacks a chance to take part in a story that wasn't traditionally written for them. I'm all for multi-cultural casting as long as the best actors are given the roles (as it should always be) and not just because producers want a multi-cultural cast. Whoever is in the show has got to have soul. Not like those painted up "Nubians" singing in Aida.

Uh oh... here we go again with this topic.

I think that they should hire the best persons for the role. It should not matter what color they are. And that is my opinion.

"though if Dequina Moore doesn't get Dorothy, I will have a FIT"


hmm, I hate to break it to you, but i'm pretty sure Marcy Harriel is already set to play Dorothy!! but please don't have a fit because Marcy is very good =)
Can I ask who Dequina Moore is?

To answer the question, mixed casting is usually more interesting to me, but, either way I thin kits a good show!!!

Princess, stuff happens and people announced for roles don't neccessarily play that role when the show opens.. I wish no ill to Marcy whatsoever, but I would like to see Dequina.


Dequina is currently an urchin in Little Shop

"[i] have a strong inclination that "[t]he [w]iz" wasn't written for white people."

so by your logic of that statement then i suppose that no african american should ever play another part in a shakespeare production anywhere? what about chekov? strindberg? i mean why should they? i can guarantee yout hat thos eparts were not written for "black people."

how would it sound if i was to say that a show should not cast anyone but irish men even if those parts could clearly be played by actors of any nationality or gender? this is a ridiculously simple minded and racist statement that does a disservice to the cause you are trying to serve.

on top of that, inclination is poorly used in the sentence bordering on misused.

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Updated On: 2/28/04 at 07:17 PM

I'd love to see an all-Black cast, but the rumor is that the show will be mixed.

"on top of that, inclination is poorly used in the sentence bordering on misused."

I'm sorry I'm not as up to par as you are on your grammer/vocabulary usage,papa.

Calling me racist doesn't do anything for the both of us---and on the topic of your logic about Shakespeare, etc..Shakespeare and The Wiz are of two very different genres. Any trained actor- black or white can be wonderful in any Shakespeare play. But not every white girl with a great voice can belt out "Home" like Stephanie Mills can, or with the soul that can be brought to it by a black singer. I admit, I am stereotyping, and there are exceptions to almost every rule. But generally speaking, black and white women have different tones to their voices. It sounds terribly racist, I admit, but I don't think an all white cast can showcase "The Wiz" like an all black cast can. At least I go into details supporting my decision. What I recieve back is someone calling me racist. I understand how one can view that comment as a racist one, but that wasn't my intention and I apologize if the point I'm trying to make isn't coming along very clear.

i understand what you are say billy and i agree with you!!! and no i dont think what you said is racist. i am black and i was not offended by what you said :)

traditional