WIZ Casting

So I know I know we aren't casting directors, blah blah blah, if you don't wanna play don't play

who would y'all like to see in the roles!!?? suggestions..?

Dorothy - ???
Scarecrow - Darius De Haas
Tin Man - ???
Lion - Billy Porter
Aunt Em - Roz Ryan
Adaperle - Sharon Wilkins
Gate Keeper -
Wiz - Ben Vereen
Evilene - Jennifer Holliday, Lilias White
Glinda - Stephanie Mills

Scarecrow: Michael Jackson

Oh yes. And in person she appears even younger.

---

Physically Jennifer Hudson is worng for dorothy. And Cox is a little too old.

---

Jennifer Hudson was the latest kicked off American Idol...i could see her as Effie in Dreamgirls too.

Deborah was the lion in The Wiz tribute to Michael

lol what did she do that was so spectacular?!

debrah as the lion, what did she do that made you wanna cast her as the lion in the bdway production, did she belt and growl the hell outta it, what was so special about her performance??

I agree with Ben Vareen as the Wiz and Corey Reynolds as the scarecrow. I think Heather Headley would be a really good Dorthy. I think LaToya from American Idol could pull it off too.

DeQuina Moore from Little Shop of Horrors should be Dorothy! I'd love to see her star in that.

i wish billy would do it - but he won't
his ass needs to be back on broadway!

---

I ADORE Diana Degarmo. Not sure if she could handle the role (although I know very little about this show. Also, is it written specifically for Dorothy in The Wiz to be played by a black performer?

"The Wiz" was originally conceived as a black version of "The Wizard of Oz" with an R&B/ gospel score. The entire original cast, composer, director, choreographer et al were black, as was the look and sensibility of the show. For example, the Yellow Brick Road was personified by four brothers with huge yellow afros, hip yellow costumes and large yellow canes (they acted as silent sentries on the journey and Dorothy, Scarecrow etc "eased on down the road" by dancing between and around them).

The revival apparently may include a multiracial cast, which potentially could undermine the whole purpose of the show if not handled properly. After all, if you want to have a white Dorothy, then why not just get the rights for the stage adaptation of the 1939 film version? I suppose it's not as crucial that the Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman be played by black actors since they are heavily made up anyway (although there was never a moment's doubt as to the ethnicity of the original cast's Ted Ross, Hinton Battle and Tiger Haynes). But, IMO, casting Dorothy, Aunt Em, The Wiz, perhaps even Evilene, et al with anyone other than black actors, fundamentally alters the show, and not for the better.

---

Updated On: 4/26/04 at 02:54 AM

Dequina Moore as Dorothy!!!

and, agree with leo, well said, margo!