WIZ Revival Casting Rumors....- Page 2

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:36am

Yeah she would be way to old to play Dorothy, maybe Glinda or whatever they call the good witch in Wiz.

[fairygodmother]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:12am

oh god, just imagine how fab it would be to watch savion glover tap his way through slide some oil!can he sing tho?

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:38am

Paris Bennett is perfect for Dorothy, she's got the voice for the score in this show.

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:50am

I still think Anika Noni Rose (Caroline or Change, Encore's Purlie, Dreamgirls movie) would be PERFECT Dorothy!

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:12pm

I was thinking the same thing Jim but I didn't know how to spell her name so I kept my mouth shut.



Yeah Savion and Mos Def would be interchangable between Scarecrow and Tin Man. I just think his loose style would work better as Scarecrow. He's too loose body wise when he taps to play Tin Man.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:34pm

Anika Noni Rose and Heather Headley are my top choices.

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:34pm

Paris Bennett or Nikki M James as Dorothy
Matt Morrison or Curtis Holbrook as Tin Man
Chester Gregory II as Lion
Cheyenne Jackson MAYBE as Scarecrow..can't think of a perfect fit
Mary Bond Davis or Sharon Wilkins as Evilene
The good witch who sings Believe....dunno..

And as long as Jen Cody is a Munchkin, I'll be happy

[thejcm]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:40pm

Paris Bennett would need some serious acting lessons before playing this part if she wanted. She's played the part before and while her singing was really good for being 14 (though needing work, and she's improved SO much) her acting was laughable.

That said, she was 14 and her voice is absolutely perfect now, so get that girl an acting coach and I'm behind her for the part.

Although, Marcy Harriell is my first choice.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:42pm

Okay, seriously I have to ask all of you who keep throwing up names like Heather Headley and Marcy Harriell...

Why do you all want a Dorothy who is in her thirties?

The character in the stage production of THE WIZ is a LITTLE GIRL and Stephanie Mills was still a teenager when she played it in the original production.

Even Anika Noni Rose is too old for it.

[theatahguy]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:52pm

then get this chick--

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CfI_2CMc1og&search=jamia

[shermanslave]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:58pm

I was kidding about the American Idol people, people. Yuck.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:02pm

I watched those clips of Paris Bennett as Dorothy in her high school production of THE WIZ and while her acting of the songs is just hilarious (talk about indicating!)her singing is superb and with a great director she'd probably be much improved.

[thejcm]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:07pm

MB, that's what I was talking about, but you know how they are about mentioning that site here.

Anyway, as far as Marcy Harriell, that's just wishful thinking (at least on my part). I know that Dorothy needs to be young, but aside from Paris I can't think of anyone young enough to do it.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:10pm

I'm sure there are great unknowns out there who could do it in a heartbeat.

Interestingly, when they were casting originally, the role came down to Stephanie Mills and (a very young) Irene Cara, so maybe they'll audition Lisa Tucker.

[theatahguy]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:39pm

love me some irene cara....wouldn't THAT have been a blast!!!

[scooter38432]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:39pm

I wish...

ANIKA NONI ROSE as Dorothy.


Oh, and keep Vanessa Williams away from any stage! Gorgeous, but painfully mediocre.

Whoopi as Evilene?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:48pm

and Mills' original standby was Arnetia Walker...who later played Lorelle in the Dreamgirls Revival. It'd be interesting to see Anika play the roles in reverse order!

[thejcm]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 3:03pm

I totally didn't know about Irene Cara, I love that girl. Of course, she's not quite the singer Stephanie is, it still would've been amazing, I think.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 3:34am

I agree with MichaelBennett..

This role is supposed to be a teenager. People like Nikki and Marcie and Heather and Anika are wayyyyy too old.

I say get Tiffany Evans. I don't know if any of you know her, but she is the dynamo with the huge voice who won Star Search. (You can see her here: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/star_search/video/episode04/junior01.html) I believe she is about 13 or 14 now, so she would be perfect.

Paris Bennett would be great (she is a little old but looks young enough.) Unfortunately, she is commited to the American Idol tour, so wouldn't be able to do it even if she wanted to.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 5:33am

that tiffany evans girl gets on my damn nerves. i want to hear her sing soft and see what it sounds like.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 7:18am

somethingwicked, how do you figure Paris Bennett is too old? The girl is only 17, maybe 18 now.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 11:10am

Stop speculating. Nikki James has been announced as Dorothy.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 11:36am

Where are these clips of Paris as Dorthy? I searched You Tube but didn't find it.

[IheartJ-TAGS]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 11:42am

As Des McAnuff was leaving the August Wilson, Tituss Burgess was signing autographs and Des loudly said that he would be playing the lion in "The Wiz."

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 1:48pm

I want a revival right now with anika noni rose!