The Wiz

The Wiz is a musical adaptation of the classic Wizard of Oz story, based on the book by L. Frank Baum. Featuring music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and a book by William F Brown, the show uses the context of African-American culture to shed a different light on the classic story. The original production featured an all-black cast and was one of the first mainstream Broadway musicals to do so. The show became popular on Broadway, and a film version was later created staring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Although this was a commercial and critical failure, it became a cult classic and allowed the musical to live on through to the next generation. The show has been revived numerous times although a full scale London production is yet to be produced.

The Wiz

Charlie Smalls

Charlie Smalls

William F. Brown

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Ken Harper

Geoffrey Holder

George Faison

Productions
The Wiz Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Majestic Theatre, The Broadway Theatre - Opened 5 Jan 1975, closed 28 Jan 1979, 1672 performances

Cast: Tiger Haynes, Ted Ross, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Clarice Taylor, Mabel King, Andre De Shields, Tasha Thomas & DeeDee Bridgewater

The Wiz Broadway Revival

Broadway Revival

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Opened 24 May 1984, closed 3 Jun 1984



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Dorothy lives on a farm in Kansas with her Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, and dog, Toto, but she wants to see more of the world, despite her family’s protestations that she has everything she needs at home. An unexpected “Tornado” lifts the house with Dorothy and Toto inside it. The house lands in Oz, where Dorothy meets Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North. Dorothy’s house has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her and freeing the Munchkins who she had enslaved.

Dorothy wants to return home, and Addaperle advises that she visit the Wizard of Oz, as he will be the only person who could help (“He’s the Wizard”). She gives Dorothy the Wicked Witch’s silver shoes to protect her from danger, and advises her to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City where the Wizard lives. On the way she meets a scarecrow in search of a brain, a tin man who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who lacks courage. Together, they “Ease on Down the Road” to ask the Wizard for help.

They finally see the Emerald City in the distance, but a field of poppies put Dorothy and the Lion to sleep. Not being mortals, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow are unaffected and together with some Field Mice they move Dorothy and the Lion to safety. They arrive at the Emerald City and are forced to wear green-tinted glasses. The inhabitants are snooty and look down at the group until they spot Dorothy’s shoes and send them straight to the Wizard.

The Wizard appears in a variety of forms, each one more terrifying than the last (“So You Wanted to See the Wizard”). Dorothy and her friends ask him to grant their wishes, and he agrees only if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West, Evillene. The group feel the task is impossible, but nevertheless they set off in search of her. Evillene has enslaved the Wikies, and when she sees Dorothy and her companions are coming, she sends her winged “Funky Monkeys” to kill them. They pull the stuffing out of the Scarecrow and bash the Tin Man on rocks, but because of Dorothy’s shoes they do not dare to hurt her and bring her and the Lion to the Witch.

Evillene forces Dorothy to clean the castle, and begins torturing the Lion. Finally, Dorothy is fed up and throws a bucket of water at Evillene. To her surprise, the witch melts into nothing. The Winkies are ecstatic at being freed and repair the Tin Man and Scarecrow (“Everybody Rejoice”).

The group heads back to the Wizard, who says he won’t grant their wishes after all. The Lion is furious and tries to attack him. He accidentally knocks over a screen which reveals the Wizard is just an ordinary man. Everyone is furious, but the Wizard assures them that they have already shown the values they sought to possess in their adventure (“Believe in Yourself”). He agrees to fly Dorothy back home in his hot air balloon, but at the last moment the balloon gets loose, leaving Dorothy and Toto behind.

Addaperle reappears to advise Dorothy to seek Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, who may be able to help her. Glinda is a powerful sorceress, but tells Dorothy she has always had the power to go home if she believed it (“If You Believe”). After saying goodbye to her new friends, she clicks her heels three times and returns “Home.”

Songs

Act I 

  • Prologue
  • Feeling We Once Had, The
  • Tornado
  • He’s The Wizard
  • Soon As I Get Home
  • I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday
  • Ease On Down The Road
  • Slide Some Oil To Me
  • I’m A Mean Ole Lion
  • Be A Lion
  • So You Wanted To See The Wizard
  • What Would I Do If I Could Feel
Act II 
  • Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News
  • Everybody Rejoice
  • Y’All Got It!
  • If You Believe
  • Home (Finale)

Song list for the Movie Version

  • Universal Logo
  • Wiz
  • Home
  • Believe In Yourself
  • He’s The Wizard
  • Is This What Feeling Gets? – (Dorothy’s theme)
  • Home
  • Aunt Em
  • Feeling That We Have, The
  • Can I Go On?
  • Glinda’s Theme
  • He’s The Wizard
  • March Of The Munchkins
  • Soon As I Get Home
  • Home
  • You Can’t Win
  • Ease On Down The Road – (#1)
  • What Would I Do If I Could Feel?
  • Slide Some Oil To Me
  • Now Watch Me Dance
  • Ease On Down The Road – (#2)
  • Mean Ole Lion, (I’m A)
  • Ease On Down The Road
  • Poppy Girls
  • Home Medley:
  • Be A Lion
  • End Of The Yellow Brick Road
  • Green
  • Red
  • Gold
  • So You Wanted To See The Wizard
  • Sorry Phoney, A
  • Is This What Feeling Gets? (Dorothy’s Theme)
  • Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News
  • Liberation Agitato
  • Brand New Day, A
  • Liberation Ballet
  • Dorothy’s Intro
  • Good Witch Glinda, The
  • Believe In Yourself (Reprise)
Awards

1975 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress, Best Featured Actor, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design.

Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

 

 

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