The cast of Broadway's The Wiz eased on down the road to NPR's offices for a Tiny Desk Concert, bringing special performances of some of the Charlie Smalls score's most loved tunes. Watch above.
On hand for the concert were Nichelle Lewis, who stars as Dorothy; Melody A. Betts, the revival's Aunt Em and Evilene; Alan Mingo, Jr., who took over the title role last month; Kyle Ramar Freeman, starring as the Lion; Phillip Johnson Richardson, playing the Tinman; and Avery Wilson, starring as the Scarecrow. They're backed by music director Paul Byssainthe Jr. on piano, Trevor Holder on drums, and Michael Olatuja on bass.
The revival opened at the Marquis Theatre April 17 after a pre-Broadway tour, and is scheduled to continue through August 18 before hitting the road once again. Schele Williams (The Notebook) is at the helm. Choreography is by JaQuel Knight.
The Wiz, featuring a score by Smalls and a book by William F. Brown, premiered on Broadway in 1975, transforming L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel into an all-Black "super soul musical," as it was originally billed. The musical made the jump to the big screen in 1978 with a film adaptation starring Diana Ross, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Michael Jackson, and, reprising his Broadway performance as the Cowardly Lion, Ted Ross.
This new revival features additional material by 2023 Tony Award nominee Amber Ruffin, making The Wiz the comic's second theatrical outing following her work co-writing the Tony-nominated book to Broadway's Some Like It Hot with Matthew L贸pez.
Joseph Joubert is providing music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements, with dance arrangements by Adam Blackstone and Terence Vaugn, vocal arrangements by Allen Ren茅 Louis, music direction by Paul Byssainthe Jr., scenic design by Hannah Beachler, costume design by Sharen Davis, lighting design by Ryan J. O'Gara, video and projection design by Daniel Brodie, sound design by Jon Weston, wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche. Casting is by Tara Rubin and Olivia Paige West. Ralph Stan Lee serves as production stage manager.
Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss, and Todd Tucker are producing.
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Kyle Ramar Freeman, Nichelle Lewis, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Avery Wilson in The Wiz
Nichelle Lewis, Avery Wilson, and company of The Wiz
Kyle Ramar Freeman, Nichelle Lewis, Wayne Brady, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Avery Wilson
Nichelle Lewis and Melody Betts in The Wiz
Melody A. Betts and company of The Wiz
Deborah Cox in The Wiz
Phillip Johnson Richardson in The Wiz
Nichelle Lewis and Deborah Cox in The Wiz
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Company of The Wiz
Kyle Ramar Freeman, Avery Wilson, Nichelle Lewis, and Phillip Johnson Richardson in The Wiz
Deborah Cox, Nichelle Lewis, and company of The Wiz
Wayne Brady
Kyle Ramar Freeman and Nichelle Lewis in The Wiz
Wayne Brady
