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{{short description|1974 musical based on the 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox Musical
| name = The Wiz
| subtitle = The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
| image = The Wiz (original cast recording - album cover).jpg
| caption = Original Cast Recording
| music = [[Charlie Smalls]]<br />Timothy Graphenreed<br />[[Harold Wheeler (musician)|Harold Wheeler]]<br />[[George Faison]]<br />[[Luther Vandross]]
| lyrics = Charlie Smalls<br />Zachary Walzer<br />Luther Vandross<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2009/02/20/ae/picks/doc499f43b56eb22687123341.txt |title=Las Vegas CityLife |access-date=2011-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127145851/http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2009/02/20/ae/picks/doc499f43b56eb22687123341.txt |archive-date=2013-01-27 }}</ref>
| book = [[William F. Brown (writer)|William F. Brown]]
| basis = ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''<br /> by [[L. Frank Baum]]
| productions = 1974 Detroit tryout<br />1974 Philadelphia tryout<br />1975 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]<br />1976 US tour<br />1978 [[The Wiz (film)|Film]]<br />1984 Broadway [[Revival (theatre)|revival]]<br />2022 Mexico City<br >2023 US tour<br />2024 Broadway revival<br />2025 US tour
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->| awards = [[Tony Award for Best Musical]]<br />[[Tony Award for Best Original Score]]
| image_size = 
}}
[[File:Stephanie Mills Performing in April 2017 at the Detroit Opera House.jpg|thumb|[[Stephanie Mills]] (pictured in 2017) played Dorothy in the original 1975 Broadway musical ''The Wiz''.]]

'''''The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"''''' is a [[Musical theatre|musical]] with music and lyrics by [[Charlie Smalls]] (and others) and book by [[William F. Brown (writer)|William F. Brown]]. It is a retelling of [[L. Frank Baum]]'s children's novel ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'' (1900) in the context of contemporary [[African-American culture]]. It opened on October 21, 1974, at the [[Morris A. Mechanic Theatre]] in [[Baltimore]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=R. H. |title='Wiz' fun at times but doesn't whiz |newspaper=The Sun (Baltimore) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun/87242734/ |date=22 October 1974 |page=B-1|access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> and moved to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]'s [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]]<ref>This was not the same [[Majestic Theatre (Columbus Circle)|Majestic Theatre]] that played ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1902 stage play)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' in 1903, which was on [[Columbus Circle]], where [[Time Warner Center]] now stands.</ref> with a new cast on January 5, 1975.

The 1975 Broadway production won seven [[Tony Award]]s, including [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]. It was an early example of Broadway's mainstream acceptance of works with an all-Black cast. It has had revivals in New York, [[London]], [[San Diego]], and the [[Netherlands]], and a limited-run revival was presented by [[Encores!]] at [[New York City Center]] in June 2009. A big-budget [[The Wiz (film)|film adaptation of the same name]] was released in 1978, with [[Ted Ross]] and [[Mabel King]] reprising their stage roles. ''[[The Wiz Live!]]'', a television production of the stage musical, was broadcast on [[NBC]] in December 2015.

==Production history==
===Development and Broadway===
The idea for the musical originated with producer Ken Harper. He replaced the original director, [[Gilbert Moses]], with [[Geoffrey Holder]] in [[Detroit]] during out-of-town [[tryout (theatre)|tryouts]]. As cast member [[André De Shields]], who played the [[Wizard of Oz (character)|title role]], later wrote, "It was Geoffrey's masterful people skills and embrace of magical realism that metamorphosed ''The Wiz'' from caterpillar to butterfly."<ref name = "De Shields">{{cite web|website=Performing Arts Legacy|first=Andre|last=De Shields|url=https://performingartslegacy.org/deshields/the-wiz/|title=Easin' On Down the Yellow Brick Road|access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref>

The original [[Baltimore]] cast included [[Stephanie Mills]] as [[Dorothy Gale]], [[Stu Gilliam]] as the [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]], [[Tiger Haynes]] as the [[Tin Woodman|Tin Man]], [[Ted Ross]] as the [[Cowardly Lion]], and [[Butterfly McQueen]] as the Queen of the Field Mice, but in a much smaller role. [[Renée Harris|Renée C. Harris]] stayed on as understudy for the role of Dorothy, as did McQueen for the role of [[Good Witch of the North (Baum)|Addaperle]].

The production was choreographed by [[George Faison]], with [[scenic design]]er Tom H. John, costumes by Geoffrey Holder, [[Lighting Design|lighting]] by [[Tharon Musser]], and orchestrations by [[Harold Wheeler (musician)|Harold Wheeler]]. Faison and Holder both won [[Tony Awards]] for [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|choreography]] and [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical|costume design]], respectively at the [[29th Tony Awards]] in 1975.

The show had a pre-[[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] tryout at the [[Fisher Building|Fisher Theatre]] in Detroit in November 1974,<ref name="De Shields"/> and at the [[Forrest Theatre]] in [[Philadelphia]] from December 11, 1974, through December 21, 1974.<ref>The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 1974, p. 27.</ref> After drawing mixed critical reviews, producer Ken Harper considered closing the musical after its Broadway opening night. One source attributes its turnaround success to a publicity campaign that included a TV commercial featuring the cast singing "[[Ease On Down the Road]]," a song that proved so popular that it was released as a single recorded by the disco group [[Consumer Rapport]];<ref>Green, Kay, ''Broadway Musicals, Show by Show'' (1996), Hal Leonard Corporation, {{ISBN|0-7935-7750-0}}, p. 241.</ref> The single hit the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Soul Singles chart]], peaking at No. 19 and the Hot 100, peaking at No. 42.<ref name= "whitburn132">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=132}}</ref>

[[William F. Brown (writer)|William F. Brown]], who wrote the [[Book musical|book]], gave a more specific explanation in 1993: "[[20th Century-Fox]], the musical's major investor, put in another $100,000 to keep it going and everyone agreed to [[royalties|royalty cuts]] until the production's cost&mdash;about $1.1 million&mdash;was recouped....By the eighth week, we were selling out."<ref>{{cite news | title= Dorothy and Wiz Hip-Hop Into the 90's | first= Alvin | last= Klein | date= February 7, 1993 | newspaper= The New York Times | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/07/nyregion/theater-dorothy-and-wiz-hip-hop-into-the-90-s.html | access-date= 2013-04-21 | url-status= live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130928180507/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/07/nyregion/theater-dorothy-and-wiz-hip-hop-into-the-90-s.html | archive-date= September 28, 2013 }}</ref>

The Broadway production moved to the [[Broadway Theatre (53rd Street)|Broadway Theatre]] on May 25, 1977, and closed on January 28, 1979, after four years and 1,672 performances.<ref name="ibdb75">{{cite web |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/3716 |title=''The Wiz'' (1975 production) |website=IBDB.com |publisher=[[Internet Broadway Database]] |access-date=2013-04-21}}</ref>

Along with other musicals including ''[[Purlie]]'' (1971) and ''[[Raisin (musical)|Raisin]]'' (1974), ''The Wiz'' was a breakthrough for Broadway, a large-scale big-budget musical featuring an all-Black cast. It laid the foundation for later African-American hits such as ''[[Bubbling Brown Sugar]]'', ''[[Dreamgirls]]'' and ''[[Sophisticated Ladies]]''.

===National tours and later revivals===
The musical toured the US in 1976<ref>{{cite web|title=The Wiz (1st National Tour, 1976)|url=http://broadwayworld.com/bwidb/productions/The_Wiz_11083/|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022045216/http://broadwayworld.com/bwidb/productions/The_Wiz_11083/|archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref> and during the tour, [[Kenneth Kamal Scott]] (then billed as "Kamal") replaced André De Shields as the Wiz, [[Renn Woods]] was cast as Dorothy but departed the tour after playing only a couple of cities because during the show's engagement at the [[Ahmanson Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles]], the 19-year-old performer was recruited for a featured part in the movie production of ''[[Hair (film)|Hair]]''. Renee C. Harris (who was in her very early 20s) took over as the tour's Dorothy and continued leading that company for a couple of years playing many engagements in cities across the country. At this time, the production also featured [[Ben Harney (actor)|Ben Harney]] as the Tin Man and Ken Prymus as the Lion. Prymus was known to audiences for his featured role as Private Seidman in the movie ''[[M*A*S*H (film)|M*A*S*H]]'' (1970) where he sang "[[Suicide Is Painless|Suicide is Painless]]". Both men were subsequently featured in other Broadway shows and were as replacements in the Broadway production of ''[[Ain't Misbehavin' (musical)|Ain't Misbehavin{{'}}]]''. Harney also originated the leading role of Curtis Taylor Jr. in the Broadway debut of ''Dreamgirls''. When Harris eventually departed the company, the tour continued with Deborah Malone in the role of Dorothy. There was also a second national touring company which was a scaled down production. This second tour opened with Malone reprising her role as Dorothy, who was later replaced by [[Lillias White]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=''The Wiz'' – Broadway Musical – 1978-1979 Tour |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/the-wiz-521721#Replacements|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref>

A revival ran on Broadway at the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]] from May 24, 1984, through June 3, 1984, closing after 13 performances and 7 previews. Directed by Geoffrey Holder, the cast featured [[Stephanie Mills]] as Dorothy. It then ran in [[London]] at the [[Lyric Hammersmith]] from December 11, 1984, through February 2, 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chronology of London Shows |url=http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/london_shows_chronology/1984.htm |publisher=The Guide to Musical Theatre |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212234253/http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/london_shows_chronology/1984.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> A planned 2004 Broadway revival<ref>{{cite web|last=Simonson |first=Robert |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-wiz-to-get-new-broadway-revival-in-2004-mcanuff-to-direct-com-112547 |title=''The Wiz'' to Get New Broadway Revival in 2004; McAnuff to Direct |date=April 9, 2003 |website=Playbill |access-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref> was not produced.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.broadway.com/Des-McAnuff-Tapped-for-Dodgers-Wiz-Revival/broadway_news/27133 |title=Des McAnuff Tapped for Dodgers Wiz Revival |website=Broadway.com |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090305051947/http://www.broadway.com/Des-McAnuff-Tapped-for-Dodgers-Wiz-Revival/broadway_news/27133 |archive-date=2009-03-05 |access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref>

In August 2015, George Faison presented ''The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music,'' performances of the original songs and choreography in honor of the Broadway hits 40th Anniversary at Summerstage in [[New York City]]. A number of members of the original Broadway cast returned for this celebratory run. Actress [[Phylicia Rashad]], a munchkin and swing in the original production, co-hosted the performance with George Faison. André De Shields reprised his original role as the Wiz; [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]], [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] winner for her role as [[Glinda]], reprised her original role; Evelyn Thomas reprised her original role as the Tornado and Ebony Jo-Ann who played Addaperle in the Broadway revival of the production reprised her role as well. Singer-songwriter Wallace Gary joined the cast as the Scarecrow. Damien L. Sneed acted as the musical director and conductor of ''The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/event/summerstage-the-wiz-a-celebration-in-dance-and-music/ |title=City Parks FoundationThe Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music - City Parks Foundation |website=www.cityparksfoundation.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724113709/http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/event/summerstage-the-wiz-a-celebration-in-dance-and-music/ |archive-date=24 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

From 1996 to 1997 there was a US concert version tour with [[Tasha Scott]] as Dorothy, [[Grace Jones]] as [[Wicked Witch of the West|Evillene]], [[Peabo Bryson]] as The Wiz, and [[CeCe Peniston]] as Glinda. The cast also featured [[Tony Terry]] as the Tin Man and Romelda Benjamin as [[Aunt Em]].

A North American tour, directed by Schele Williams with new material by [[Amber Ruffin]], launched in the fall of 2023 in Baltimore with plans to transfer to Broadway for a limited engagement in spring 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2022-12-01 |title='The Wiz' Sets 2024 Broadway Return With New Material By Amber Ruffin |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/the-wiz-broadway-return-2024-amber-ruffin-1235185986/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> The Broadway revival opened at the [[Marquis Theatre]] on April 17, 2024 with previews beginning March 29, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=September 25, 2023 |title=''The Wiz'' Sets 2024 Broadway Dates, Theatre; Get a 1st Look at the New Production |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-wiz-sets-2024-broadway-dates-theatre-get-a-1st-look-at-the-new-production |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=''The Wiz'' (Broadway, Marquis Theatre, 2024) | website=Playbill | date=September 25, 2023 | url=https://playbill.com/production/the-wiz-broadway-marquis-theatre-2024 | access-date=April 12, 2024 | archive-date=April 5, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405154800/https://www.playbill.com/production/the-wiz-broadway-marquis-theatre-2024 | url-status=live }}</ref> The production concluded its limited engagement on August 18, 2024 after 18 preview performances and 142 regular performances.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tran |first1=Diep |last2=Culwell-Block |first2=Logan |date=August 18, 2024 |title=''The Wiz'' Concludes Limited Broadway Engagement August 18 |url=https://playbill.com/article/the-wiz-concludes-limited-broadway-engagement-august-18 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=Playbill}}</ref> The tour then resumed performances beginning February 2025 starring [[Alan Mingo Jr.]] and [[Mykal Kilgore]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=2024-01-23 |title=''The Wiz'' Will Tour After Coming to Broadway |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-wiz-will-tour-after-coming-to-broadway |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/the-wiz-542330 ''The Wiz'' Tour] IBDB, Retrieved August 24, 2025</ref>

===Other productions===
An Australian production for [[J. C. Williamson's|J. C. Williamson Theatres Limited]] played in [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] from January–October 1976; starring Andrea Frierson (Dorothy), [[Victor Willis]] (Tin Man), Freddie Paris (Lion), Chuck McKinney (The Wiz) and Robert Ellis (Scarecrow). Upon his return from Australia in late 1976, Victor Willis joined the cast of the original Broadway production.<ref>Williamson J.&nbsp;C. Theatres Ltd., official program, May 1, 1976.</ref>

Flymonkey Productions (London) ran two shows. The first one was in 2000 which received great reviews and a second was run the following year in 2001 receiving exceptional reviews from the London press. Both productions were run at the [[Hackney Empire]]. The 2001 show was particularly notable because it was the last show to be performed at the Hackney Empire before the theatre closed its doors for refurbishment. Both shows were directed by Jamie Hinde; musical director Steve White (both shows); production manager Andy Barnes (both shows); choreography by Suzannah Howlett (2000) and Juliet Vibert (2001, also appeared as a dancer in both shows). The production starred [[Tamsier Joof]] (both shows); [[Rustie Lee]] (both shows); [[Sharon D. Clarke]] (2000), [[Victoria Wilson-James]] (2001), and Kat Boyce of [[MTV (British and Irish TV channel)|MTV]] (both shows).<ref>"The Wiz" : Review of the show in the [[London Evening Standard]] by Max Bell, published May 1, 2001 {{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-wiz-7434643.html |title=''The Wiz'' |date=10 April 2012 |access-date= 2018-04-03 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170814145012/https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-wiz-7434643.html |archive-date= 2017-08-14 }} retrieved March 31, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite interview| url= http://www.dmcworld.net/features/victoria-wilson-james/ | title= Victoria Wilson James | work= DMC World Magazine |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20170923101053/http://www.dmcworld.net/features/victoria-wilson-james/ |archivedate=2017-09-23| interviewer = | date= June 20, 2017}}</ref>

A production ran at the [[La Jolla Playhouse]], [[San Diego]], from September 26, 2006, through November 12, 2006, receiving good reviews and extending its run by three weeks. It was directed by [[Des McAnuff]], who, with Harold Wheeler, orchestrator of the original Broadway version, revised the musical for contemporary audiences. It starred [[Nikki M. James]] (Dorothy), E. Faye Butler (Evelline) and [[David Alan Grier]] (The Wiz), and featured sets by Robert Brill.<ref>{{cite web|last=Portantiere|first=Michael|title=Brady, Burgess, Grier, James, Pettiford, Washington to Star in La Jolla's ''The Wiz''|url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/07-2006/brady-burgess-grier-james-pettiford-washington-to_8690.html|website=TheaterMania|access-date=16 November 2012|date=25 July 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524051510/http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/07-2006/brady-burgess-grier-james-pettiford-washington-to_8690.html|archive-date=24 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stevens|first=Rob|title=''The Wiz''|url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/reviews/10-2006/the-wiz_9223.html|website=TheaterMania|access-date=16 November 2012|date=12 October 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524045953/http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/reviews/10-2006/the-wiz_9223.html|archive-date=24 May 2009}}</ref>

Dodger Productions holds US rights to revive the musical, while [[Joop Van den Ende]]'s Stage Entertainment holds the European rights.<ref name=joop>{{cite web|last=Lampert-Gréaux|first=Ellen|title=Wiz Kids|url=http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/wiz_kids/|publisher=Live Design|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129070718/http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/wiz_kids/|archive-date=29 January 2013}}</ref> [[Stage Entertainment]] mounted a full-scale production at the Beatrix Theater in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], Netherlands, in 2006. The production was directed by Glenn Casale and choreographed by [[Anthony Van Laast]] and featured sets by [[David Gallo]].<ref name= joop/>

[[New York City Center]]'s [[Encores!]] Summer Stars series production ran June 12 through July 5, 2009. The production was directed by [[Thomas Kail]] and choreographed by [[Andy Blankenbuehler]]. It starred [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]] as Dorothy, [[Tichina Arnold]] as Evillene, [[Dawnn Lewis]] as Addaperle, [[Joshua Henry]] as the Tin Man, [[James Monroe Iglehart]] as the Lion, [[Orlando Jones]] (succeeded by [[Colman Domingo]]) as The Wiz, and [[LaChanze]] as Aunt Em and Glinda.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gans|first=Andrew|title=''The Wiz'' Ends Limited City Center Engagement July 5|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/the-wiz-ends-limited-city-center-engagement-july-5-com-162440#|date=July 5, 2009|magazine=Playbill|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref>

A major British revival of the musical was produced in 2011 by the [[Birmingham Rep|Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] (however performed at the [[New Alexandra Theatre]] due to The REP's refurbishment)<ref>{{cite web |title=''The Wiz'' at Birmingham Repertory Theatre|url=http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/event/the-wiz|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118203320/http://birmingham-rep.co.uk/event/the-wiz |archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref> in a co-production with the [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]], re-locating Kansas to present day [[Birmingham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-wiz-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds/ |title=''The Wiz'' – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds |website=The Public Reviews |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509025222/http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-wiz-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds/ |archive-date=2013-05-09 }}</ref> This production was directed by [[Josette Bushell-Mingo]], with choreography by [[Paul J. Medford]].

The first German-speaking production was produced in [[Linz]], Austria in the new Musiktheater Linz,<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Wiz'' at Musiktheater Linz| date=15 February 2013 |url=http://www.musicalzentrale.de/index.php?service=0&subservice=2&details=5231 |access-date=5 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913180851/http://www.musicalzentrale.de/index.php?service=0&subservice=2&details=5231 |archive-date=13 September 2013}}</ref> directed and choreographed by Kim Duddy.

The Fiddlehead Theatre Company, in the historic [[Strand Theatre (Dorchester, Massachusetts)|Strand Theatre]] in [[Dorchester, Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], mounted a production, directed by Stacey Stephens, Fiddlehead Theatre Company's associate producing artistic director, in February 2015.<ref>{{Cite news| last = Harding| first = Chris| title = Along the Nile, Strand-style: 'AIDA' opens Oct. 17 at the theatre; Dot residents get a break| work = Dorchester Reporter| access-date = 2014-10-09| date = 2014-10-08| url = http://www.dotnews.com/2014/along-nile-strand-style-aida-opens-friday-theatre-dot-residents-get-br| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015091159/http://www.dotnews.com/2014/along-nile-strand-style-aida-opens-friday-theatre-dot-residents-get-br| archive-date = 2014-10-15}}</ref>

A production ran at [[The Muny]] from June 19–25, 2018. It starred [[Nathan Lee Graham]] as The Wiz, [[James T. Lane]] as Tinman, [[Darius de Haas]] as Lion, [[Demetria McKinney]] as Glinda, and newcomers Danyel Fulton and Jared Grimes as Dorothy and Scarecrow, respectively. It was directed by Denis Jones and choreographed by [[Camille A. Brown]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-30 |title=Everybody Rejoice! ''The Wiz'' Full Cast Announced |url=https://muny.org/everybody-rejoice-the-wiz-full-cast-announced/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=The Muny |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Hope Mill]] Theatre, [[Manchester]] mounted a production that ran from November 24, 2021, until January 16, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web| title = The Wiz| website=Hope Mill Theatre| access-date = 2022-01-30| url = https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/the-wiz| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131204513/https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/the-wiz| archive-date=January 31, 2022| url-status = dead}}</ref> with the cast including [[Tarik Frimpong]] as the Scarecrow. The production was recorded and streamed as an encore production, and performances from it were broadcast by the [[BBC]] as part of Big Night of Musicals by the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00142lm}}</ref>

A Mexican production ran from June 2023 to September 2024 at Teatro Hidalgo in [[Mexico City]] for over 200 performances. Produced by Juan Torres and directed by Ricardo Díaz, the show was choreographed by Pablo Rodríguez. Set design was by Oscar Acosta. The show starred Lucero Mijares in her theatre debut as Dorothy, Oscar Acosta as the Tin Man, Juan Fonsalido as the Scarecrow, Felipe Alvarez as the Lion, and Jair Campos as the Wiz.

==Plot==
===Prologue===
Teenaged [[Dorothy Gale]] lives with her [[Aunt Em]], [[Uncle Henry (Oz)|Uncle Henry]], and dog, [[Toto (Oz)|Toto]], on their farm in [[Kansas]]. Though her work there keeps her busy, she often gets distracted in her boredom with farm life, choosing instead to play with Toto and dream of someday seeing far-off lands. Aunt Em, however, has little patience for her daydreaming, believing that dawdling is contrary to their way of life. After an argument, Aunt Em apologizes to her for an unintentionally hurtful remark. She explains that she only scolds because she wants Dorothy to be the best she can be, and fears that she will not be prepared for the responsibilities life will soon put upon her. Aunt Em loves her dearly and hopes they will always be as close as they were when she was younger ("The Feeling We Once Had").

===Act I===
When an approaching storm turns out to be a [[tornado]], Dorothy takes shelter in the farmhouse as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry do so in the [[storm cellar]]. As the tornado hits the farm, the house, with Dorothy inside, is lifted into the air and flies for miles, with the wind represented by dancers ("Tornado"). The house finally comes to rest with a bump in the middle of a field covered with flowers. There Dorothy is met by the [[Munchkins]], all of whom are dressed in blue, and Addaperle, the [[Good Witch of the North (Baum)|Good Witch of the North]], who tells her that she is in the [[Land of Oz]]. Furthermore, her house has fallen on Evamean, the [[Wicked Witch of the East]], and killed her, freeing the Munchkins from her evil powers. Dorothy, distressed and confused, wants only to return home. With her magic unable to take Dorothy beyond the country boundaries, Addaperle decides Dorothy's best chance for assistance is to follow the [[Yellow Brick Road]] to the [[Emerald City]] in the center of Oz, to see the great and powerful [[Wizard of Oz (character)|Wizard of Oz]], or "The Wiz" for short ("He's the Wizard"). She gives her Evamean's [[Silver Shoes|silver shoes]], and tells her not to take them off before she reaches home, for they hold a mysterious, but very powerful charm that will keep her safe.

Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road, full of doubt and fear at what lies ahead ("Soon As I Get Home"). Stopping to rest by a cornfield, she is startled when a [[Scarecrow (Oz)|scarecrow]] hanging on a pole strikes up a conversation with her ("I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday"). He tells her of his longing for brains so that he can be like other people, and she invites him to accompany her to see if the Wizard can help him. ("[[Ease On Down the Road]] #1").

The Yellow Brick Road leads them into a great forest where they discover a [[Tin Woodman|man made of tin]], rusted solid. They oil his joints ("Slide Some Oil To Me") and he tells them how Evamean put a spell on his axe so that it began to cut off parts of his body. Each time it happened, a tinsmith replaced each missing part with one made of tin until he was entirely made of it. The one thing the tinsmith forgot was a heart, and he has longed for one ever since. Dorothy and the Scarecrow invite him on their journey to see the Wizard with the hope that he may give him one ("Ease On Down the Road #2").

They continue following the Yellow Brick Road deeper into the forest, where they are attacked by a large [[Cowardly Lion|lion]] ("I'm a Mean Ole Lion"). However, he is quickly revealed to be a coward hiding behind bravado as Dorothy stands up for her friends. When he learns where they are going, he apologizes and asks if he may accompany them to ask the Wizard for some courage. They agree and the trio becomes a quartet ("Ease On Down the Road #3"), but face a new danger when they are attacked by an evil tribe of forest monsters called [[Kalidahs]] ("Kalidah Battle"). After a great fight and harrowing escape, they stop by the road to rest. The Lion is embarrassed by his cowardice in the battle, but is comforted by Dorothy's kind words ("Be a Lion").

Seeing a green glow in the distance, they continue their journey to the Emerald City, and wander into a field of poppies who blow opium dust on them.  Dorothy recalls that Addaperle warned her of these poppies, and runs from the field as fast as she can with the Scarecrow and Tin Man behind her. The Lion is overcome by the dust and begins to hallucinate ("Lion's Dream"). He is dragged from the field and returned to his friends by the Mice Squad who police the area.

Marching up to the gates of the Emerald City, they are met by the [[Guardian of the Gates|Gatekeeper]] who insists they must all be fitted with a pair of green tinted glasses that are locked on to prevent them being blinded by the dazzling sights. They enter the city and look about in awe at the richly dressed people that inhabit it ("Emerald City Ballet"). The haughty and condescending people laugh and ridicule this odd group for wanting to see the Wizard until they see that Dorothy is wearing Evamean's silver shoes. They are promptly shown right into his palace.

Once in the throne room, they are assaulted by a great show of lights, smoke, and pyrotechnics as the Wizard appears before them ("So You Wanted To Meet the Wizard"). They each plead their case to him, the Tin Man doing so in song ("What Would I Do If I Could Feel?"). He agrees on one condition: they must kill Evillene, the [[Wicked Witch of the West]]. With their goals seeming further out of reach than ever before, they sink to the floor in despair.

===Act II===
Evillene rules over the yellow land of the west, enslaving its people, the Winkies. She is evil, power hungry, and ruthlessly determined to get her hands on her sister's silver shoes, so that she may increase her power and rule over all of Oz ("Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News"). Receiving word of Dorothy and her friends approaching, she sends her [[Winged Monkeys]] to kill them ("Funky Monkeys"). Catching up to them in the forest surrounding her castle, the monkeys dash the Tin Man against rocks until he falls apart, and rip the straw out of the Scarecrow, leaving both of them helpless. Seeing Dorothy's silver shoes, however, they dare not harm her. Instead, they carry her to Evillene's castle along with the Lion. While searching for a way to get the shoes from Dorothy, Evillene forces her and the Lion to do menial chores around her castle. She takes delight in torturing the Lion before Dorothy, threatening to have him skinned unless she hands over the silver shoes. Angered by this, she picks up a bucket of water and throws it over Evillene, who melts away. Her spell on the Winkies is lifted, and they show their thanks by restoring the Scarecrow and Tin Man to top condition, and reuniting the group ("[[A Brand New Day (The Wiz song)|Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day]]").

Returning to the Emerald City, they see the Wizard (now a booming voice that seems to come from the very air). He reneges on his promise, and the Lion turns a crank revealing a door. Behind it stands a bewildered man, in pajamas and pink curls in his hair, who claims to be the Wizard. He shows them the elaborate mechanical effects used to create his illusions, and tells them that he is really a balloonist from [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] named Herman Smith who traveled to Oz by accident when his hot air balloon drifted off course. The Ozians had never seen such a sight and proclaimed him Wizard. Not wanting to disappoint them, he assumed the role and had a great city built. He then had everyone in it wear green glasses, and in time, they came to believe it was green.

Furious, the group confronts the Wizard on his deceptions ("Who Do You Think You Are?"), but he points out that the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion already have the things they seek as shown in their behavior on the journeys they have made ("Believe In Yourself"). They remain unconvinced, so he creates physical symbols of their desires and they are satisfied. He proposes that Dorothy can return to Kansas the way he came, and offers to pilot her in his hot air balloon. He addresses the citizens of the Emerald City in person for the first time in many years, telling them of his imminent journey ("Y'all Got It!"). Just as his speech reaches its climax, the balloon comes free from its moorings and rises quickly into the air, taking Dorothy's hopes of getting home with it.

Just as the group despairs of finding help, Addaperle reappears in a flash of light, suggesting that Dorothy ask [[Glinda the Good Witch|Glinda, the Good Witch of the South]], for assistance. She transports them to Glinda's castle in the red land of the south, where they are warmly welcomed and invited to rest after their many trials ("A Rested Body Is a Rested Mind"). Glinda is a beautiful and gracious sorceress, surrounded by a court of her Quadlings. She tells Dorothy that the silver shoes have always had the power to take her home, but like her friends, she needed to believe in their magic and in herself before it was possible ("If You Believe"). She bids a tearful goodbye to her friends, and as their faces fade into the darkness, she thinks about what she has gained, lost, and learned throughout her journey through Oz ("[[Home (The Wiz song)|Home]]"). Clicking her heels together three times, she finds herself transported back to Kansas in an instant. As an overjoyed Toto appears, and she runs to hug him, she knows that she is back home at last.

==Motion picture and television adaptations==
{{main|The Wiz (film)|The Wiz Live!}}

[[Motown Productions]] acquired the film rights to ''The Wiz'' in 1977 and signed Stephanie Mills in anticipation of having her star as Dorothy in the film adaptation. Motown singer and actress [[Diana Ross]] asked Motown CEO [[Berry Gordy]] to cast her instead, but he declined, feeling that the then-33-year-old Ross was far too old for the part. However, she contacted [[Rob Cohen]] of [[Universal Pictures]], who offered to have them finance the film if she were to play Dorothy, at which point he acquiesced.

The resulting film version of ''The Wiz'' also starred former Motown star [[Michael Jackson]] as the Scarecrow, [[Nipsey Russell]] as the Tin Man, [[Richard Pryor]] as the Wizard, jazz singer [[Thelma Carpenter]] as Miss One (the name "Addaperle" was not used for this production) and [[Lena Horne]] as Glinda. Ted Ross and [[Mabel King]] reprised their roles of the Lion and Evillene from the Broadway production respectively. [[Sidney Lumet]] served as director, working with screenwriter [[Joel Schumacher]] (who used none of William F. Brown's stage script) and music supervisor [[Quincy Jones]]. The film was a critical and commercial failure, performing poorly at the [[box office]] and severely panned by critics, who branded the casting of Ross instead of Mills as Dorothy a disastrous blunder.<ref>Sharp, Kathleen (2003), ''Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire'', Carroll & Graf Publishers, pp. 357–58.</ref><ref>Harpole, Charles (2003), ''History of the American Cinema'', Simon and Schuster, pp. 64, 65, 219, 220, 290.</ref>

In 1998, following their TV-movie production of ''[[Cinderella (1997 film)|Cinderella]]'' (1997), producers [[Craig Zadan]] and [[Neil Meron]] began pre-production on a TV-movie adaptation of ''The Wiz'' for ''[[The Wonderful World of Disney]]'', which was to star a then-unknown [[Anika Noni Rose]] as Dorothy. The project fell through due to Universal still having the film rights to adaptations of ''The Wiz'', and the production was shelved.<ref name="DeadlineInterview2015">{{cite web|last=Gerard |first=Jeremy |url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/craig-zadan-neil-meron-the-wiz-live-nbc-1201646727/ |title=Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Look To Recapture 'The Wiz' Wow Factor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201193238/http://deadline.com/2015/11/craig-zadan-neil-meron-the-wiz-live-nbc-1201646727/ |archive-date=2015-12-01 |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=30 November 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The O.Z.'', a hip-hop re-adaptation of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' with an all-Black cast that was to use original music rather than adapt ''The Wiz'', was then planned by [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] and director [[Chris Stokes (director)|Chris Stokes]] in the early 2000s.<ref name="HipHopOz">{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1121798/hip-hop-wizard-of-oz-easing-down-the-road/ | title=Hip-Hop 'Wizard Of Oz' Easing Down The Road | work=MTV News | date=6 July 2000 | access-date=30 November 2015 | author=Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212055018/http://www.mtv.com/news/1121798/hip-hop-wizard-of-oz-easing-down-the-road/ | archive-date=12 December 2015 }}</ref> With [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Busta Rhymes]], and [[Little Richard]] among its planned cast,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110258&page=1|title = Brandy, Latifah Remake 'Oz'|website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date = January 30, 2001}}</ref><ref name="HipHopOz" /> the telefilm ultimately went un-produced; FOX instead became a co-producer on ''[[The Muppets' Wizard of Oz]]'' (2005), starring Ashanti as Dorothy and Latifah as Aunt Em.

Eleven years later, following the production of two live musicals for [[NBC]] – ''[[The Sound of Music Live!]]'' (2013) and ''[[Peter Pan Live!]]'' (2014) – Zadan and Meron announced ''[[The Wiz Live!]]'' as their next production (NBC, by this point, having purchased Universal Studios).<ref name="DeadlineInterview2015" /> NBC's live performance of the stage show aired on December 3, 2015.<ref>[https://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/30/wiz-nbc ''The Wiz'' is NBC's next live musical] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510093616/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/30/wiz-nbc |date=2015-05-10 }} Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved May 17, 2015</ref> Stephanie Mills, who originated the role of Dorothy on Broadway, played Aunt Em.<ref>[https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/stephanie-mills-the-wiz-nbc-1201492279 ''The Wiz's'' Stephanie Mills Returns for NBC Production] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627031136/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/stephanie-mills-the-wiz-nbc-1201492279 |date=2017-06-27 }} Variety, Retrieved May 17, 2015</ref> An open casting call for the role of Dorothy took place on June 6, 2015.<ref>[https://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/28/nbc-announces-casting-call-dorothy-wiz-live NBC announces casting call for Dorothy in ''The Wiz Live!''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530205510/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/28/nbc-announces-casting-call-dorothy-wiz-live |date=2015-05-30 }} Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved May 28, 2015</ref> In July 2015, Queen Latifah was cast as the Wiz and [[Mary J. Blige]] was confirmed to play the role of Evillene.<ref>[https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/queen-latifah-mary-j-blige-the-wiz-1201550330/ Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige Join NBC's ‘The Wiz’] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627053259/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/queen-latifah-mary-j-blige-the-wiz-1201550330/ |date=2017-06-27 }} Variety, Retrieved July 29, 2015</ref>  In addition, [[Beyoncé]] was offered to play Glinda, but no deal was made.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/30/beyonce-wiz|title=NBC wants Beyonce for ''The Wiz'' (but there is no deal)|first=James|last=Hibberd|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 30, 2015|access-date=July 30, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801150014/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/30/beyonce-wiz|archive-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> The following month, [[David Alan Grier]] was cast as the Cowardly Lion, and newcomer [[Shanice Williams (actress)|Shanice Williams]] was chosen to play Dorothy.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/04/nbcs-wiz-live-casts-david-alan-grier-cowardly-lion|title=NBC's ''The Wiz Live!'' finds its Cowardly Lion|first=Emily|last=Blake|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 4, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807180049/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/04/nbcs-wiz-live-casts-david-alan-grier-cowardly-lion|archive-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/05/dorothy-wiz|title=NBC reveals newcomer playing Dorothy in ''The Wiz'' |first=James|last=Hibberd|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 5, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807180902/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/05/dorothy-wiz|archive-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref> [[Uzo Aduba]] played Glinda and [[Amber Riley]] portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2015/08/06/amber-riley-wiz-live-cast-uzo-aduba-nbc/|title=Glee's Amber Riley, OITNB's Uzo Aduba Join NBC's ''The Wiz Live'' |first=Kimberly|last=Roots|work=TV Line|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=August 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809024651/http://tvline.com/2015/08/06/amber-riley-wiz-live-cast-uzo-aduba-nbc/|archive-date=August 9, 2015}}</ref> Other principal cast-members included [[Elijah Kelley]] as the Scarecrow, [[Ne-Yo]] as the Tin Man, and [[Common (rapper)|Common]] as the Bouncer, the gatekeeper of the entrance to Emerald City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/08/13/common-ne-yo-and-elijah-kelley-are-newest-additions-to-all-star-cast-for-the-wiz-live/447719/|title=Common, Ne-Yo and Elijah Kelley are Newest Additions to All-Star Cast for ''The Wiz Live!'' |first=Anada|last=Kondolojy|work=TV By the Numbers|date=August 13, 2015|access-date=August 13, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815233707/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/08/13/common-ne-yo-and-elijah-kelley-are-newest-additions-to-all-star-cast-for-the-wiz-live/447719/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref>

==Instrumentation and chorus==
The orchestra calls for 2 keyboards, 2 guitars, electric bass, drums, percussion, 2 trumpets, trombone, 2 woodwinds and a 5-piece chorus (4 male and 1 female). The first keyboard is played by the conductor. One guitarist plays lead while the other guitarist plays rhythm. The first woodwind player doubles on tenor and alto saxophones and flute while the second one doubles on tenor, alto and baritone saxophones and flute.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Role
!Detroit
!Broadway
!1st US Tour
![[The Wiz (film)|Film Version]]
!Broadway Revival
!2nd US Tour
!Concert Tour<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winn |first=Steven |date=1997-06-13 |title=Big Names, Small Parts / Grace Jones gets wicked in 'The Wiz' |url=https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Big-Names-Small-Parts-Grace-Jones-gets-wicked-2822849.php |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>
!Encores!
!3rd US Tour
!Broadway Revival<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cast & Creative |url=https://wizmusical.com/cast-creative/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Wiz |language=en-US}}</ref>
!3rd Reprise US Tour
|-
!<small>1974</small>
!<small>1975</small>
!<small>1976</small>
!<small>1978</small>
!<small>1984</small>
!<small>1992</small>
!<small>1996</small>
!<small>2009</small>
!<small>2023</small>
!<small>2024</small>
!<small>2025</small>
|-
! align="center" | [[Dorothy Gale]] 
| align="center" colspan="2" | [[Stephanie Mills]]
| align="center" | [[Renn Woods|Ren Woods]]
| align="center" | [[Diana Ross]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |[[Stephanie Mills]]
| align="center" | [[Tasha Scott]]
| align="center" | [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | [[Nichelle Lewis]]
| align=center | Dana Cimone
|-
! align="center" | [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]]
| align="center" | [[Stu Gilliam]]
| align="center" | [[Hinton Battle]]
| align="center" | Charles Valentino
| align="center" | [[Michael Jackson]]
| align="center" | Charles Valentino
| align="center" | Garry Q. Lewis
| align="center" | Kameko Hebron
| align="center" | Christian White
| align="center" colspan="2" | [[Avery Wilson]]
| align=center | Elijah Ahmad Lewis
|-
! align="center" | [[Tin Woodman|Tin Man]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |[[Tiger Haynes]]
| align="center" | [[Ben Harney (actor)|Ben Harney]]
| align="center" | [[Nipsey Russell]]
| align="center" | Howard Porter
| align="center" | Eugene Fleming
| align="center" | [[Tony Terry]]
| align="center" | [[Joshua Henry]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | Phillip Johnson Richardson
| align=center | D. Jerome
|-
! align="center" | [[Cowardly Lion|The Lion]] 
| align="center" colspan="4" |[[Ted Ross]]
| align="center" | Gregg Baker
| align="center" | H. Clent Bowers
| align="center" | Gerald Atkins
| align="center" | [[James Monroe Iglehart]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | Kyle Ramar Freeman
| align=center | [[Mykal Kilgore]]
|-
! align="center" | [[Glinda]]
| align="center" colspan="3" |[[Dee Dee Bridgewater]]
| align="center" | [[Lena Horne]]
| align="center" | [[Ann Duquesnay]]
| align="center" rowspan="2" |Toni SeaWright
| align="center" | [[CeCe Peniston]]
| align="center" rowspan="2" |[[LaChanze]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | [[Deborah Cox]]
| align=center | Sheherazade Holman
|-
! align="center" | [[Aunt Em]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |[[Tasha Thomas]]
| align="center" | [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]]
| align="center" | [[Theresa Merritt]]
| align="center" | [[Peggi Blu]]
| align="center" | Romelda Benjamin
| rowspan="2" align="center" colspan="2" | Melody Betts
| rowspan=2 align=center | Kyla Jade
|-
! align="center" | [[Wicked Witch of the West|Evillene]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |[[Mabel King]]
| align="center" | [[Ella Mitchell]]
| align="center" | [[Mabel King]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |Ella Mitchell
| align="center" | [[Grace Jones]]
| align="center" | [[Tichina Arnold]]
|-
! align="center" | [[Wizard of Oz (character)|The Wiz]]
| align="center" colspan="3" |[[André De Shields]]
| align="center" | [[Richard Pryor]]
| align="center" | [[Carl Hall (singer)|Carl Hall]]
| align="center" | [[André De Shields]]
| align="center" | [[Peabo Bryson]]
| align="center" | [[Orlando Jones]]<hr>[[Colman Domingo]]
| align="center" | [[Alan Mingo Jr.]]<hr>[[Wayne Brady]]
| align="center" | [[Wayne Brady]]<hr>[[Alan Mingo Jr.]]
| align="center" | [[Alan Mingo Jr.]]
|-
! align="center" | [[Good Witch of the North (Baum)|Addaperle]]
| align="center" colspan="2" |[[Clarice Taylor]]
| align="center" | [[Vivian Bonnell]]
| align="center" | [[Thelma Carpenter]]
| align="center" | Juanita Flemming
| align="center" | Ebony Jo-Ann
| align="center" | Rikki Valentino LaFontaine
| align="center" | [[Dawnn Lewis]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | Allyson Kaye Daniel
| align="center" | Amitria Fanae
|}

===Notable replacements===
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2025}}
;Broadway (1975-1979)
*'''Scarecrow:''' [[Gregg Burge]]
*'''Tin Man:''' [[Ben Harney (actor)|Ben Harney]]
*'''Lion:''' [[James Wigfall]], [[Michael Leslie (dancer)|Michael Leslie]], [[Ken Page]]
*'''Aunt Em:''' [[Esther Marrow]]
*'''The Wiz:''' [[Carl Hall (singer)|Carl Hall]], [[Alan Weeks (actor)|Alan Weeks]]
*'''Evillene:''' [[Theresa Merritt]], [[Irene Reid]], [[Ella Mitchell]]

;1st US tour (1976-1979)
*'''Dorothy:''' [[Renée Harris]]
*'''Lion:''' [[Ron Taylor (actor)|Ron Taylor]]
*'''Aunt Em & Glinda:''' [[Peggi Blu]]
*'''The Wiz:''' [[Robert Monroe]]
*'''Evillene:''' [[Carolyn Miller]]

;3rd US National tour (2023-2024)
* '''The Wiz:''' [[Wayne Brady]]

;Broadway revival (2024)
* '''The Wiz:''' [[Alan Mingo Jr.]]

==Songs==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act 1
#"Overture" - Orchestra
#"The Feeling We Once Had" – Aunt Em
#"Tornado" - Company
#"Which Where, Which What, Witch Why?" - Addaperle (cut from pre broadway tryouts 1974)
#"He's the Wiz" – Addaperle and Munchkins
#"Soon as I Get Home" – Dorothy 
#"I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday" – Scarecrow
#"[[Ease on Down the Road]] #1" – Dorothy and Scarecrow
#"Slide Some Oil to Me" – Tin Man
#"[[Ease on Down the Road]] #2 " - Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man
#"Mean Ole Lion" – Lion
#"[[Ease on Down the Road]] #3"- Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion
#"Kalidah Battle" - The Company
#"Be a Lion" – Dorothy and Lion
#"Lion's Dream" - Lion and Poppies
#"Emerald City Ballet (Psst)" - Company
#"So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" – Wizard
#"What Would I Do if I Could Feel" - Tin Man
{{col-break}}
;Act 2
#"Entr'acte"
#"No Bad News" – Evilene and Winkies
#"Funky Monkeys" - Company
#"Wonder Wonder Why" / "Don't Cry Girl" – Dorothy and Lion <small>(cut from pre broadway tryouts in 1974, and only appeared in 1983 revival)</small>
#"[[A Brand New Day (The Wiz song)|Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day]]" – Company
#"Who Do You Think You Are?" – Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion
#"Believe in Yourself" – Wiz
#"Y'all Got It!" – Wiz and Company
#"A Rested Body" – Glinda and Company
#"Believe in Yourself" (Reprise) – Glinda
#"[[Home (The Wiz song)|Home]]/Finale" – Dorothy

{{col-end}}

All numbers composed by Charlie Smalls save for the following: "Tornado" is composed by Timothy Graphenreed and [[Harold Wheeler (musician)|Harold Wheeler]]. "Emerald City Ballet (Psst)" is composed by Graphenreed and [[George Faison]]. "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day" is composed by [[Luther Vandross]]. The song "Wonder, Wonder, Why" was added for the 1984 Broadway revival, but is not part of the current licensed score.<ref>{{cite web |title=''The Wiz'' |url=https://www.playbill.com/production/the-wiz-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005036 |website=Playbill |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
In his review of the 1984 revival, [[Frank Rich]] wrote: "What made ''The Wiz'' surprisingly moving the first time around was that its creators found a connection between [[L. Frank Baum|Baum]]'s Kansas fantasy and the pride of urban Black Americans. When Glinda, the good witch, musically instructed Dorothy to 'believe in herself,' she seemed to be delivering a broader inspirational message. ''The Wiz'' was hardly a great musical in 1975, but it had something to say, and it said it with verve and integrity. It's depressing to watch a once-fervent expression of Black self-respect and talent be spilled on the stage as if it were a trunkload of marked-down, damaged goods."<ref>Frank Rich, "Stage: 'The Wiz' Back on Broadway", ''New York Times'', May 25, 1984.</ref>

In their review of the 2006 La Jolla production, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "'The Wiz' remains a collage of contemporary slang and imagery, but La Jolla's is a multicultural collage in which Baum's themes speak to the broadest possible audience. Unquestionably, the humor and the heartbeat of the piece remain African-American at their source, but the overall effect is pluralistic and inclusive. In the truest and most positive sense of the phrase, McAnuff's show is color-blind. Every alteration from the 1975 original, inspired by the central multicultural concept, is salutary. Brown's almost wholly rewritten script is tart and funny at last. Smalls' score—supervised by musical director Ron Melrose and original orchestrator Harold Wheeler—sounds fresh and contemporary".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Verini|first=Bob|title=The Wiz|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931842.html?categoryid=33&cs=1|magazine=Variety|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529050358/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931842.html?categoryid=33&cs=1|archive-date=29 May 2009}}</ref>

As critic [[Peter Filichia]] wrote in 2015, "Arguably more impressive is [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s opinion. Whenever he's asked for a favorite show that he didn't write, he immediately says ''The Wiz.'' What?! With all its false rhymes?! 'Because,' he always says, 'it's the one show which makes you feel better when you come out of it than you did when you walked in.'"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Filichia |first=Peter |date=2015-12-15 |title=The Wiz and I By Peter Filichia |url=https://masterworksbroadway.com/blog/the-wiz-and-i/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=The Official Masterworks Broadway Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Recording==
{{Infobox album
| name         = The Wiz<br /><small>The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard Of Oz"</small>
| type         = cast
| artist       = Various Artists
| cover        = The Wiz (original cast recording - album cover).jpg
| alt          = 
| released     = 1975
| recorded     = 1975
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[Pop music|pop]]
| length       = 45:03
| label        = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] <br /><small>SD 18137</small>
| producer     = [[Jerry Wexler]]
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = The Wiz<br /><small>The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard Of Oz"</small>
 | type        = cast
 | single1     = Tornado
 | single1date = 1975
}}
}}

The Original Cast Recording for ''The Wiz'' was released in 1975 on the [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] label, produced by [[Jerry Wexler]]. While well received, the album omits several key songs from the musical that were not recorded for the album- such as the show's overture, dance and accompaniment music. The "Tornado" instrumental was released as both a 7" single and a 12" extended single, while the show's musical arranger Harold Wheeler co-produced a cover of "Ease on Down the Road" with studio group [[Consumer Rapport]] that became a charting single in 1975, peaking at #42 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="whitburn132"/>

In 2017, the original Broadway cast recording of ''The Wiz'' was selected for preservation in the [[National Recording Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-17-029/ | title=National Recording Registry Picks Are "Over the Rainbow" | work=Library of Congress | date=March 29, 2016 | access-date=March 29, 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329190218/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-17-029/ | archive-date=March 29, 2017 }}</ref>

===Track list===

====Side one====
#"Prologue"
#"The Feeling We Once Had" <small>– [[Tasha Thomas]]</small>
#"Tornado" <small>(instrumental)</small>
#"He's The Wizard" <small>– [[Clarice Taylor]]</small>
#"Soon As I Get Home" <small>– [[Stephanie Mills]]</small>
#"I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday" <small>– [[Hinton Battle]]</small>
#"[[Ease on Down the Road]]" <small>– Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, [[Ted Ross]], [[Tiger Haynes]]</small>
#"Slide Some Oil To Me" <small>– Tiger Haynes</small>
#"I'm A Mean Ole Lion" <small>– Ted Ross</small>

====Side two====
#"Be A Lion" <small>– Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross</small>
#"So You Wanted to See The Wizard" <small>– [[André De Shields]]</small>
#"What Would I Do If I Could Feel" <small>– Tiger Haynes</small>
#"Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" <small>– [[Mabel King]]</small>
#"[[A Brand New Day (The Wiz song)|Everybody Rejoice]]" <small>– Stephanie Mills and Company</small>
#"Y'all Got It!" <small>– André De Shields</small>
#"If You Believe" <small>– [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]]</small>
#"[[Home (The Wiz song)|Home]] (Finale)" <small>– Stephanie Mills</small>

==Awards and nominations==

===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="18" style="text-align:center;"| 1975
| rowspan="8"| [[29th Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]]
| [[William F. Brown (writer)|William F. Brown]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[Charlie Smalls]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Ted Ross]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
| [[Geoffrey Holder]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| [[George Faison]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| Geoffrey Holder
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="10"| [[Drama Desk Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical|Outstanding Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Stephanie Mills]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| Ted Ross
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Hinton Battle]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Mabel King]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical|Outstanding Director of a Musical]]
| Geoffrey Holder
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography|Outstanding Choreography]]
| George Faison
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music|Outstanding Music and Lyrics]]
| Charlie Smalls
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design|Outstanding Set Design]]
| Tom H. John
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design|Outstanding Costume Design]]
| Geoffrey Holder
| {{won}}
|}

===2024 Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style=width:20%;|Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| 2024
| rowspan="2" colspan=2 | [[Theatre World Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |title=Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards|url=https://playbill.com/article/cole-escola-maleah-joi-moon-rachel-mcadams-more-win-2024-theatre-world-awards |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Playbill |language=en}}</ref>
| [[Nichelle Lewis]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Phillip Johnson Richardson 
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography|Chita Rivera Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |website=ChitaRiveraAwards.com |access-date=11 February 2025|language=en-US |url=https://www.chitariveraawards.com/index.php/2018-winners/14-chita/69-2024-winners-and-nominees |title=2024 Chita Rivera Awards Nominations and Winners}}</ref>
|rowspan=2|Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show
|Phillip Johnson Richardson
|{{nom}}
|-
|Avery Wilson
|{{nom}}
|-
| 2025
| [[Grammy Awards]]
| colspan=2|[[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==See also==
*[[The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)|''The Wizard of Oz'' (adaptations)]]—other adaptations of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{cite news |last1=Dowling |first1=Colette |title=From the Archives: How ''The Wiz'' Went from Nearly Closing on Opening Night to Becoming a Tony-Winning Hit |url=https://playbill.com/article/from-the-archives-how-the-wiz-went-from-nearly-closing-on-opening-night-to-becoming-a-tony-winning-hit-com-349718 |work=Playbill |date=3 January 2025 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=David |last2=Henderson |first2=Jerrell L. |title=Fifty Key Stage Musicals |chapter=The Wiz |date=2022 |pages=146–150 |doi=10.4324/9781003009726-26 |isbn=978-1-003-00972-6 }}
* [http://thewizthemusical.com ''The Wiz'': a virtual coffee table book]
* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_w/wiz.htm ''The Wiz'' plot and production information] at GuideToMusicalTheatre.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121008112521/http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/sbro-mla001071-cast-members-discuss-the-the-wiz-based-on-l-frank-baum-s-wizard-of-oz "Cast members discuss ''The Wiz'', based on L. Frank Baum's ''Wizard of Oz''{{-"}}], an October 20, 1978 episode of [[WGBH-TV|WGBH]]'s ''[[Basic Black (TV series)|Slices of Black Theatre]]''
* [http://archives.nypl.org/scm/20618 ''The Wiz'' collection, 1974–1979] Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library.
* [http://archives.nypl.org/mus/22809 Charlie Smalls scores for ''The Wiz'', 1974] Music Division, The New York Public Library.
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IBDB title|3716|The Wiz|(1975)}}
* {{IBDB title|4339|The Wiz|(1984)}}

{{Oz}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for ''The Wiz''
| list = 
{{DramaDesk Musical 1975–2000}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album}}
{{TonyAwardBestMusical 1947-1975}}
{{TonyAward MusicalScore 1947-1975}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiz, The}}
[[Category:1975 musicals]]
[[Category:African-American musicals]]
[[Category:All-Black cast Broadway shows]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Rock musicals]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award–winning musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on novels]]
[[Category:Musicals based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]
[[Category:Tony Award for Best Musical]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning musicals]]
[[Category:United States National Recording Registry recordings]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Kansas]]
[[Category:Musicals set in fictional countries]]
[[Category:Plays about witches and witchcraft]]