A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Wiz

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  5w, 6m, 4 any gender (adult) plus ensemble

Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
From the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Original 1975 version! This smash Broadway musical sets Dorothy’s adventures in the Land of Oz to a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul music.

The Wiz

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 6m, 4 any gender (adult) plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adaptation (Literature)
  • Suggested Use
    • Competition or Audition Material
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Seven 1975 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical
    Winner! Five 1975 Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical
The Wiz

Details

Summary
Original 1975 version! A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music. This timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical and one of the most popular shows in the Concord Theatricals catalogue.
History
The Wiz originally opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on 5 January 1975. Directed by Geoffrey Holder, the production starred newcomer Stephanie Mills and featured Hinton Battle, Tiger Haynes, Ted Ross, Dee Dee Bridgewater, André De Shields and Mabel King. Shortly after its opening, the show moved to the Broadway Theatre, where it ran until 28 January 1979, boasting a grand total of 1,672 performances. On 24 May 1984, The Wiz returned to Broadway for a brief revival at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. A film adaptation, starring Diana Ross as Dorothy, premiered on 24 October 1978. On 3 December 2015, NBC presented The Wiz Live!, a live television adaptation of the stage musical starring Shanice Williams as Dorothy.
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period Not Applicable
  • Setting Kansas and the Land of Oz

  • Features Elaborate/High-Volume Costumes
  • Additional Features Animal Spot
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Animals

Media

“Radiates so much energy you can hardly sit in your seat.” – New York Post
“A continuous festival of movement... splendid character songs.” – WWD

“A carnival of fun... [a] wickedly amusing show.” – TIME

“A virtual musical circus... driving rhythms, soaring songs... boisterous, exuberant.” – WABC-TV

“Unquestionably, the humor and the heartbeat of the piece remain African-American at their source, but the overall effect is pluralistic and inclusive.” – Variety

ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Ease on Down the Road: 10 Fun Facts About The Wiz!
January 15, 2024

OTHER PRESS
Watch female inmates at Bedford Correctional Facility perform a gut-wrenching version of The Wiz here.

Videos

  • Joshua Henry Performs "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?" youtube thumbnail

    Joshua Henry Performs "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?"

  • In Rehearsal: "The Wiz" at Encores! youtube thumbnail

    In Rehearsal: "The Wiz" at Encores!

Music

Song Samples

Believe in Yourself [Reprise] (Glinda, Company)
Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News (Evillene, Company)
Ease on Down the Road (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Yellow Brick Road)
Be a Lion (Dorothy, Lion)
What Would I Do If I Could Feel? (Tinman, Company)
Y’all Got It (The Wiz, Company)
  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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Authors

William F. Brown

William F. Brown

William F. Brown (1928-2019) won a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award for writing the book of The Wiz, one of the most successful musicals ever to come to Broadway and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year. Other Broadway credits include The ...

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Charlie Smalls

Charlie Smalls
Charlie Smalls (1943-1987), a musical prodigy, began playing piano at age three. After graduating from The Juilliard School in 1961, he began a varied performing and composing career. He was a pianist with the New York Jazz Repertory Company and toured with Harry Belafonte, H ...
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